Bunjee Jumping!

Last Saturday, Caitlin and I went bungee jumping! ahhhhh! We went with our friends, Kate, Meg, Tom, and Tom's friend, Daniel. I kept vacillating between feeling sick and lightheaded to feeling excited about the free fall (30 meters). Then I think I mentally checked out for a bit until I started climbing the stairs higher and higher to the platform. It was beautiful up there, we were in the LongQingXia Gorges which are a couple hours from Beijing. The water was green and sparkling and it was a warm, sunny day. But when they started strapping my ankles I thought, "Oh no, there is just this Velcro strap around my ankles and that doesn't seem significant enough, may I please have a full body harness?! " Then they taped my shirt down and ushered me to the ledge. When I stood up, the chain connecting me to the platform clanked loudly as I waddled to the jumping point. I had asked them to please not push me, I wanted to jump myself. But as soon as I was in position, looking down, ALL THE WAY DOWN at the water, my brain just snapped into NO WAY mode. It just didn't seem right, I can't VOLUNTARILY step off this ledge and free fall towards the water without a parachute or a life jacket or a helmet or some sort of protective- something. I knew if I didn't ask him to push me, I couldn't do it, so I nervously yelped "TUI WO!" (push me) and he did--ever so gently--and down I plunged. Oh if only I could find the words for what the fall was like...of course, full-fledged panic comes to mind....also head rush, I felt like my head was going to explode, so much so that it hurt. But then there was the distraction of what I feared the most-- the jolt of springing back up, like I was being sucked up by a vortex. I got some good screams in before I decided I could wave to the people watching down below. And then the boat came with a man lifting a long stick up towards me to grab so they could pull me down and unharness me into a seat on the boat. It was rather hilarious because after we all compared notes, we realized they tell you to sit down when you are still hanging upside down with your feet up in the air. We all got a good laugh in about that....it was a fun way to tie up the adventure. Our friends took pictures which we will pass on soon for sure. I don't know if I would do it again, but I still want to try skydiving sometime! However, with The Great Wall 1/2 Marathon last weekend and the bungee jumping this weekend I am thinking the next few weekends might be good times to read and fold laundry--another kind of thrill for sure:)

Great Wall 1/2 Marathon

Well I think there is a reason The Great Wall Marathon is one of the world's five adventure marathons! They say to add about half of your marathon time onto this race, you have to fight your competitive instincts to run as fast as you can because there were many times we were lined up single file, waiting for our turn to descend using ropes or railings-- the terrain was so rocky and uneven both going up and going down. Many of us used our hands on the really steep parts, some of the steps were two feet steep, whew, talk about feeling the burn :) There were also some spots where there was actually no wall to the left so if you fell, you fell a LONG way down unless the bushes could stop you. One man tried to run up ahead and not use the railing, he fell down on his hands and knees and we all screamed but he was okay! It was a close one, if he had fallen another six inches to the left it would have been another story. Once we made it off the wall we ran down a goat path into the local villages and the support from the kids and the elderly was amazing. They would scream "Hi! Hello!" and give you high fives and scream JIA YOU! (add oil, the Chinese cheer). Some were sitting on their roofs and a few would jog along beside you to get their picture taken. Speaking of cheers, I even got some TNT cheers because I was wearing my TNT jersey, so that was great to get some Team In Training support on this side of the world. I finished in 2hrs 16 minutes, ninth woman overall, second American woman, and first in my age group (20-29 year-olds). That was such a nice bonus, Caitlin I were aiming for me to finish the race intact, so that was a great surprise!

Expatriate Writing Contest Essays Online

Hi Everyone:

Transitions Abroad has posted the wining essays online (I really enjoyed reading all the essays and I think you will too). Understandably mine has been edited and since it is a bit different, I'm also posting the original below. Papa Rhodes says the latter sounds most like me as my excitement comes across more. Mama Rhodes likes how they added headings and says it seems more concise. Sibling Rhodes says, "Hey, you're published and they gave you money so no worries!" hahaha. All in the family. Here is the link:

transitionsabroad.com/information/writers/expatriate_writing_contest.shtml

"One World, One Dream":

Buildings Rise and Expectations Soar For A Chinese City's Unveiling

Megan Rhodes

Droplets of beer slid down his glasses. I wiped off my cheeks with my beer-soaked sweater and slowly set my empty glass on the table. Now what I wanted to douse him in were my apologies. My sister’s boss had taken us to dinner. In China, when toasting people you respect, you make sure your glass is lower than theirs. My earnest attempts to ensure my glass was lower than his were matched by his efforts to put his glass lower than mine. Like racing down a ladder, we each tried to out-lower the other until both of our drinks splashed out of our glasses. There was nothing left to toast with but laughter.

It's been five months since we moved to Beijing, and we’re still discovering ways to adjust and integrate into cultural mores. "Guan xi", the relationships between people, drives China because it's the most populated place on earth. I am discovering this feeling of interconnectedness can exist between foreigners and Chinese, even if you are like me and have very few words in your Chinese arsenal.

The uniformed man who flags down the buses at the bus stop always greets me with a huge smile and energetic wave. He still compliments my first four words of Chinese I spoke to him, "Is this bus 628?" Yesterday, he told me he doesn't know any English aside from "very good". I taught him how to say "bus", "taxi", "car", and "truck". He said something in Chinese I couldn't quite understand. Then he switched to English, and said, "One world, one dream". This is the Olympic slogan on many billboards around Beijing. Although he said he didn't know how to speak English, he knew how to say this phrase. He taught me how to say it in Chinese. His English was so much better than my Chinese attempt. The line of people behind us craned their necks in interest. We both said it together in the other's language until my bus came. I jumped on, waving him goodbye as he smiled waving his red flag.

These sort of exchanges happen often, with street vendors, cab drivers, and waitresses. It's a nice addition to daily life that wouldn't happen back home in the states. A pair of 26 and 22 year old girls with lofty ideas and passionate natures, my sister Caitlin and I spent the last 21 years living with our parents in a solar-envelope house, tucked away in the tiny, woodsy New Hampshire town of Sharon (population 351 people). We moved here without a job lined up or a placed to live nailed down. We used Marriott hotel points from my previous job for our first week. My sister networked an American contact into reporting for Sports Illustrated China. Upon arriving I secured an interview for teaching English at a bilingual international kindergarten. Not only are my students amazingly lovable, but they are also incredibly bright. At three years old, my class already knows how to sing the national anthem and converses in two or three languages.

I am just one of countless foreigners teaching English in China. In fact, when meeting a fellow Western ex-patriot, he or she will ask, "What are you doing in China, teaching English?" People who are native English speakers with a college degree are guaranteed work as the demand for learning English is so high. The Chinese government is encouraging everyone to learn, including mandatory lessons for taxi cab drivers in preparation for the Olympics.

Olympic countdown clocks adorn restaurants, shops, and classrooms. Nationalistic energy electrifies Beijing as it anticipates the world's spotlight. The world's eyes turn to China. Buildings rise and expectations soar. Construction sites litter the landscape. My sister and I marvel at the progress we've seen since arriving here. Sky rises tower as high as Chinese hopes for their city's successful unveiling. I love experiencing every day life: the elderly doing taichi together with swords, (early in the morning, even when it's zero degrees) and the blinking bike symbols on traffic lights. The old men who walk their birds. The smells of warmed yams and grilled, steamed corn that street vendors sell wafts throughout the city.

As a food zealot, you don't need a lot of money to enjoy the panoply of eats Beijing offers. I consider myself a street food connoisseur of sorts. Peppered throughout the city, you can buy everything from baozi (a rounder dumping but the dough is thicker, fluffier, almost bread-like) to jian bing, delicious crepes they make for you on the spot. I eat one almost every day. They break an egg over the crepe and as it cooks they add a thin, fried, crispy square in the middle. Sauce, spices, chives, and onions are added and then the crepe is folded around the square. When my sister and I first arrived, we went on what we referred to as our "Street Scurvy Diet." If you were fried, a carbohydrate, and sold by a street vendor, we ate you. We joke about starting a new diet revolution in the states, because after about a week we both looked at each other and realized, "You’re smaller!” But soon my sister and I expanded into restaurants, realizing that waiters and waitresses are not tipped (tipping generally doesn't happen here) and tea is often free. In finding a good restaurant, you can eat well without spending much.

You can also experience what Westerners deem as exotic eats. There's a famous snack street in Wangfujing illuminated at night by strings of red lanterns. The street is almost as pretty as the wild and wonderful food that the vendors wave in front of you as they yell out their exotic names. Almost everything is speared on sticks, from fruit and dumplings to seahorses and starfish. (I don't recommend the latter as the meat was hard to eat, bitter and crunchy.) On another occasion, we ate dog. It's the sweetest tasting, most guilt-provoking meat I have tried. It does not taste like chicken. But I am always grateful for any opportunity to experience Chinese cuisine.

Another dimension of Chinese culture I’m practicing is how to give and receive gifts. It’s customary for Chinese to not accept a gift the first three times it is offered. When one of my student’s parents gave me and the Chinese teacher chocolates, I forgot and immediately took the ribboned-box. Then I watched as the Chinese teacher politely refused: “No, no, no, I couldn’t, I couldn’t….” Again. And then again. After her third-round she accepted graciously as I stood awkwardly next to her feeling like the greedy chocolate lover that I am.

As we excitedly plunge into Chinese society, sometimes we feel like we can only dive in so far. With so many people living here with proportionately few foreigners, not being Chinese makes you an instant point of focus. Sometimes we enter a bustling restaurant and upon our entrance, everyone stops mid-sentence, freezes with chopsticks mid-way to mouths, and stares at us. At other times, people will politely ask which country we’re from and why we’re in China. The “stare downs,” as I used to call them, occur daily--on the subway, at the grocery store, walking down the sidewalk. The other day I was walking along and a smiling man ran up to me, then hovered a bit awkwardly. His friend then turned around in front of us and took our picture. They took another one and then with huge smiles ran away as quickly as they came. There have been a few camera ambushes. While these sort of occurrences can take some getting used to, we understand it is simply rooted in curiosity. In fact, when we first arrived, we found ourselves doing the same thing: "Look! It’s another foreigner over there!"

But regardless of foreign or native status, we all are united in trying to stay positive about the air. Can you imagine wearing a mask every time you go outside? Many people do that here, and my sister and I have both battled respiratory track infections. The sight of a black tissue after blowing my nose startled me at first. A marathon runner, I miss running outside. My sister read that running outside on a high smog day is equivalent to smoking a pack of cigarettes. Recently The New York Times cited research that pollution levels on a typical day in Beijing are nearly five times above World Health Organization standards for safety.

Still this comes with the territory of being one of the most populated places on earth. The highways here have 15 jam-packed lanes. Uniformed subway and bus officials push people onto the trains and buses already crammed tightly with people. I remember being shoved and heaved onto the bus for the first time---do I say "Thank you?" With hoards and hoards of people waiting to get onto buses and trains, people sometimes become impatient (I was pulled off the train once by an eager to board passenger). But in context, this is understandable as almost 2.5 million people use public transit every day. I am now accustomed to the inevitable cuddling with strangers as we stand entangled in understanding, arms squished onto each other's chests, heads pressed on each other's backs.

Such challenges, however, are part of the adventure. There is something about China, almost an intangible, magical mysticism about this culture and its people that makes being stimulated in this way part of the ride. As the weeks go by I notice the "stare downs" less and recognize the songs on the radio more. I continue to make more friends with the Yam Men and The Corn Ladies--"I missed you yesterday!" I no longer miss some material things hard to come by here: clothes dryers, dishwashers, paper towels or Ziploc bags. Seeing other foreigners doesn't elicit as much of a reaction anymore. Although friendly, knowing smiles are sometimes exchanged in passing. My immunity is stronger now as we acclimate to the air. Though my Chinese is still in the baby steps stage, I can ask for the bill without first being shown to the bathroom or given a pile of napkins. Even though my Chinese elicits giggles from my three year-olds, I've found many Chinese are quick to compliment foreigners stammered, sputtering attempts--often praising how wonderfully you said hello.

Almost six months ago, we took a leap of faith and relocated to the other side of the world. And you can’t jump that far without an open mind. Or emptying a toasting glass.

http://www.thebeijinger.com/ is an invaluable resource for ex-patriots for acclimating into Beijing life. Every foreigner I know uses it regularly. From finding jobs to looking for apartments, it's like the Craigslist of Beijing. (There is, in fact, a Beijing Craigslist, but I find "The Beijinger" is more widely used and extensive). For example, when I was looking for a Chinese tutor, I posted on "The Beginner" and by that evening my post was viewed by over 100 people and my mailbox was brimming with replies.

http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/beijing/ is another rich database of user recommended night spots, places to shop and visit. Both websites have accompanying magazines that you can get for free at coffee shops or bookstores.

Eleanor Roosevelt said: "You must do the things you think you cannot do." For me, that's learning Chinese. A tonal language, many characters are pronounced the same but tones differentiate meaning. Incorrect tones could result in calling your mom a horse or your dad the number eight. http://chinesepod.com/ helps you practice your tones. It has almost 800 lessons and offers free daily pod casts, dialogues, exercises, and lesson review--ranging from elementary to the Super Bowl. Also, http://www.dict.cn/ is a terrific online dictionary that gives several examples with many useful phrases.

http://mobilenative.com/sms_help.php is like calling information in China for free. It sends free texts to your phone in both Chinese and/or English. If you are craving pizza, for instance, type that word into their search engine and lists of pizza places in Beijing appear, complete with addresses and phone numbers. Click on one of the options and a satellite view gives you a visual location as well.

Immersion Guides Mandarin Phrasebook is a phrasebook that covers everything from how to negotiate and sign a lease, to how to bargain and how to get a good hair cut. With essential phrases as well as Beijing slang, it's incredibly informative, easy to use, and funny (learn how to say: "I don't want a mullet!"). My sister and I each bought one and neither of us ever leave home without it.

fireworks, frogs, treadmills, taboo, and ten dust storms

Hello family and friends!

Miss you all and sending love from China (or last month, better known as Firework Land). As I told a few of you, Chinese New Year in Beijing is a firework-filled frenzy! So much so, that my sister and I theorize the new cracks in our apartment walls are attributed to the incessant "sonic booms" as Cay calls them. They were set off around the clock--all day, every day for the two week celebration. The purpose is to ward off the evil spirits for the upcoming year.... as i emailed a few of you, with all the constant and countless fireworks that went off here, we surely boomed and banged out the evil spirits in the western hemisphere too. It used to be illegal for people to have them but now they are permitted and it seems like EVERYONE takes full advantage... even releasing them on the cross walk outside our apt (that was a close one!). We definitely made a run for it on several occasions. We'd be walking down the street and the people we passed would suddenly set them off as we walked by. On the last night of Chinese New Year we were on our way home and they were going off in every direction, across the entire horizon. Poor Caitlin just kept yelling, "Run! Cover your head, Megan, don't look up!" All were good tips, pleased to report we emerged unscathed. My friend captured great footage if you would like to see his fireworks video: www.iaminchina.com

a runner's up essay

Transitions Abroad (www.transitionsabroad.com) is a very helpful resource for people living or aspiring to live abroad. This year is the 30th anniversary of their expatriate writing contest and i am not quite sure how this happened but my essay is one of the runner's up prize winners. Of course now that it is published I notice all of these things I wish I wrote differently...a natural reaction since I can't make any more changes. One of my professors at Skidmore once told me in his twenty-eight years of teaching, he'd had never seen a student "jump through so many hoops" to improve a paper. I am such a reviser! oh well, have to let it go. I can't wait to read the other writers essays. I think they are going to be posted soon, once they do I will put the link up on my blog.


Speaking of runner...a Great Wall run and a 200k in the works!

I figure while I am here in China, naturally I should be running races on The Great Wall. In May there is a full and half marathon. Only thing is, not surprisingly, it is supposed to be mad hard. The incline is killer, basically it's running up and down stairs for at least four hours. I was reading about it on marathonguide.com and people who ran it advised to ADD about HALF of your marathon time to the Great Wall Marathon. One woman wrote she runs a 4 hr marathon and finished the Great Wall Marathon in 6 hours and 30 minutes. yikes. While that is a bit intimidating I figure this is an opportunity that I can't pass up. I contemplated running the full for a few seconds before I realized that not being able to run outside to train pretty much precludes the 26 miler from happening. Since the air in Beijing is five times over the World Heath Organization's standards for safety (info I recently picked up from the New York Times) running outside is a no go. People get sick from it just walking to and from work and running errands. (See the dust storm section below). It's a challenge for me to envision running 20/22 miles on a treadmill to train for a full marathon so I think I am going to run the half one instead. whew, can you imagine running for four hours on a treadmill...

But speaking of treadmills and racing....my gym is actually having a race to see who can run a 200k the fastest over a one month period of time starting in April. So of course I am super pumped. I have been scoping out the competition and there are a few frisky fellas that are young and spry along with some fellow foreigners that are going to make things interesting. But I am not going down with out a fight...in to win, baby :) My sister and a few gym friends think I can win the fun sneakers (that's the grand prize, ooooo). I was thinking about it and it's like the track meet I ran for Sports Illustrated China back in October. Before the race--as I was spitting into my spit cup due to that nasty respiratory track infection--I decided to make up my mind to win. Even though it sounds silly, I think that's what helped me do it. Similarly, I've decided I can not/will not lose the 200k. I love the pressure that comes with running races. I was even competitive about signing up for the race! I signed up right after this athletic man did. When he saw me sign up he said something to me in Chinese (that I didn't understand) and I smiled back at him thinking "Oh yeah, buddy, it is ON." I am sure he probably said something very kind and sweet like "Good luck to you, Dear." But in my head I was responding with "BRING IT".

Caitlin, Joe, and Bud

Some of you may already know that the MLB came to Beijing and played their first game in China a few weeks ago. Sibling went to cover the event and chatted with Joe Torre and Bud Selig, Mister Commissioner himself. She also scored herself tickets to the gold medal game during the Olympics!

My 19 kids...a few NASA recruits to be

The kids are great, they have doubled in numbers since I have started teaching and so too doubles the daily adventures. One of my new students, Mimi, is a bit younger than the others and doesn't speak a word of English (yet). She can't say "Megan" and instead pronounces my name "Mei Guo". This is especially funny because "Mei Guo" is "America" in Chinese. The Chinese teachers--also amused--tried correcting her but whenever she sees me she joyfully exclaims, "Mei Guo, Mei Guo!" And I say, "Yes, dear, your America is here."

Also, my little friend Louie has started this new habit of standing up and saluting me when I enter the classroom. Although I appreciate the respect I have tried explaining to Louie that this form of greeting is unnecessary. I know I am trying to run a tighter ship these days with the increase in students but I think I might be just shy of drill Sargent. (Caitlin just saw what I wrote and said, "Nobody is going to believe you are tough on the kids, Megan." haha...). Oh
Louie. There are many tales to tell. Once he also almost turned trying to look like an animal. He had his hands wrapped around his neck as if he was trying to pull his head off and he kept telling me to "Look, look!" and then I finally put together he was trying to elongate his neck so he could be a giraffe (I had recently given him a giraffe sticker). Oh if only you all could know Louie and all the children. I have separation anxiety when I think about the future and how long I will be in China for and if I want to explore other job ideas....hard to imagine there will be a time when I will not be with them all the time.

As I often tell people, my kids are so smart and capable it continues to astound me. They can do so much more than I could when I was four...or fifteen for that matter.


An Aquatic Creature

My latest food adventure was listed under the "aquatic creatures" category on the menu at a Korean restaurant we went to a few weeks ago. Bull frog, it turns out, does in fact taste like chicken! As my friend puts it, it has the taste of chicken but the texture of fish. I know it's not quite up there with the craziness of past food reports--but I did notice "camel" listed in my phrase book under the "food" section so I will be sure to keep you posted on the next crazy creature consumption.

Dust storm season

Now that spring is here, dust storm season has also arrived. According to the weather forecasters, Beijing will have ten dust storm days this spring. We had one yesterday and by the time I got home I was covered in sand. In the elevator this lady and I were dusting ourselves off as we were covered from head to toe. I was spitting out quite a bit that had gotten into my mouth. I think this might be why I am sick again. It's almost reminiscent of playing in a sandbox as a kid, only you are standing up and the sand box is vertical with is full-speed fan blowing behind it.

Yahooo for Taboo

Last weekend Cay and I hosted a Taboo party at our place. haha, oh yes we did. Actually, I can't take credit for being a host because it was Caitlin's idea, she made all the food and organized the festivities...I just took out the trash and bought wine. Beforehand, it was so funny how excited people were about Taboo, as Cay had said, it will be so "lamely awesome" a party. 20 people ended up coming to our little abode, it was a wonderful crew that represented China, Italy, Lithuania and Australia. Our non-native English speaking friends kicked serious tail at Taboo. I could never play in a second language and they were beyond awesome, we were shell -shocked. Feel bad as our excitement and raucous joy definitely elicited a less-than-pleased-as-punch neighbor visit. oh dear. luckily our Chinese friends answered the door so i think that may have cushioned the blow a bit. If you would like to see some comical pictures (my favorite being Caitlin's no-messing-around-game face) click on this link: http://picasaweb.google.com/megan.e.rhodes/

Four cheerleaders, Three gals to France, Two Skidmore sightings, One Saratogian, and 180 million suitcases

Four New England Patriots Cheerleaders:

Caitlin recently interviewed the Manager for Chinese Development for the New England Patriots. He told us that the New England Patriots Cheerleaders were in town (they rotate 4 who travel) and they were going to be at the same sports bar Caitlin interviewed for her Beijing Sports Bars story. So there I was, drinking beer and chatting up cheerleaders. We even got signed pictures, haha. oh my. Two of the four were from New Hampshire, so we had a nice granite state chat--discussing the primary and the recent snow storms.


Three Rhodes gals to France

Our Uncle, Aunt and Cousins are amazingly generous and gave us their Marriott certificate to stay in France for Chinese New Year! Mama Rhodes is meeting us there. (Papa Rhodes's body isn't quite up for the flight). We are leaving on Saturday. I wonder if the country is prepared to experience their first croissant-cheese-chocolate- wine shortage. hahaha. If I have not doubled in size upon my return to Beijing, I will have failed. hahaha.

Two Skidmore Sightings

Sighting 1: A few weeks ago we were out having dinner and I saw this man wearing a Skidmore shirt. I definitely did a tripe-take. Then I bounded over to him and his friends. Turns out, he was not a Skiddy. Apparently our soccer team was in Beijing in September. He and his friend helped show them around and they gave him a T-shirt. He and his friends (I think they were all Australian) were amused by how excited I was to see someone wearing a Skiddy shirt.

Sighting 2: Around Christmas I was watching the news and they closed with a clip of 42nd Street musical-- the show recently performed here in Beijing. All of the sudden, dancing across the TV screen was my freshman year floor mate, Phil Labella. I would not have believed my eyes but last I heard he was touring with CATS. (Such a talented fellow.) The news anchor said tickets were almost sold out already and so began my fervent quest for tickets. It was quite the Odyssey, ending in my first scalping purchase which I like to think I bargained down successfully. Phil was amazing! He was featured several times, I could not have been more proud. I was sitting in the audience with a huge smile on my face the whole time. Then I got to pounce on Phil backstage.


One Saratogain

At the gym yesterday this girl was two lockers away from me, saw me wearing my "Upstate NY/VT" shirt (my Team in Training Marathon jersey) and goes, "Are you from Upstate NY?" I asked her where she was from, thinking she might be from Buffalo or Syracuse. She's from SARATOGA. I just about fell over. She's been in China for two years doing something carbon related. Can you believe it, two Saratogains, two gym lockers away from each other in Beijing!

180 million suitcases

It's Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) and presently, we're experiencing the world's largest annual movement of people. Cay and I joke that it seems like we've seen a sizable portion of this movement. Most of the people we see--and there are lots of people to see-- are carrying gifts and suitcases. About 180 million people travel during Chinese New Year (more than the population of Russia). We are going to brave the airport tomorrow, will keep you posted about France!

"The Bombshell Stomp"

In the spirit of trying anything, and embracing the why not approach, Cay and I have become...

...line dancing performers and instructors! I know, I still can't get past the wonderfully arbitrary nature of this entire situation. ONLY IN CHINA. It is just too funny. My sister's friend, Clay, told us he he had a friend, Aaron, that was trying to get foreigners involved in this line dancing troupe. He told us that if we were interested, we could be paid 100 kuai an hour, and that we would teach lessons and perform around the city. So of course, we have absolutely no line dancing experience at all but we are game to try just about anything new, so we said, Okay, we'll try it! We learned five dances to perform in front of The Lady who owns the company that we would be dancing for... I believe we'll be doing everything from Olympic-type rallies to parties to performing for govt officials. Hilarious. Of course, I am THE WORST one by far. Cay very diplomatically informed me that I am not the worst performer, I am just not the best at picking up the moves the fastest. hahaha that's for sure. So after four days of practicing we huddled into a taxi to southwestern Beijing and performed the five dances for the company owner. Dances with names like "Bombshell Stomp" and "Zjosey Funk". LOL. Our friend Kate and I kept looking at each other in bewilderment and laughter, "How, oh how did we get here? Is this really happening? Are these really our lives?" Too funny. First performance is December 15th. Will keep you posted for sure! Hopefully the troupe wont be disbanded/I wont be kicked out for not having the moves and grooves:)

The scorpion-seahorse-starfish-snake snack

In the spirit of adventure and making the most of Beijing, my friend Danny and I decided to go on a "crazy eats trek". There's a famous snack street in Wanfujing and at night the sidewalk is beautifully lite by strings of red lanterns. The street is almost as pretty as the wild and wonderful food that the vendors wave in front of you as they yell out their exotic names. Almost everything is speared on sticks, from fruit and dumplings to scorpions and snake. Danny and I decided we were only going to eat the most crazy ridiculous creatures we could find. Man oh man, mission accomplished! Here is the official breakdown :) :


Scorpions: These were not bad actually! I'd actually say that they might have been one of my favorites. Not as scary to eat as they look...we decided to go for Option A and eat the ones that were already cooked. Option B was to eat the ones that were still alive and would crawl into you so we decided to go for Option A and ate our full stick's worth.

Centipedes: As Danny says, they taste poisonous. Almost toxic....like we were really not supposed to be eating them. The meat was pitch black and it was really bitter.

Silkworms: Oh boy, these creatures....as some fellas we ran into on the street said, these creatures are THE WORST. They were the only creatures we sampled that we spit out. I felt bad, the only reason I got them was because they were the one kind of creature that Danny really did not want to eat so of course I bought them and made him eat them like a good old friend that I am. See, the thing with silk worm is that when you bit into it, there is this explosive situation inside your mouth. Danny calls it puss and I do believe he said its worm "that has yet to be fully formed...like worm fetus." sorry, that may have been too much information! hmmm. Well either way, I would have to say it wasn't my favorite.

Snake: I think snake actually tasted the best....I think that was the easiest one for me to eat because the meat was already skinned and sliced and this was the only creature we ate that didn't have it's head on the stick... no snake face stare downs!

Crickets: I think they are a delicacy in some places but for me, it wan not especially exciting. Although it was fried and anything fried tastes fun, right?

Seahorses: I was most excited to try this one, but maybe since it was a small one, I couldn't really taste anything. They are really expensive, they were selling them on the street for 50 kuai! (I think there were three or four on a stick) But we bargained on another side street and each got a stick with one seahorse for about 20 kuai.....savvy seahorse purchasers that we are :)

Star fish: This was bitter, crunchy and not surprisingly, challenging to eat. Much more fun to admire on the beach than to eat on the street. The meat inside is dark too, and like centipede, it just doesn't seem so edible. ...But still fun to give a try.

When I was eating starfish, it was funny because this man ran up to me and smiled and then he was standing there, a little bit awkwardly in front of me almost like he was waiting for something to happen. Then I turned to see his friend take our picture. Then he put his arm around me, his friend took another picture, and then with huge smiles they took off and ran away. It was a camera ambush :)

Our pictures were also taken the other day at the snack stand by our subway station, our snack selling friends asked to take a picture of my friend Carol and I...they are a very friendly bunch. They make delicious crepes for you on the spot called jian bing, ( you can buy these everywhere in Beijing, particularly popular for breakfast). They break an egg over it and as it thinly cooks they add fried crispy fun in the middle with chives, onions, and magic sauce, then they fold it up and OH it is so good. I eat one every day. I can't imagine life without them....without them or The Yam Man, The Steamed Corn Ladies, The Grilled Corn Men, The Baozi Ladies....oh where would I be without these fine food friends.

P.S.
Another crazy eat occurred a few weeks ago. I couldn't do it the first time I was here in 2001. I wanted to be strong enough but I just couldn't muster the courage. A few of Caitlin's bosses have taken us out to dinner and I politely declined the first time but the second time I decided to go for it... I ate dog! I ate it so quickly that I barely tasted it, but from what I can recall, it tastes a bit sweeter than the meat we are more familiar with back in the states. I saw a dog later and thought I was going to keel over, ohhh i am too weak, no more canine consumption for Mego.