Re: China- to Kate
From: anonymous (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Mon, 29 Oct 2001 23:55:11 -0600 (CST)
Hey kate,
Xinjiang food is the best! And Xinjiang is the most beautiful place! But
saying "no" to that nang is so hard. It is, of course, my favorite part
of the meal!!
When I was here in high school ('92), I was studying at Bei Da. I was
too scared to eat the meat or veggies in the cafeteria. I ate 2 bowls
of rice a day only and enoyed long runs around campus. I was a very
skinny size 8. Living like that was fine for a couple of months- but
not something I could keep up for years on end. It is just not healthy!
4.5 years has been a long ride. I am leaving in May. I am sure I will
miss it the minute I am on the plane- but am looking forward to the USA,
starting grad school and getting married!! :)
China Daily must have been quite an experience. How did you end up
there?
Impressed that you spent the $8 for cornflakes! I am way to cheap for
that!!
Thanks for sharing your stories! They make me feel so much better!!
Helen
At Mon, 29 Oct 2001, Kate wrote:
>
>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?
>>
![[ PCOS Discussion Forums ]](../../images/pcos_at_obgyn.gif)