I will apologize ahead of time for the lack of pictures... we don't get wireless here and I am using a school computer. Possibly on Sunday I will delight your visual senses with some pictures.
I just have a few notes on eating here in China. First of all, I would hate to be the bus boy at restaurants here. It's customary (can't think of a better word) to put whatever you want on the floor; garbage, leftovers, spit, etc. Gross. I had the hardest time letting my chopsticks wrapper fall to the floor, I was just waiting for someone to scold me. Second of all, I love being the guest here, I mean, REALLY love going to dinner where they insist that I try some of this, or some of that 'it's delicious!' or have the honor of eating the chicken head (that was Matt's duty tonight, poor guy).
Last but not least, I have discovered the secret weapon for picky eaters in China! I have the great talent of being able to swallow big things whole (like jello squares, dry swallowing multiple pills)... people mocked me in the past, but I'm pretty sure right now it is the most useful skill I have. I don't like lots of things because of their texture (weird, I know) so sometimes I don't mind the flavor, but I hate chewing it. Hence, the swallowing. Our liaison insisted that I try the Chinese tofu and fish last night (not a big fish eater) so I cut it up into pieces, stuck it in my mouth and swallowed, then I finished it off with our Nutri-Express (apple flavored milk instead of tea). Perfect.
So word to the wise picky eater, practice now... and you can eat anything they throw at you here.
And just a quick PS, I don't hate living in China, I just want to remember all the little things that I think are weird now, since I will probably come back a public spitter myself. I may even follow after the small children here and walk around pantie-less with a big hole in my pants so I can pee wherever I feel the urge.
4 comments:
Oh gosh, I know just how you feel. The food was terrible. The major cities have more american stuff but once you get into smaller towns, and peoples homes it's like eeeekkk! And you are expected to try everything.
I dig the idea of just letting stuff slide down your gullet. I ate so many strange things I lost track!
You are a genuis. I learned to swallow food whole when we went to some peoples house and they feed me liver balls. Gross...but they slide nicely. I want a pair of pants that I can pee out of ...that would be a new trend in the US. You could make millions. We love reading your stories...you can write a book.
Please, please, don't pick up any habits in China, even the chopstick wrapper on the floor is already making me nuts,(by the time you moved out I almost had you out of the habbit of just dropping evertying on the floor) and you know how I detest spitting.
holy crap, i don't know what i'd do...well, probably the same thing, swallow it whole. i remember doing that in austria, haha. so you are blogging yourself or someone is doing it for you?? and what are you talking about adding you to something so that you can read our blog...im confused. send me an email and tell me so we can keep in touch: almanicole{at}gmail{dot}com. we miss you and are wondering why we didn't go!! oh yeah...the food :)
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