Travel Journal 7

February 9, 2013  -  Saturday  -  Chinese New Year’s Eve!

Friday was a day of walking!  R’s husband took Randy, Jessica, Hannah, Deb and I down the street where we caught a bus.  We rode it a good ways to a National Park on the outskirts of San men xia.  We walked into the park and saw a couple of famous sites.

         

This tower is over 1,000 years old!

Then we walked a long way and dropped down to the Yellow River again.  While there, a man brought some horses to near where we were.  Jessica and Hannah rode one and Debbie rode the other!  

          

Then we walked on to an area where there was a large flock of swans – much closer than we had seen days before! 

         

 Then, to our surprise, we walked home!  It was a long, long walk.  At one point, we crossed the river again to walk up the other side.  Then at the Rainbow Bridge we crossed back over and completed the walk.

R had dinner ready when we arrived home.  It was boiled pork ribs and what I thought were potatoes, but were actually something else (again, as before, the ribs were bony cuts of meat – delicious, but not much of it).  Also a cauliflower dish, sugared fresh-sliced tomatoes (which we LOVE!), and a cucumber and dofu noodle cold salad. 

We played some Monopoly Cards with Randy and then ‘Up-the-River-Down-the-River' with Randy, Jessica, R, and Samson.  After trying (unsuccessfully) to call Tracie, Deb and I did some reading and went to bed.

SATURDAY

This morning, we stayed in our room reading.  We skyped with Tracie and the kids from 8:30 – 9:00 AM.  They are in the middle of a blizzard, but are comfy and cozy.  It was so good to see and hear them.

We joined breakfast a little late.  They served a bowl with little doughballs in water.  They were filled with ground peanuts and sesame seeds.  They had a very soft texture and were sweet!  I ate one and chose a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!  Pickled garlic were also on the table (R’s pickled garlics are almost raw and I’m not as fond of them as my own).  Occasionally raw garlic is served with a meal – that’s a bit of a challenge for me.

After breakfast Debbie had a nice long conversation with Cindy Marchese.  Then, we washed some clothes out by hand – boy the water is cold!  We seem to be in an e-mail lull right now.  The family went out for a walk together (minus Randy).  They’re back now.  It’s apparently a spring like day again!   Debbie and I took a walk and bought pastries, fruit and candy.  Jessica made some popcorn today! 

CHINESE NEW YEAR!

Today is a very special day in China;  it’s New Year’s Eve!  Fireworks have been going off for several days, however, they’re going off a lot today!  Many small stores are already closed.  There were not many people on the streets.  Many stores will be closed for a whole week;  others will only be open for limited hours. 

I’m told that today is the big celebration day (the biggest of the whole year!).  Then tomorrow is more of a laid-back kind of day.  The following Spring Festival Days are for the enjoyment of one’s family!  Spring is beginning in the southern provinces, but it is still two or three months away for Changchun!

I understand that some gifts are given today, especially to children.  Grandparents typically give their grandchildren a red envelope today with money in it.  Although we’re not her grandparents, we’re giving Hannah a red envelope tonight with 500 yuan in it!  I’m certain that Randy and Jessica will help her to spend it wisely;  I’m betting a huge amount will be put away as savings!  J I also bought R a Dove candy bar and a pack of gum that I saw her eyeing up at the store the other day.  We bought everyone else some special pastry tarts that they seem to be quite fond of! 

In a short while we’ll be eating the big holiday meal with R and her family!  It’s been such a privilege and honor for us to spend these weeks actually living with a Chinese family! 

The meal included many dishes that have previously been described, but included a fish as the centerpiece.  It was served head to tail and was delicious.  The only other new dish was a plate of chicken wings – very similar to what we would eat in the US.

Debbie and I took a walk this evening across the river and back.  Fireworks are constantly going off! It was a beautiful evening!  Once back home, everyone is just enjoying themselves doing different things.  At 8:00 PM a national, government special program will be on and I’m told that almost everyone watches it.  We watched something similar on New Year’s Eve, December 31^st. 

At 8:00 PM the national program came on and almost all of the fireworks stopped.  At 9:30 PM R brought out the makings for jiausa or dumplings.  R, Lao, Randy, Jessica, and Debbie all jumped in to help with the project.  

At 11:30 PM we ate some.  We’ll eat them again for breakfast!  Fireworks got really loud at midnight!  I’ve never heard anything like it!  It’s 12:30 AM and I’m going to bed!  Just sent Happy New Year’s greetings to my kids and siblings!  Good night!

Eating Among the Chinese

Having lived with a Chinese family for several weeks and having mingled with Chinese for nearly half-a-year, I will share some observations.

Meals are a community experience.  Tables are always small so that everyone can reach every entrée.  In our present situation, where there are ten people eating together in a home, two tables have been pushed together.  Every entrée is placed (on two plates) one on each end of the table so that everyone is able to reach it.  In many restaurants the table will include a round glass that can be turned.  The entrees are placed on this rotating table which is turned continually throughout the meal to accommodate everyone! 

You will usually only be given a bowl of sticky rice and chopsticks.  Occasionally if a soup is involved, a ceramic spoon is provided.  In some case you will also be provided a small plate.

It is acceptable to reach across the table as often as you like.  It is acceptable to eat or sip from your bowl.  Most Chinese people actually hold the bowl in their hand as they eat.  It is common to bring the bowl to your mouth and use your chopsticks to sweep food into your mouth.  You may sip liquids from your bowl.  In restaurants, a bowl of hot water may be served;  this is your beverage – feel free to drink from it.  It may even be slightly flavored as a broth. 

Beverages beyond water are rare.  If alcoholic drinks are included in the meal, it is common for Chinese people to offer toasts and to want to touch glasses before drinking.    

If you come across bones or other waste, simply put it on the table near your bowl.  As the meal draws to a finish, you may scrape the final ingredients from an entrée plate into your rice bowl.  I find this to be a great treat with many meals for the sauces are loaded with favor and are delicious with rice! 

Conversation flows freely during the meal and often becomes loud and animated!  It is acceptable to get up and go to the rice cooker and serve yourself more rice! 

Do not expect dessert!  Occasionally a sweet entrée will be included, but ending a meal with something sweet is not a Chinese value.