China Update

June 7, 2013, first day in China-Suyu

Learned a lot about Chinese culture mostly just through going to dinner with Matt, Brian, Curtis and the men from the branch of OIC.  Matt was not exaggerating when he said they love to drink. A lot! It is a part of their culture and the drinks are served with dinner and are either a very strong (and foul tasting) liquor (60%), or a very weak beer.  It is poured into a cup and toasts are given with miniature shot glasses. The guests of honor sit facing the door and are likely to be toasted the most throughout the evening (in other words they are not supposed to be able to walk straight by the time they leave dinner.) Toasts are always done in twos and are done often.  So someone will say your name and you must drink with them, or at least pretend to.  Then you are expected to toast them back or they can toast you again, but the number must be even.  If they stand, you should stand too, and if they decide to drink more, you are expected to match the amount they drink, it gets pretty crazy and competitive.  Curtis took one for the team at our dinner, since I couldn’t stand the liquor and the other intern was not feeling well.  Overall he was probably pressured into taking about 15 shots or more throughout the dinner.  Because of all the drinking most of the conversation revolves around who’s turn it is to take shots and how much they have to take.  Dinner itself is an experience.  Many many plates are served family style and are rotated around.  They drinking water is served hot! And rice is usually not served until after everything else is eaten.  Most of the dishes are very unique to say the least.  Animals are served whole and there are plenty of interesting smells etc going around.  I did especially love the fried ice cream, but I have a feeling I am going to really rely on the 15 boxes of mac and cheese that Curtis and I brought.  Another experience at the restaurant was the bathroom, which I would not recommend to anyone.  Women’s restrooms are bad enough when they don’t involve squatting over a slippery, urin covered floor.  After dinner the interns and Matt had Chinese tea (which is a pricey delicacy) with the COO of OIC, which was pretty great although difficult to communicate.  English is definitely rare here.

June 8, 2013

It was a good Saturday.  Brian, Curtis and I walked around the city and played on the workout equipment in the park.  Then we went to dinner with Jensung, which was fun and delicious, especially since he had wine this time.  We also got to watch a face changing act, which was fascinating.  We walked back from the city and Curtis got screamed at by a very excited Asian girl in a karaoke bar.  They don’t see many foreigners.

June 9, 2013

I got to hang out with Curtis all day today and had an amazing all you can eat breakfast for less than a dollar.  Then I was told I would be taking a black taxi to my branch (and yes, it is as sketchy as it sounds).  Basically a black market taxi shoves as many people and their things as possible, into one van.  Once I got to my branch I met my apartment mate intern-Junda.  He is very nice, though somewhat awkward.  I went to dinner with his family and tried duck and goose.  I like the apartment though we are a ways away from the city downtown.

June 10, 2013

Today was rough.  I went out into the countryside to visit a farmer with Junda’s family.  Apparently his mother does research for the government.  It was very hot and I did not realize how boring things are when you do not understand what anyone is saying.  By the time we got back to the apartment I was not feeling very well and by dinner I was ready to lose my stomach, and I did… I asked Curtis if he would want to come and visit for the next two days since it was a holiday and we didn’t have work, thankfully, he agreed.  It took him and his roommate several hours to get to my city and they had a few difficulties but at least they made it.  We tried to get pasta that night, but as it turns out Chinese have a very difficult time cooking anything that does not taste Chinese. L It was the worst spaghetti I had ever had.

June 11, 2013

The highlight of today was sleeping and making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  So glad Curtis could join me.

June 12, 2013

Today is the first day of “work.” So far we have not done anything…