As young college students, I think we can all agree that one of our favorite things is the weekend. Some spend the weekend partying while others relax or hang out with friends. Here in China, when I ask college-aged Chinese people what they enjoy doing when they’re not studying or doing work, there is an extremely popular answer: KTV. KTV TV screen

KTV is just karaoke, but it is much different than the Western sense of karaoke. Western-style karaoke usually involves someone gathering enough courage to go on stage and belt out a song in front of a crowd of strangers in a bar. Karaoke in the East is so popular that there are actual designated karaoke buildings. Eastern-style karaoke involves you and a group of friends getting your own private room with a huge screen and a comfy sofa. These rooms are rather high-tech—there is a touch-screen pad that you can use to select what song is next, call a waiter over, choose to do a duet with the original singer of the song or if you want do belt out a solo, etc. KTV is very popular in China with everyone- I have seen teenagers crowded in a room, and I have also seen middle-aged Chinese partying in their own KTV room…sometimes what looks like to be an after-work party!

I have done KTV 5 or 6 times here in China, and every time I go it is a blast. Each KTV place has a different selection of songs but for the most part you can find a decent selection of English songs, both new and old. This past weekend I indulged in our last day of KTV with some Chinese friends and the rest of H-23. They stuffed 13 of us in a small room, but in a way that is what made it even more entertaining. At first, KTV generally starts off sort of slow, especially if you have some shy people in the group. But once you get the ball rolling, everyone has an awesome time. My own personal motto is: It doesn’t matter whether or not you are a good singer; all that matters is that you try to enjoy yourself. I can’t carry a tune to save my life, but I don’t mind getting up and backup dancing to Beyonce’s “Love on Top” or attempting to sing “I Want it That Way” by the Backstreet Boys. Let me tell you, it is just great to see a shy Chinese person stand up and croon along to “Rolling in the Deep”. A few of us even took a shot at singing Chinese songs! All that matter is that we enjoyed each other’s company—and it doesn’t hurt that we got a mini concert out of it!