To celebrate Chinese Spring Festival (Dragon Year) and YuanXiao Festival (lunar year's January 15th), JiaoDa Alumni Association DC Chapter held the spring party at Caren House, Adelphi Maryland, on Saturday February 19, 2000. Over 100 alumni and family members from all five JiaoDa's (Shanghai, Xian, Xinan, Beifang, and Xinzhu) attended the party.

Ms. GAO Yao (Xian), the host of last year party, hosted the party again. After the dinner, the president MA Xiangdong (Xian) addressed a welcome speech to the alumni and their families. He also summarized the alumni association activities. Finally, he announced that Dr. NI Tao (Shanghai) was elected as one of the four vice presidents of the North America JiaoDa Alumni Association and is in charge of the Alumni Fund management. Dr. NI Tao briefly introduced the North America JiaoDa Alumni Association and the Fund. He informed that any donations through the Jiaoda Alumni Fund are tax deductible in US. JiaoDa Alumni (DC) address books were distributed at the party. GU Chenwei (Shanghai), the Association's Secretary General, coordinated the update and prepared the copies.

Four Jiaoda alumni and family members provided entertainment programs. Xian Jiaoda hosted a Knowledge Contest on Jiaoda's history, geographical distribution, and Jiaoda alumni associations, including North America, DC Chapter, as well as each Jiaoda's alumni association in DC area. Professor Zhang Zhiwen (Xinan) represented Xinan Jiaoda alumni in the game and won the first place with the highest scores. The prize were supposed to be Ford new model cars. Unfortunately, all "cars" had been "robbed" by the kids in the playing room. So the prize ended up with party blower toys :-). Beifang Jiaoda Alumni DC Association's president SHI Zhen-Liang demonstrated the elegance of Chinese traditional music instrument Er4Hu2, with his son's piano accompany, which formed an integration of East-West cultures. LI Yuanjun's daughter Shanshan, representing Xinan Jiaoda alumni, performed a piano piece - "My Heart Will Go On" from the movie "Titanic". Shanghai Jiaoda alumni, together with the party host, organized a game of guessing words by body language (double charades). Two teams, with 4 female and 4 male on each team, formed by the five Jiaoda alumni played the game separately and both won. Beifang Jiaoda alumnus Wang Gang also won the "Best Body Language Show" award. Xi'an Jiaoda alumnus Han Qingyuan showed a fun word riddle guessing.

A lucky prize drawing was conducted for fun. The prize gifts were donated by each of the JiaoDa alumni associations. Two Shanghai Jiaoda girls at the same lucky table won the prizes, and another alumnus from XinZhu Jiaoda also received a prize. The tickets were drawn by a little kid from Beifang Jiaoda family, Treasurer TANG Qiuping (Shanghai), and Professor Ma Shijun (Xinan), respectively.

Fun riddle guessing, Karaoke, and dancing party started after the main program. Dr. Shen Yi-Shang (Xinzhu) made a lot of riddles for the party as he did last year. Dr. HAN Qingyuan (Xian) also contributed some word riddles and organized the game.

The party lasted longer than expected.

Thanks to all alumni who helped making this party so fun and successful. In addition to those who were mentioned above, special thanks go to Ms. MA Da (Xinan) and Ms. WANG Mei (Xi'an) for their taking care of the kids in the playing room (they were even not able to watch the entertainment programs); to Dr. MA Hewu (Shanghai) who helped coordinate the programs, to TANG Qiuping who contacted caren for the party place and coordinate the party logistics issues including collecting the money and buying tickets, to Lu Keh-Ming, the president of XinZhu Jiaoda alumni association, and his wife for hosting the party planning meeting of leaders from each Jiaoda alumni association at their home on January 22, even they were not able to participate the party due to schedule conflict. I may still miss someone. Thanks all!

The party is over, but the alumni friendship will last. Hope next time more Jiaoda alumni can come to the party. This year's MeiZhu Sai is not far away. Dear Jiaoda alumni, let's meet again at MeiZhu'2000!