PUT Caribbean people in a country where the culture is vastly different from their own, then have a Caribbean event that transports them back to their culture for one night and you are guaranteed an unforgettable event.

That’s just what happened on Saturday, June 4 in Shanghai, the teeming Metropolitan Chinese city, when the Caribbean Association in China (CAC) celebrated its fourth anniversary in Caribbean style at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Shanghai Fudan.

It rained all day but the poor weather wasn’t enough to dampen the Caribbean spirit or to hinder anyone from getting to this anticipated annual event. Most people were early or on time, a feat quite unusual in regional culture.

In attendance were people from many of the islands. Jamaica, as usual, was well represented and set the tone for the party. There were also attendees from America, Greece, Australia, Nigeria and several other countries. But for this one night, all 300 of us were Caribbean.

Soyini Taylor who hails from Kingston, said what impressed her most about CAC events was the large turnout.

“It shows that while the Caribbean community in Shanghai and China may seem small, we definitely have built a strong network that extends way beyond just our Caribbean national neighbours during our time here,” Taylor commented to the Observer.

The dinner would have made any Caribbean citizen proud: featuring mouth watering dishes, with rice and peas and jerk chicken in abundance. The air was filled with chatter, laughter, the smell of the sweet mixture of Caribbean cuisine and the sound of Caribbean music in the background. Each table with a mix of nationalities.

Master of Ceremonies Camille Lindo from Walkerswood, Jamaica was praised for a masterful job of keeping the event flowing smoothly throughout the evening which featured a dancehall performance, African drumming and a fashion show displaying Caribbean carnival wear.

Although it was an evening for revelry, the Association did not abandon its well known focus on charity work. Representatives from two of the institutions that the CAC supports were in attendance and they thanked the association and spoke of the difference the association had made in the lives of the children.

Zhou Zheng, principal at the Chang lin Migrant School spoke about the four years of cooperation between the CAC and his school and the joy and enthusiastic reception of the kids when they were hosted by the Caribbean Association.

CAC members and friends often volunteer to teach English at the school, provide the kids with gifts of school supplies, and host fun day activities for them at Shanghai museums, a VIP Access Tour of the Shanghai World Expo 2010 and much more.

Chris Zhang who represented the Chi Heng Foundation for HIV/AIDS- impacted kids presented the president and founder of the CAC, Dr Nicoleen Johnson from Westmoreland with a plaque of appreciation for her four years of excellent contribution to their organisation.

Zhang spoke about the impact that the Association has had on the lives of these HIV/AIDS affected kids. Every summer, the CAC host a fun day for a group of the children. All their programmes incorporate activities to teach the children about the Caribbean.

Dr Johnson, in her address to the guests, also spoke about the CAC’s support of the Giving Tree Programme over the past two years. The CAC helps by volunteering to fill Christmas gift bags for migrant kids and last year Dr Johnson enrolled the Chang Lin School into the programme so that all 750 students that attend the school could receive a gift bag.

All the profit from the evening’s activities will go towards these charities. The evening’s activities also included a fund-raising raffle and silent auction with a twist. Individuals were able to buy raffle tickets to have the opportunity to win several donated prizes such as Caribbean rums, Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, restaurant/spa vouchers and much more.

The silent auction included some similar prizes as the raffle but the twist was that in addition to those prizes one could bid on members and friends of the association who would go to the winners home to cook them a scrumptuous meal, or give them lessons in music, cooking or English.

For instance, there was the Italian who would prepare a four-course candlelight dinner for two people; the Taiwanese who would prepare a traditional Taiwanese meal for four and a Caribbean Chef who would prepare a traditional Caribbean meal. In each case all ingredients would be provided by the cook/chef.

A popular activity was the various presentations and distribution of prizes, including a presentation by the Bahamian Ambassador to Beijing Elma Campbell who brought greetings from the Caribbean Caucus of Embassies in the Chinese capital.

Following the ceremonies, the floor was cleared and another side of the party began. The dance floor was opened and shoes came off and hair let down, to put it mildly. The deejay, Brent Parker of Antigua and Barbuda took the revellers on a Caribbean musical journey – from carnival to the dancehall. There was a limbo dance competition that has become a yearly treat. Antigua took home the prize. For some, like Claudia Changoo, the Congo line that ended the night was the highlight of the evening.

Omar Parkins of Kingston praised the CAC for making its events inclusive rather than exclusive, so he didn’t have to think twice about inviting some Mexican friends whom he said had a fantastic evening. “They were agog over the delicious food and the beauty of our Caribbean women. The next step is to enroll them as members.”

Taylor believed that the CAC dinner was a well needed event that brought back a feeling of home, “We laughed, danced and had fun as a family while introducing many other people to what we as Caribbean people are all about in an entertaining fun-filled way,” she said.

“I am sure many (myself included) are anxiously looking forward to next year’s event as the CAC continues to press on with its mission to ‘foster a stronger understanding and appreciation of our Caribbean culture’ in China.”

Yanique Lawrence (yanique_alexia@yahoo.co.uk) is a Jamaican who teaches English in China