welcoming ceremony

so today was the oft postponed welcoming cermony. 3 less than 1,500 seventh graders stood in groups of 60 facing us. we stood on a stage, the five foreign teachers, next to the administration. as we watched, they followed directions from a man with a microphone next to the stage, and demonstrated various parade-ground-type formations. then a small woman, not quite as tall as the microphone walked up and began to read something she wrote from a piece of paper. her voice was much larger than her stature, and she had much to say. then a different man stood up, and introduced all the members of the administration. then mr. hu, vice-principal, senior teacher, vice-chairman of foreign language specialized committee of chengdu education society, and my boss, introduced the foreign teachers. he spoke well in both chinese and english, repeating everything he said for the benefit of the 7th graders, who were just starting their english education. he introduced each one of us, and we gave a small bow, and the ceremony was over. the whole thing was videotaped so it could be shown to the rest of the school. what a pleasant introduction!