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Raising Ruckus Room
While the evening of a wedding is usually reserved for the newly wed couple to be alone in western culture, in old China they had a custom of gathering friends and having a celebration called “Nao Fang”, loosely translated as "raising ruckus room". We experienced this most fun and unique tradition on our special night.
Our enthusiastic Master of Ceremonies, a psychology professor from the local University surnamed Liu, presided over a number of activities and games that were to designed to have me proclaim my love for my bride, and provide countless laughs for the studio audience.
A little like the “Dating Game” TV show, I had to answer a number of questions regarding Jennifer’s likes and dislikes. What is her favourite colour? Who is her favourite singer? What is her favourite hot pot ingredient? What are all the names of her six brothers and sisters? (She got me on that one!). If I made a mistake, everyone would mock their disapproval with hoots and hollers. I had to attone for every mistake with a heart-felt apology, a love song, or spur-of-the-moment poem professing my undying passion. Our MC also lined up a dozen young ladies, Jennifer among them, and hid them behind a big blanket with only their feet showing. I was blindfolded and my task was to feel my way through the various heels, arches, and toes to correctly pick out my wife. Even before we were married, I often gave Jennifer foot massages. She has thin ankles, slender feet, high arch, and long, knobby toes, so I had no trouble identifying her. I passed that one with flying colours, much to the chagrin of the peanut gallery.
I also had physically challenges like carrying her in my arms up the six flights of stairs in the hotel without stopping. When my biceps and heart were ready to explode by on the fifth floor, I had to put her down. My punishment was to crawl on the floor through a makeshift obstacle course of chairs, boxes, clothes, and people, all in an effort to redeem my tarnished reputation and re-establish my physical prowess.
Around midnight, Professor Liu finally called it a night, and everyone reluctantly headed home. I had played along the whole evening, and barely had enough steam left for our last little private party of two. March 8, 1997 started early and ended late, and was easily the most unforgettable day I had ever experienced.
last modified Jun 24, 2004 at 20:39
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