Re: China- to Kate
From: Kate (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Mon, 29 Oct 2001 22:31:56 -0600 (CST)
Hi Helen,
Believe me, I know the phrase tai pang far too well. I remember once at
the silk market, a guy refused to let me buy a top I wanted! He insisted
that it wouldn't fit, but I knew it would. Too funny! My little, tiny
sister got a laugh when I brought her back a size XXL top this year that
fit perfectly (she's a size 6 here).
I once had a Beijing cabbie compliment my frame and tell me I must be
bigger and healther than Chinese women because American women drink so
much beer.
I was back in Beijing in May and June this year, visiting friends, then
travelled into Xinjiang for a while. I had to visit the home of my
favorite food in China. I really miss Uyghur food more than any other!
I know what you mean about the grease factor in the dishes. It's really
tough to go without a starch. My staple while living in Beijing was the
luxury box of Kellog's corn flakes I allowed myself to spend 60 kuai on
every few weeks.
I was working China Daily while I was there, which was, let's just say,
quite an experience. But the hours were very slim and they provided
decent housing -- so I got to travel a bunch and meet lots of great
people. And it was a very interesting way to learn how things work.
Are you coming back to the states this year? I imagine 4.5 years is
quite a long ride. I didn't get enough after one year but came home
anyway. I'd love to get back there for a few more years. My putonghua
is fading quickly.
--
Kate
At Mon, 29 Oct 2001, anonymous wrote:
>
>HiKate,
>So funny about your Mom. I took my 120lbs marathon runner sister to the
>silk alley and they kept saying she was tai pang (too fat) and needed
>XL. She was so upset! She wears size small at home (size 4) and did not
>like buying the XL's of China!
>
>I try not to take it all too personally. I love vacations at home where
>I can walk into stores and buy things like jeans at the Gap! No jeans
>for me at Sanlitun. I have a friend here who has recently lost about 60
>lbs- and all the shop girls say she is too fat to shop at their stores!!
>:)
>
>You asked what I do here... I run a non profit organization that
>provides sports programs to expatriate and local Chinese children. I
>run 15 sports leagues for 1,800 kids. And I coach the high school ice
>hockey team. I play on the men's hockey team and the woman's rugby team
>and have fun travelling around the country with the kids and adult
>teams.
>
>You are right in that the rice/ noodles are generally served separately.
>It just takes will-power to say "bu yao" - don't want it! I guess the
>biggest reason that I tend towards the fan (rice, noodles, bouzi etc) is
>that I grew up in a "fat-free" household and have a hard time telling
>myself that it is OK to eat the dishes cooked in oil. They also tend to
>make me sick becuase I don't stomach oil very well. I have gotten
>better at restaurants- telling them to please boil my veggies instead of
>deep frying them- but I have a hard time doing that at dinners with lots
>of people becuase it causes such a stir and people all want to know why
>I would want it prepared without flavor and oil?
>
>Great hearing from you. It is nice to know that someone else has had
>similar experiences!!
>
>Thank you! Helen
>PS. Will you be returning to Zhong Guo? What were you doing here?
>
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