The Food!

(written Sunday, May 13)
I could write a lot about this topic and may do so later as well, but suffice it to say that the Chinese way of eating - somewhat family style with chopsticks is a wonderful change of pace. It is so conducive to developing community. The first evening we got here, we were welcomed with a big, traditional Peking Duck dinner. Instead of ordering one dish and eating it, it is more family style. The food just keeps coming out and there is a great variety of meat and vegetable dishes and of course, rice - all eaten with chopsticks and one spoon for liquids (and in my case the spoon was used for some of the other foods that my rudimentary - or at least inconsistent chopstick technique - could not, after several tries pick up and navigate to my mouth!) As an introduction, we have had two large meals like this together as a group, but tonight we began the process on our own in one of the student cafeterias/restaurants at Peking University, where we are having our classes. We have several choices of places to eat there and we pay for it with meal
cards that deduct our ala carte choices. I'm sure I will have more to say about the food as I get further into this experience!