Language problem.....

I ventured again into a neighborhood restaurant for dinner. It turned out to be another steamboat place. Steamboat is a style of dining in which the table is equipped with a gas fired heating pot full of aromatic vegetables and herbs in a boiling broth. You then add your choice of uncooked ingredients (meats, other vegetables, ets) from a pre selected list. .

It was much more crowded with locals so I assume the food was better But you couldn’t prove it by me. Because of the language problem I didn’t know what to order and so I mumbled something in English about chicken. And so when the steamboat stuff arrived they ended up throwing a whole chicken into the bloody pot. I don’t know what they expected me to do with it. The meal, including a big bottle of beer, ended up costing 70 RMB, about $10 or so in US money.

October 13 – Yet another day at the factory. The factory manager brought his daughter to work, hoping that she could act as a translator for me. She is a sweet girl but I don’t think she will be too effective. I am sure he is proud of her because she speaks some English, but I don’t think it is good enough for my needs. But I gave her a list, in English, of my favorite Chinese foods, to translate into Chinese so I can bring it with me whenever I try to eat in a local fan gway (rice shop).

In the evening I tried out her translations in a nearby rice shop and they worked to perfection, albeit with the help of a local who spoke almost perfect English, via some experience in Alabama. I had both noodles with Peking meat sauce zshechuan style string beans and both were quite good. The meal, including a big bottle of beer, set me back about 30 RMB, about $4.50 US. Unbelievable!