Then when it was lunch time, I was nervous about walking through the crowded cafeteria in my chi pong because I knew I would get made fun of. But no! I had no reason to be embarrassed. I was embracing the culture and showing my appreciation for it and it really was a pretty dress (not to mention I had ironed it and didn't feel like ironing anything else). So I wore it and was attracting a lot of attention and feeling awkward. Then I walked past my mentor teacher and another teacher was looking at me and whispering to her. Aha! Busted! My mentor teacher would tell me what she was telling her about me! "She says you look very beautiful" said my mentor teacher. Ok, at least she's not making fun of me. Then another teacher said "you look like a Chinese bride!" OHH! So that's why everyone's laughing at me! I'm wearing a wedding dress! After she said that I remembered that the department chair had told me the other day when I wore it that it was a bridal dress but I didn't remember that until now.
Well, all is forgiven. If I were in high school and I saw a student/teacher wearing a wedding dress and walking down the halls I would laugh too... although I think they thought it was even funnier since I was a foreigner.
Here's a picture of the dress. It has a peacock on it. It's even prettier in person! :)