Introducing hot pots
A second wonderful day in China! I spent most of yesterday taking up every invitation which came my way, and then just following around those who spoke English! I took a campus tour of this amazing university (incredible to think that all this has been built up in the last 9 1/2 years... from 98 students to more than 10 000!) I then went for lunch with one of my former students where we sampled local culinary delights: "jiao-zuh" (steamed potstickers with meat and celery - delicious), and a plate of potato and eggplant. Let the record reflect that Chinese eggplant is AMAZING, and nothing at all like the rubbery veg we know in the West! I roamed the campus, learned about 'milk tea', frozen yoghurt and shopping in a Chinese grocery store.
After lunch I went with another one of the local teachers to her oral English class. It was speech day, and each student had to prepare a 3 1/2 minute 'persuasive speech'. They ranged from incomprehensible to dazzling - with such a variety of topics. I was persuaded that breakfast is good to keep my slim and healthy (gotta love "chinglish"), that everyone should use more cell phones, that train travel is the best form of travel, that schools should have a later starting time, that the US troops should leave Iraq, and that virtual gaming was not only a boys' activity!?!?
I had dinner with two teachers and two wonderful Chinese students whose English is incredible, and who both hope to come to America. They took us to a hot pot restaurant in the city, which required taking a taxi... Oh my! The roads here are somewhat like a dance: just a graceful weaving of people, motorcycles, and cars driving on any and every side of the road... all without stopping. Traffic lights are suggestions, rather than directives, and lanes and lines on the road seem more decorative than functional! But it wasn't scary - just tremendous fun. We dined on hot pot - a giant bowl of bubbling broth in the center of a table, with plates and plates of raw food which you then throw into the broth and cook. Sort of fondu like - but very different. We ate mutton, beef, mushrooms of incredible variety, two types of tofu, and other things I'd never seen before. All delicious.
So yesterday was a day of food! I went to sleep with my belly both moaning (from fullness) and smiling (from tastiness)... all good.
A final word on price: yesterday I paid for 2 meals out, a trip to the grocers, 3 street beverages, and taxi fare. I think I spent $10???
After lunch I went with another one of the local teachers to her oral English class. It was speech day, and each student had to prepare a 3 1/2 minute 'persuasive speech'. They ranged from incomprehensible to dazzling - with such a variety of topics. I was persuaded that breakfast is good to keep my slim and healthy (gotta love "chinglish"), that everyone should use more cell phones, that train travel is the best form of travel, that schools should have a later starting time, that the US troops should leave Iraq, and that virtual gaming was not only a boys' activity!?!?
I had dinner with two teachers and two wonderful Chinese students whose English is incredible, and who both hope to come to America. They took us to a hot pot restaurant in the city, which required taking a taxi... Oh my! The roads here are somewhat like a dance: just a graceful weaving of people, motorcycles, and cars driving on any and every side of the road... all without stopping. Traffic lights are suggestions, rather than directives, and lanes and lines on the road seem more decorative than functional! But it wasn't scary - just tremendous fun. We dined on hot pot - a giant bowl of bubbling broth in the center of a table, with plates and plates of raw food which you then throw into the broth and cook. Sort of fondu like - but very different. We ate mutton, beef, mushrooms of incredible variety, two types of tofu, and other things I'd never seen before. All delicious.So yesterday was a day of food! I went to sleep with my belly both moaning (from fullness) and smiling (from tastiness)... all good.
A final word on price: yesterday I paid for 2 meals out, a trip to the grocers, 3 street beverages, and taxi fare. I think I spent $10???
posted by Bronwyn at 4:11 am
1 Comments:
I smiled when I saw you used the word "Chinglish". I have only heard Chinese who used that word, but apparently, it has caught on in the mainstream culture as well. I no longer speak "Chinglish" these days, which is somewhat sad. I am a bit nostalgic about being able to be Chinglish and say that I have the best of both cultures. These days, people think that I am an ABC (American-Born Chinese), and that I no longer possess the characteristics of a FOB.
Ain't it great to have all that food and fun for just $10??? I just love being able to enjoy great, delicious food in the company of good friends. Shopping? What is that? I don't think I shop these days unless I deem it a "necessity". =(
And onto the topic of hot pot: I love hot pot! I haven't had it in a while. The last time was in the fall/winter (and that was after several years without having ANY hot pot!). Friends from a local Chinese congregation decided to have a Saturday outing of "hot pot". It was not your normal hot pot; it was hot pot with a spicy kick. I opted for the non-spicy hot pot table instead. =)
Post a Comment
<< Home