The other realization for many has been the reality that we are a part of a large-scale TV production on the largest government television station in the country. This is more a TV show, less a competition. It's a show that comes on once a year for about a week. I have to admit I had to hold back my gag reflex a few times. In one round of contestants were given 30 seconds to think about a subject before speaking for one minute. One contestant was asked, "What's your favorite TV show?" After 30 seconds, the young man began, "My favorite show is The Chinese Bridge Competition." Queue applause track as well as the live audience! "Seriously?!", I thought to myself. The rolled eyes and groans of my fellow eliminated contestants revealed we were all thinking the same thing. I have to admit a deep admiration for the Central Asian who rambled on about his own country in his answer. He was out at the end of that round.
Now, aside from all that, it's still exciting to be a part of a TV show. Not to mention it is entertaining to watch fellow international students show off their best language skills in the competition. In tonight's round, contestants have to improvise a dialog in a movie scene in which the sound has been taken out. Dang. i couldn't even do that in English. I'm continually impressed with the level of proficiency here. Now for those who have been eliminated, days are spent rehearsing numbers for a big show on the final night of the competition. The variety show is to include singing, dancing, and marshall arts. Unfortunately all the singing is being recorded before hand. "What if you forget a line or a word?", is the standard response when we ask why we can't sing live. Mostly, there is A LOT of sitting around. I've sat in a recording studio lobby for two full work days waiting to record my song. In the end it took 30 minutes to lay down the tracks for my one minute number. Go figure. So days pass sitting chatting with people from around the world, eating, and sleeping. I've got a good book and snag wifi where I can get it. Though a great experience, the overall sentiment of everyone is an sincere desire for this to be over. Four-star hotels are nice but its still a hotel and it's still hotel food. Just eight more days. Keep coffee close by and I can stand anything for eight days.