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The foreigner with the short sleeve shirt... That would be me. During my Nanning China trip, I went to see the parents of a good friend. It was one of the warmest days there (probably in the mid to upper 70's) and I wore a short sleeve shirt. I carried a jacket planning the evening would be cooler. Most people on the street wore heavy jackets, but it really wasn't cold. It was early afternoon when we arrived at the condo (by taxi) and some people were in the courtyard that knew my friend. They chatted briefly and there was mention of letting one of the young (in the courtyard) feed the chickens. What chickens I said? All along the side of the courtyard were (what appeared to me as) storage rooms or... mini garages. They opened up one door and it revealed a double row chicken coop! I asked if the birds were for the eggs or food and the answer was the eggs. They often trade with the other people at the apartment/condo. After meeting the parents, we asked if they were hungry and suggested dinner... my treat. As homebody folks, they wanted to stay in so we went out for food. Within walking distance was a huge open market so we picked up fresh meat, fish and vegetables. Back at the condo, I was in charge of the grille and my friend was setting up a 'hot-pot'. If you are familiar with Szechuan style cooking, it originates from Central and Southwest China. Canton or Cantonese, it's typically boiled food in a large bowl with water and spices. We chopped all the foods and started cooking them. Typically, my friends parents prepare small meals with rice, but today we were cooking enough for many. My friend was boiling fish and vegetables and I was setting up the grill. I turned up the gas grill and opened the 2 vent fans over the range. The vent was on the wall facing the courtyard. Cooking with oil and spices, I repeatedly tipped the wok making flames come up a few inches over the food and the smoke was blowing out to the courtyard. I have always said... if you cannot cook a thing, saute onions and mushrooms and people will think you actually know what you are doing! A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door... it seems the neighbors had all heard a foreigner with a short sleeve shirt was inside and they knew it was HIS COOKING they smelled all through the courtyard! My friend said they wanted to invite themselves in but she apologized to the neighbors and told them it was a private dinner. They weren't offended but went away happy that some excitement was happening in their condo! Thanks for reading my blog. |
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goes to show that around the world, people can and do find much of interest in others and appreciations as well.
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