The China a tourist doesn't see

Monday was the night of my first party. The party was scheduled to start at 5:30... or that was the time we were supposed to get there since Smarda and I were hosting the party. Most people in China live in apartments making gatherings difficult to have at one's home. Even with a house, the number of people invited would make it difficult anywhere. The first night there were 27 people and the 2nd night was 26. The restaurant is similar to a catering hall. There is a main dining room for small parties less than 10 downstairs. On the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floor are rooms of varying size which you reserve. Our room had 3 tables in it. Not only does this give you additional privacy, it makes it family friendly so kids of all ages can attend. Although as I learned, the kids do not stay in the room anyway. They run all over the building. Which isn't bad either because everyone else on the floor has rooms so if the kids are bothersome, the other parties can close the door. However, based on the noise in our room, I am sure nobody notices. One of the kids asked why my forehead is so deep, why my nose is so big, and why I have so much hair on my arms.

We specifically asked Smarda's aunt to come early to the party because she is known as a good orderer. And if you ask, everyone will say she is. Same sort of thing happened the second night where we asked an uncle to come because he too is a good ordere. I laughed at the title but after attending the two parties and seeing what gets done, I bought into the concept. What qualifies somebody as a good orderer is a person that conducts a lot of business involving dinners and drinks. As I learned, ordering chinese food is very complex. It is not as simple as there will be 6 people lets get x number of dishes. The food menus are 20, 30, or 40 pages. Each dish serves different numbers of people and only somebody who eats out a lot will know what is good. As an example, each table had 19 dishes ordered at the second party. And the selection of foods at the second party was better than the first.

Each party was almost exactly the same from my view with only the players changing. Anyone with children immediatley forced them to speak their english with me. They know only slightly more english than I know chinese but it was good to hear some english. After being introduced to everyone, we all sat down and ate as the food came out in constant waves. I asked for beer and 500 mL of Bud Ice came out. I wasn't even aware that Bud Ice was still made. Anyway, I was given a glass that was better designed for after dinner drinks than for beer. So I got them to give me a taller glass that is still smaller than a pint or a mug. I only made this mistake the first night. As the dinner progressed, people would come over to me and toast me... ask me to drink with them. When they did it, no big deal, we chink glasses and then I take a gulp of my beer. Well this happended continuously. I was then informed everyone had toasted me, it is now my responsibility to go around to each table and return the honor. Only difference being that as the toaster, I am expected to finish my beer. It would have been no problem if I kept my shot glass. So I was forced to pound luke warm bud ice (I asked for it cold and it wasn't so cold). Same thing happened the second night but instead of waiting for everyone to come to me to toast, I went to them first and took them off guard.

The party cost about $300 each night. And as a result of the party, we were invited by guests to return the favor. Not having much time, we were forced to turn down many of the requests.

My food just arrived so I will post more later...