I recently moved to China to teach English....
After a week of orientation, we are told we would be visiting a nearby town for an 'English corner' with some of the local kids. I would have imagined an English corner to be a few kids in a circle for the English teachers to have a small conversation with.

Not a parade of 100 kids, their parents, and about 100-150 other people including the local media. We were literally thrown into this parade, led to a stage in front of this crowd of 500. I am then told from the stage that i have to teach the kids a song. This resulted in me singing the them tune to "Happy Days (aka "The Days of the Week Song")" and "Old McDonald" in front of this crowd while being filmed and having several photographers take my picture. Bonkers country!
(El_diablo_blanco, Mon 22 Aug 2011, 6:16, 5 replies)

Well played on the Happy Days improvisation
In some ways I can imagine it's better having that sort of thing sprung on you so you don't have any time to worry about it in advance
( LemonEntryMyDearWatson This time, Moriarty, the hand is on the other foot, Mon 22 Aug 2011, 8:28, closed)

Orientation?
Lacist!
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Mon 22 Aug 2011, 9:06, closed)

Orientation.
I like it.
( 4Q just lurking, Mon 22 Aug 2011, 21:56, closed)

Been there
Springing things like this on you is a Chinese speciality - better get used to it. You find that you get asked to do all manner of things, though, especially if you live in a small city. I've been asked to be Santa (when I was 28) and led performances of kids in front of packed theatres, but the weirdest was being asked to present the main award at the Women In Business awards ceremony in Beijing...
(McChinaman banned, Tue 23 Aug 2011, 3:07, closed)

Yep, I've noticed that even if they know about something for weeks, they will tell you about it about 2 hours before you need to know...keeps you on your toes
(El_diablo_blanco, Wed 24 Aug 2011, 3:11, closed)