Chronicle 6/19/2010

I don't quite remember where I left off, so I think I'm just gonna wing it here.

Thursday Cheng missed work. He hopped off on the wrong bus stop, got stranded in the rain without an umbrella and lost his bus card. Great start, but he enjoyed not having to go to work. I, on the other hand, was everywhere I was supposed to be; but by the looks of the natives, I wasn't supposed to be anywhere I was.

I woke up Friday and Skype'd with Stephen. The both of us were shirtless for the duration of the chat, that was minorly strange. Eventually Mom & Connie butted in and we made a conference call out of it. I had to keep the conversation short because I needed to scuddle to the bus stop. Friday was more of the same, but this time I had my laptop with me. I spent time utilizing Skype's chat feature. I was also trying to keep up with the Lakers/Celtics game and I was bummed that I couldn't watch live. It wasn't the same watching the numbers change and I couldn't go running through the hall of the office throwing things in anger when the Lakers won- that was no fun.

I ordered my own lunch Friday. I'm not sure if the guy heard me or just saw me point. I like to think it was my words. 土豆胬肉 tu dou nu rou (potato beef is the literal translation). It was a plate of beef and potatoes, mound of rice and a whole lot of oil. Green food seems hard to come by.


Lam, Cheng's dad, arrived Friday afternoon. He's real good, old friends with the Chairman of the company I'm working for. Mr. Richard is a very, very successful entrepreneur. (I know because I got to look over the financial statements ;) ). They've known one another since 1997. The dinner was very good, roast duck. There was a large lazy susan in the center of the circular table. The whole dinner is full of ceremony. Cheers anytime a member of the party picks up his (alcoholic) drink. Await to be assigned your seat by the host. The lazy susan was decked with a plate of large beans (size of a lima, color of a kidney bean), duck feet (I finally found a food I don't like!), asparagus, a clear tofu like substance over a blue light (symbolic of the water cube) and a Bird's Nest-esque pile of something- I think it was a thin meat (I spend a lot of time eating and very little time asking). I figured the duck feet thing out on my own- wasn't very hard). The duck, kao ya, was the best dish I've had thus far. It had a sauce with it that was incredible. Richard was a real hearty guy. Loud, laughed hard and had a lot of wisdom and experience to share.

When I first used my Chinese he was impressed, then he went on a tear that I didn't understand. Back to the grinning, nodding and saying "Wo ting bu dong" 我听不懂 (I hear but don't understand). I was able to understand what he was saying for the most part. Context clues and body language kept me plugged into the conversation.

He had the waiter pour up a hot wine in a little shot glass, to my chagrin, for everyone. Before the toast the smell of the alcohol reminded me of my oh-so-taxing birthday party and I wanted to gag then and there.

First toast, I took a mouthful of coke (可乐 ke le) then threw it back, followed by a heavy cringe. Everyone else took a healthy sip. Greaaaattttt. This process went on 7 to 10 more times. 1 refill involved, 1 waving off of the waiter and 1 feigned toast. I think the glass was left on the table full. To be fair, it was smooth but the warmth wasn't so appealing. The fact that it reminded me of a night in which I drank far too much just sucked.


Following dinner Cheng & I attempted to catch a taxi to Dong Zhi Men and Guang Hua intersection to tag up a with a few Aggies to watch the USA game with. We got out of the taxi on what was similar to an exit ramp. Dong Zhi Men street and nothing else. We wandered a little and decided we probably wouldn't find the group so we wondered into Chinatown (ha!) to watch the game. The US got scored on and all the locals decided to turn around and look at me as they cheered. Eventually a friend caught the subway near us, we rounded him up & wondered back off to a little restaurant to watch the game. In this establishment, the US scored and everyone cheered along with the 3 of us. I knew I liked that restaurant.

Today, Saturday, Cheng, Lam and I ran around a little bit. Had a good lunch at the spot Cheng & I have frequented 4 or so times. Then Lam brought us to the food courts to show how to work those. Its across the street and underneath the mall. Picking the food, again, involves a lot of pointing- suits me fine. Tonight we are having lamb with Willy, another good friend of Lam's.

Cheng and I are starting to think through the sights around here and beginning to formulate plans.

Here's the random thought/observation section:
I've decided that I might acquire lung cancer in these 2 months. Either from the blanket of smog or all the cigarettes that get chain smoked here. And Mom, if you thought Derek's spitting habit was unsightly, the elderly women here would knock your socks off. It makes me feel like I spit like a little girl.

Cheng witnessed a toddler urinating in the middle of the street as his dad held his hand. Typically, I'd be appalled but the way the streets and drivers are here- if that kid walked off alive I applaud him. Walking through these streets is similar to the 5th level of Frogger... and I only ever made it to level 3. I haven't seen the sun in quite some time. I've seen sunlight, but the smog blots out the sun itself. I think the first thing I want when I get home is a hamburger and a pile of green vegetables. I've never seen so many people in my life.