Thursday, November 8, 2012
Yummy Yummy
When I talk about meals in China, one word comes to mind....feast. The Chinese love food. We as Americans generally small talk about the weather, but the Chinese talk about food. When we encounter a familiar face we usually say, "How are you?'. However, the Chinese will ask, " Chi fan le ma?" which means, "Have you eaten?" Breakfast, lunch and dinner are to be eaten at specific times. Breakfast usually consists of noodles in a broth with spices and meat for flavoring. Hot beef flavored noodles do not whet my appetite at 8 a.m. so I opt for bread with peanut butter or a yogurt with fruit. I typically eat lunch at school. The food is served family style which is very common for the Chinese. When going to eat at a restaurant, one or two people will choose several dishes for the entire table to share. There is sometimes a giant lazy susan in the middle of the table so all of the dishes can be reached. Common dishes in this region include, egg with tomato, green beans with sausage, corn with sausage, bitter melon (aptly named) with chicken, bamboo shoots with chicken, tofu with tomato, green water spinach, mushrooms, cabbage, and RICE... always rice. The dishes vary by region and season. The food is pretty good and it is free which makes it taste even better. For dinner, I typically steer clear of Chinese and go to town for Western food. I don't care for Chinese food in the US, but I think it is fantastic here. It is true that the Chinese eat virtually every kind of meat. Thus, I like to ask "What is this?", before I pop it in my mouth. The Chinese also do not waste any food. They eat pigs' feet and chicken feet -which I have now tried- pig ears, pig snout, etc. Also, the meat is usually just chopped with a large knife so picking bones out of the dish is a part of life. Snacks are a huge element of daily life as well. Between almost every class, the children go visit the ice cream stand or "Mr. Hello"- a local shop owner who always says hello to passersby- for some type of snack. That equates to about 6 snacks a day, excluding evening snacks. China is more or less a self sustaining country in terms of food. This equates to a consistent supply of delicious, locally-grown fruits and vegetables. There are several markets around town and road side stands that sell fruits and veggies. There are also fresh meat markets that have everything you can imagine -fish, turtles, frogs, duck, chicken, and much more. Experiencing the food in China has its ups and downs. Food is an expression of culture, and I have loved having the opportunity to eat and learn.
Wedding Bells
In June, I was honored with an invitation to a colleague's wedding. First, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate her joyous occasion. Also, a wedding is an interesting and important cultural event which reveals traditions and beliefs that one might not be aware of otherwise. One day, I walked in the office and was informed that my friend and colleague was married. There was no engagement time, no anticipation, none of the build up in which Americans revel. There was not a ceremony, a formality often skipped in this area of China. Instead, the couple hosted guests at a reception, which was very familiar. The newlyweds greeted guests as we walked into the venue. We handed them money wrapped in lucky red envelopes as we passed. Our seats were assigned, and small snacks were offered on each table along with bottles of wine, baijiu (rice wine), beer, and sodas. The couple was announced and walked through the venue beaming with happiness. The couple stopped at the front at which time a women with a microphone said some words, which I did not understand. The couple went through a few traditional bows and exchanges. Then dinner was served and the bride changed from a white to a pink gown. It was an enormous meal served family style, of course. After dinner, the couple walked through the crowd with small cups of baijiu and toasted with each guest. Immediately after dinner, the guests began to leave. Unlike the majority of weddings I have attended in the US, there was no dancing or cake cutting. The couple exited soon after dinner as well. The wedding was an enlightening and fun experience, one which I am very happy to have had.
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