June 25, '06

June 25, ‘06

Internet came up briefly then went down again at the university. I guess we’ll have to wait till Xi’an in several days to attempt postings. We’re always busy and cannot get to an internet café, which will then cost us.

On campus today I saw both a self-propelled lawn mower and a weed whacker. The other tool was a two-wheeled platform where the cut grass was laid to remove who knows where. I remember scythes for cutting the grass in Russia over a decade ago. And here there is a glut of labor.

The dean was out at the railroad station warning the Cal Poly Pomona group to beware of pickpockets. Soon afterwards he himself was pickpocketed and lost his wallet. People always warn you about the train stations. There is a Chinese expression that goes something like: shrimp, lobster, etc.; you never know what kind of people are there.

One of our guides has decided that he prefers us Tenneseeans to the Californians. The Chinese guides have to work both groups and they weigh the groups’ personalities. When we were able to get into Qinghua University but prevented from touring the grounds of Beijing University (BeiDa), he compared the Poly people to BeiDa people, and again expressed his fondness for us. It probably factors in that he wants to come to ETSU.

Found out that mar jiang means sesame paste, so I’ve asked the international office staff to get a correct translation for the ingredient that numbs the tongue. It seems to be a pepper.

Numerous plates of food are served at a lazy Susan for groups or at banquets. Cold appetizers first, then hot dishes. A soup or two are interspersed with the hot dishes. Dessert is fruit, mostly watermelon (tasty), but yellow melon too, which I really like. At the end of the meal after the “dishes” are served, we are asked, what would we like for “food’? This means rice, probably steamed bread (haven’t had it yet at the end of meal), noodles, or jiaozi or Chinese dumplings (the kind my Chinese colleague in Japan made for Susan and me). We’ve had the dumplings stuffed with pork and with colored dough, green or reddish, filled with different veg. Usually we have had enough to eat and try to refuse the “food.” Our hosts then tell us that the dumplings are a specialty of this place and we have to concede to eat another course. The noodle dish is quite good also. It’s made with broth, egg, veg and other stuff.