I accompanied G to a birthday party today. It was our first experience with a kid's birthday party in Hong Kong. It was insane. First of all, let me just say that the mom was super sweet and gracious and that it was a very, very nice party. G had a great time and so did I.

Let me tell you all about it.

We showed up to the place where they had rented the party room and we were welcomed by the Hostess Mom (I had not met her before). As she welcomed us, she invited G to go ahead and take her shoes off so she could go in and out of the bounce house as she pleased. And she told me to head to the drink table and get myself a drink and to have a seat at any table.

Yes. There was a full size ENORMOUS bounce house IN the party room.

The round tables were covered in white table cloths and they had seats for 8 people on fabric chairs. I think there were maybe six tables. Each table had a tray of chocolate chip cookies, mini cupcakes, potato chips and a bread snack. The bread snack was adorable--crustless white bread spread with butter, cut into neat triangles, and then "breaded" or dipped into nonpareils sprinkles. Very cute.

So G took off into the bounce house and I found a table with some parents I recognized. We chatted a bit and then I took some time to look around a little more. It was then that I noticed the drink table was actually staffed by a guy in a uniform shirt. There was every kind of juice as well as tea and coffee. And also a bin underneath the table full of Costco size bottles of hard liquor. Just in case you're into that at a birthday party for a 4 year old. Which really, is there any better time and place to have a drink?

And then I noticed a few other workers in uniform shirts tending to the chafing dishes over by the buffet tables. OMG there was a buffet? Are you kidding me? So I got a drink and then wandered to check the food. A few other different desserts, jello cubes, samosas, chicken satay, chicken nuggets, glazed carrots, cheese pizza, french fries... Wow!

After sitting and enjoying the conversation with many parents of G's friends (most of them I hadn't met before but only seen in passing) the Hostess Mom gathered all the kids and got them all pumped and primed for some big surprise that was about to happen. And in walked a clown. The clown was a Chinese guy who spoke pretty good English. But it was absolutely hilarious to listen to this guy interact with the kids in Chenglish. He said things like:

"Don't follow me kids to do this at home." (Don't try this at home.)
"You, Boy, come up to help me." (Hey there, would you like to be my assistant?)
"Make laughing sounds I give you present." (If I hear you screaming, I'll toss you a toy!)

I wish I had a pen and notebook because I know there was more he said that had me laughing out loud. Secretly of course. I was laughing out loud inside my mind.

He then performed a pretty good magic show while his boom box belted out Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice in the background. And after that he made ballon animals and swords for all the kids.

By the time he finished his show, it had been announced that the buffet was open and we should eat.

After giving everyone ample time to fix themselves a plate, someone went around to give each of the kids an empty bag. For what? For the two pinatas that were then brought out, of course. TWO. And after explaining to the kids what was going to happen, the pinatas where simultaneously opened and it was mayhem as all the kids scrambled to gather the candy and toys.

G was way too busy in the bounce house to eat. But she did come out for the pinata action. And then there was cake. The cake was an amazing professional piece of art. And it was delicious. And upon our departure G was given a goody bag full of candy with a helium balloon attached.

Presents were not opened during the party. And speaking of gifts, I am pretty sure it cost more for her to host G and me as guests than I paid for the party gifts I brought. But oh well, right?