I just got back from what I thought was going to be an informal dinner with a little girl who wanted to “make friends” with a foreigner and learn more English. So, naturally, I wore a nice sweater and shoes and blue jeans…everything was fine but the blue jeans I had on. Everything is so informal here that I didn’t think anything of it. Next time…I’ll be sure to wear the khakis, no matter the occasion!
This so called little girl was actually 17 years old, her name is Cat. Cat will graduate next year and will then go on to the University. The lady (Vicky) in our Foreign Affairs Office, who I go to if I need anything, called me yesterday afternoon wondering if I would be interested in “making friends” with this girl. I told her sure! Later she called saying that the girls family wanted me to go with them to dinner tonight (Saturday) and that she would call me back with the details later. About 4pm today Vicky called me telling me that this girls Uncle who is dean in another department (I wish he was dean in mine) would pick me up at 5:20 and that Vicky would be coming with him because he did not know English. I said great. So…I was expecting a quaint little dinner with this girl and her family. About 5:15 Vicky and the dean show up to get me, also in the car was Mr. Wu, the director of the Foreign Affairs Office…everyone has suits on and I’m in jeans! So we drive for a while to the girls house where I meet her father…he has a car business there. Many of the homes are above businesses. He has a VERY nice business…everything is very clean and tidy. I was impressed. We waited for Cat and her mother to arrive home from school…later they called and said that they would just meet us at the restaurant because it was raining outside. So…we drive to the restaurant…this isn’t the “typical” hole in the wall Chinese restaurant…it was VERY nice. It was a “hot pot” restaurant. This type of restaurant reminds me of a fondue restaurant but it definitely doesn’t compare to fondue. Anyhow, at the hot pot restaurant you cook everything, vegetables and meat in a kind of broth. All the meat at this restaurant was lamb. Lamb chops, lamb kabobs, lamb skin, lamb liver, lamb whatever…I had it all tonight. In my attempts to be oh so polite I ate it all…the lamb skin about did me in…I was dying…after trying to chew this ever so chewy piece of….skin I could not break it up much less get it down…I quickly and quietly spit it into a napkin while they were toasting one another for bringing me to meet them. They toasted so much tonight they downed a liter of Remy Martin Royale…mainly three men drank that liter. Cat’s father had definitely had enough to drink by the time we left the restaurant at 8pm. Dinners here last forever!!!
While at dinner, Mr. Wu, the leader of the Foreign Affairs Office told me that they loved having me here and that I was a wonderful teacher. (I think he had his fingers crossed and was biting his tongue when he said that) Then, he went on to say that my “husband” (I wish he was my husband now) and I needed to come back after we finished our masters degree. I told him we would consider it (as I bit my tongue and crossed my fingers). I guess they were still impressed with me in my jeans. I was/am highly embarrassed!!
On the way home I discussed with them the price of plane tickets and the difference there is with leaving June 30 and July 1. Technically, our contracts are not over until July 15 but there is between an 800-1100 difference in ticket prices in leaving on July 1 verses June 30…and that is only a one way ticket. All of us foreigners are hoping and “thinking” that we will get to leave at the end of June so we can save some money and get home a little earlier…please be thinking about that with us. If not, the families that live here will not be able afford to go home. This is an important “request” for us at this time.
I am very excited about meeting Cat and am hoping that we can get together at least twice a month if not more. Between her schedule and mine we are both very busy…she goes to school Monday – Saturday so her only free day is Sunday…me on the other hand…Sunday is a busy day. I might just have to change some things around to make time for her.
It has been very interesting the “opportunities and doors” our Father has opened for me. This is the second “meeting” of this type that I have had since I have been here. I think it is so strange that they call me and not anyone else each time. I enjoy it so I’m glad they do but I sure have no clue why! Please be thinking about the opportunities that I might have with Cat and her family. I told her that I would have to invited her over for Pizza sometime…she has never had that! It will be fun!
