Eating Part 1

I have not tried dog yet.

Eating is one of the, if not the single, most important part of the day here. Every building has either a restaurant or shop as the ground level, while the remaining 7-12 floors are apartments. Restaurants are small, usually seating about 15 people inside and 10 outside, but everywhere. So far I have been out to eat for every meal. 

Surprises (a bit unnecessary, everything in China is a surprise): 
I have been served by a waiter smoking a cigarette. I have also had a waiter who was not wearing a shirt (very common among the average Chongqing male).

There is a large Muslim population here that comes from the China’s northwest providence of Xinjiang. Muslim restaurants are numerous and seem to be respected by the locals. I imagine a Muslim restaurant in China may be the only place on Earth where Muslims, Christians, and Jews unite, brought together because they are assured either chicken or beef (the Chinese will cook anything).

The least I have paid for a full meal (and I mean full) is 8 RMB. The most is 13 RMB. Beer and juice is 3 RMB and bottled water is either 1 or 2 RMB. One American dollar is 6.25 RMB.

Today I met Frank Wang, the man responsible for the international teachers. Have I mentioned there are only 10 foreign teachers here? Eight are from CSB/SJU. Frank took the group out for lunch at a fancy restaurant on campus. Lunch turned into a feast. Multiple dishes were ordered and placed on a spinning lazy Susan (can’t think of the right word) on the middle of the table. We ate dumplings, beef and chicken with veggies and peppers, pig intestines with roasted nuts, noodles, rice, soup, two different types of tofu, cooked pickled celery, goose, duck, mushrooms, fresh fruits, and drank baijou (rice wine) and local beer. 

The goose dish did me in. Served with noodles and green veggies, it seemed to me the one dish lacking the signature Chongqing blazing spice. I thought the green veggies were peapods as they were roughly the same size and color. I grabbed two with my chopsticks and started chomping away. Turns out they were Hmong peppers. I love spicy food and pride myself on my ability to eat it, but these peppers were way out of my league. My eyes watered instantly, and within 30 seconds I had a stream of tears running down my face. 

Overall I would consider it to be one of the best meals I have ever had. 

I am still trying to get my bearings and figure out many unanswered questions. I did get my luggage. Frank is leading the group into Chongqing city tomorrow for a mandatory physical and tour of the city. I have much to share, but one day at a time. I will try and post pictures soon. 

School starts next week and I will be teaching undergraduate English. Please email me with any creative ideas on how to engage a class that will likely be introverted and reluctant to participate in discussion. Actually, for reading this blog entry, I demand you send me one unique idea, game, activity or conversation starter. jcurranmurray@gmail.com  

JCM