ON China’s National Day this year, about 180 foreigners joined the parade. About 150 of them marched alongside Chinese, while over 20 sat on a float （彩车） called One World （同一个世界）. I was one of the lucky ones on the float, which carried a huge green globe with the words “Peace, Development, Cooperation”.
There have been many parades over the last 60 years, and as a child, I attended several, watching them from the stands （观礼台）. The 10th anniversary in 1959 left a deep impression on me. I was 8 years old and vividly （清晰地） remember the fireworks displays （焰火表演） in the evening.
This year, a few weeks before National Day, I got a phone call from the Beijing government, asking me if I’d like to join the parade myself. I was thrilled （兴奋）!
On the day itself, as the float merged with （融入） the marching contingent （方队）, I looked down and the Chinese marchers were all so neat, marching in step （步伐统一）. But the foreign contingent seemed quite relaxed and were not in a straight line. But I didn’t feel embarrassed （尴尬） for them, I thought: this is a perfect example of the difference in cultures!
Most Chinese learn to march in step when they’re in primary school, during PE classes, and during the mid-morning breaks. And most have boot camp （军训） the first years of middle school and high school. But foreigners, unless they join the army, have mostly never marched in their lives. But the relaxed way they marched showed how they enjoyed it. Their Chinese fellow marchers would wave their red tassels （丝带） all together, while the foreign friends just waved whenever they felt like it.
There were also other differences as well. In 50 years ago, the square （广场） was filled in different blocks with different colors and so on. Now, the entire square seems a single mass （整体）, creating gigantic （巨大的） patterns, looking more military in formation. From my position on the float, I could not see the military parade, only the fighters （战斗机） that flew overhead. It seems to me that although the military led the parade, China wants peace, not war. However, the world is not a peaceful place and China would not be secure without a powerful military to defend （保卫） itself.
Joining such a parade is one chance in a lifetime. There probably will not be another event this grand until China turns 100, by which time I should be about 100 years old myself!
游行小插曲
WE had two practice runs which lasted many, many hours. But we were all so excited and didn’t feel the least bit tired! During the practice, as well as on the day itself, the floats paused （暂停） for an hour or so on Chang’an Avenue, waiting for their turn in the procession （游行）. We all got off for a comfort stop and stood around chatting with the people from nearby floats. We all had such fun!
As we approached Tian’anmen Square, we waved and waved. People in the streets, even the security guards and police, smiled and waved at us and we waved at them, like people watching a football match. By the end, my arms ached so much. A Nigerian （尼日利亚） friend of mine even danced!
During the practice session, we had thought about shouting slogans （口号）, like “I love China!”, “Long Live China!” or “Long Live Peace!” or singing some favorite songs. But the marching music was so loud we just shouted.
