Chinese new year's banquet

So tonight was the chinese new years banquet for silent river kung fu. It's my favourite event all year. I love seeing everyone all together having a good time. It definitely feels like a big family reunion.

This year was the first graduation year for the I Ho Chuan program. I was really inspired by how far some people in the program have come. Overcoming fears of performing, of sparring, of putting yourself out there....I've seen some big changes and growth. It makes you want to change too.

We had to leave early because Julia was getting tired so I didn't get to see the I Ho Chuan performances or the candidates but I did get to hear a little of Sifu Stoddart's speech. It was really touching to hear how much this year has changed her. She is one of the people that I saw evolving as the year went on. Very inspiring.

I wonder what my coming year will be like. I hope I manage to grow and evolve too.

On another note, tonight I got to drum for the lion dance. Man was I nervous!  Master Brinker announced his drumming retirement and introduced me right before we had to start...I was glad I was a little hidden behind the wall! The drumming was pretty exhausting. I know it probably doesn't look that impressive, but it really taxes your arms  and you don't get to rest them at all. I'm so glad that I managed to pull it off! I think that was our longest dance ever (20 minutes or so). I was happy when Sifu Rybak took over for the packets.
Before our dance, Master Brinker got us all to sign the crate we used in the dance. It was kind of cool. I wish we would have done things like that years ago. Some of the people we started with are moved away or not around anymore. It would have made for some neat memories. I hope whoever gets it in the silent auction realizes what an exciting moment in time it represents.

Congratulations to everyone who was promoted (including the candidates!) and those who won an award. Congratulations also to Sifus Clements and Playter who marked their 10 year lion dancing anniversary this year!

Thanks to everyone who helped out...this was our best year yet!

Today I consumed: an orange, 1 bran muffin, some ritz snack crackers, 1 pack of instant noodles with  2 peices of whole wheat toast, a few chocolates, some chinese food, 3 cups of coffee and 6 glasses of water.