Is that stuff food?


At Li Jing’s home, I was served pig’s feet and cucumbers with lichen.  My friend’s mother-in-law was stunned to see me eating with chopsticks and also surprised I sampled all dishes served.  Americans are known to be picky.  I admit that eating such delicacies as duck tongues makes me uneasy, but I do it. The only food I refuse is dog meat.

Cultures define food differently; I come from one culture which observes strict dietary laws. But I never practiced them because they limit one’s access to people unlike oneself.  The sharing of food is important in creating connections.

Lords of the Internet

Despite the prosperity, this is a difficult time in China, for previously disenfranchised groups are seeking inclusion, and the government fears instability.  Military personnel patrol Beijing International Airport carry machine guns—a warning to would be terrorists.

Control of the Internet is another such warning. Many sites are shut down. Access to email is intermittent.  To me, in my state of exhaustion and culture shock, this is extremely difficult—I crave the connection with home, thought friends here are helping me. 

Yesterday, I visited a Taoist temple with my friend Li Jing where I saw worshippers lighting incense and posting small prayer flags.  There are all sorts of gods, my friend explained—some for fertility, some for health, some for prosperity.  Is there a god of the internet, I wonder, who can restore my connection to gmail?  

 

Canine co-passenger

From Johnson City, it takes over 24 hours to get to Beijing. I've completed leg one of my journey and am currently on stopover. Next destination is Seoul, South Korea. There was a Chahuahua on board on the flight from Tri-Cities-- her owner was allowed to bring it aboard for emotional support. It cowered and whimpered under the seat behind me.

I never thought to inquire if Butter, our yellow tabby, would like to come with me to China. I imagine he would have declined. He doesn't even enjoy the short rides he makes in our car.

Gifts of information and language

It's easiest to know what to bring for people I know well. One of my friends likes the varied news magazines one finds in America-- things like Time and Newsweek. The Chinese government keeps tight control over information, keeping the choices of reading material narrow. The Patriot Act notwithstanding, Americans can read what they want.

For the children of colleagues, I bring games and toys which will help them with English: an interactive alphabet busy box for a two year old, a Scrabble game for a girl in her early teens, a book of Shel Silverstein's poems for a child entering 6th grade.

Not made in China

China’s is a gift giving culture. Those we visit offer us gifts representing their culture, and good manners we give gifts in return. It’s important to follow this protocol when discussing exchanges with university officials, which it now seems I shall be doing. Such things aren’t covered in a university budget, and I had expected to eat the cost. However, my new chair, Dr. Norma Hogan graciously said she’d go halves with me.

For the men, we bought pen sets and key chains at the ETSU book store. Then yesterday, I went over to JC Penney's to get gifts for the Chinese ladies. Thought I’d but scented soap, but couldn't find any. Then I remembered how Chinese women love luxury cosmetics, but this isn’t something I'm accustomed to buying. Years of Methodist stewardship lectures have made me feel guilty about spending money on makeup in a world plagued by hunger. I compromise by buying makeup on sale at Walgreens. An international project is different, however; so I consulted a cosmetologist about products to complement Asian skin tones.

I bought eight boxes of shadow whose lovely packages proclaimed they were made in California. This is a plus. Most of the chachkas have labels which read “made in China.”

Sudden change

I'm going to spend a few days in Beijing before going on to Weihai, where I'll be teaching at the University of Shandong. I had planned a relaxed time where I'd take walks, practice my Chinese, stay in a budget hotel and visit old friends. I expected to see some people from North China University of Technology in Beijing or NCUT where I'd taught there in the past. I thought we might possibly discuss university exchanges between NCUT and ETSU where I'm on faculty, if people wanted to. On this, I had the blessing of Norma Hogan, my chair, and Angela Lewis, my Dean; nevertheless the trip was unofficial. The plan has changed. Li Jing, who was supposed to pick me up at the airport, contacted me yesterday evening. Personnel at NCUT had learned would be in Beijing, and their international office decided I ought to stay on their campus. My hotel reservation would be cancelled. A university car would be meeting me. The international office will plan my time in Beijing, though though visits with friends will be part of my schedule. I gather that there will be meetings, though I've no idea what the agendas will be. This is turning into a more structured visit than I'd anticipated, but it's very generous of NCUT, and I'm sure I'll have fun. In China, women faculty wear feminine clothing on formal occasions, and sometimes even the nicest slacks will not do. I'd already bought a new dress; today, I went back to the mall and purchased another skirt. Below: North China University of Technology, front gate

Busy, busy

The upcoming trip to China will be only three and a half weeks long, making it one of my shortest. However, it’s no less complex. I have checklists of people to contact, including thank yous to everyone who recommended me for promotion to full professor, another of things to buy—like a travel iron and a new camera, memos about bringing double A batteries and adaptor plugs, and a compendium of tasks such as applying for an international faculty ID card-- something I should have done weeks ago. Dennis Cope (pictured below) was just to our house vetting my laptop for its excursion to China. He’ll be managing my blog while I am overseas. I’m able to send him pictures and postings via my gmail. The Chinese government blocks access to blogs.