church branch and she has become a good friend. I have a Canadian bond with her because
she and her husband lived in Toronto for a few years and her daughter was born there.
Elaine picked us up in her car, which in itself was a treat since we didn't have to brave a bus or metro. It also
gave a good close look at some new streets to explore later. Elaine took us to a restaurant in a mall. It looked as though
the place was used for large banquets and weddings.
The food was absolutely delicious. Elaine wanted us to experience good Cantonese food, and we did.
At times we have found some of the food too "exotic" for our Western tastes and so it was wonderful to have
her guide us. The dishes included: Sweet and sour pork, shrimp (the most tender and fresh shrimp I have
ever eaten), a vegetable dish, rice noodles with beef, Hakka stuffed tofu (the stuffed part was sausage), and
dessert was a rice ball filled with black sesame seeds. The Hakka are a minority group that live in
South China. As always, the food was presented in a beautiful way.
Elaine explained that Cantonese cuisine is the "best in China," and I couldn't find any reason to disagree.
To some, the Cantonese food is too bland and some of the students from other areas complain about it. They
are usually from Hunan or Sichuan province where the hot spice from peppers is almost impossible to tolerate.
Cantonese cuisine prides itself on freshness and allowing the natural flavours to shine without adding
additional spices. Susan and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves since we are not big fans of the wild spices.
There have been a few surprises while eating in China.
Red beans are a popular addition to many desserts but we haven't developed a taste for them in our
banana splits or milkshakes yet. There is a bright purple paste, probably made from some taro root or
something, that is interesting in colour, texture and taste. Then, it is always a surprise to see chicken
and fish heads displayed on the serving dishes. Even though this can be unsettling, the chicken
or fish is usually tasty. Eating in China is an adventure at times, but more often a real treat.
Elaine told us some interesting cultural things about China.
- Students in undergraduate programs are not allowed to get married until they finish
- She works in a bank and during the usual two hour break from noon until 2 o'clock, she
pulls out a cot that is hidden in his desk (nifty) and has a nap. The whole office does the same.
These "siestas" are observed in the south of China. For example, there are no classes between
noon and 2:30.
- Elaine has a good job and so can afford a "nanny" for her daughter. This nanny is from another
province and has left her two children with her mother so she can get a better job in the city. It is
a fairly common sacrifice and shows the level of poverty that some people from rural areas are
dealing with. This nanny takes care of things until Elaine returns home from work about 7:30 or 8 o'clock.
- Elaine was converted to the church in Canada and has a Canadian passport, enabling her to attend
the church branch for foreign passport holders, even though she was born and raised in the
Guangzhou area.
P.S.
Do you like my pink shirt? I wore it all week and the following email from a very nice student is why.
"Maybe last week, I met you, Mrs. Wright and your friends just near the fountain in our campus. I remember
at that day, you wore a pink blouse. It is different from the cloth (sic) you wear in the class. The pink blouse made you
look very sunny. You were very beautiful that day. I think if you wear that kind of cloth (sic) in the class, our
class will be more, how to say, different. Do not mean that the style you choose to show in the class is not good.
I think students will be happy to see some changes. Just an advice and hoping it is not impolite to
make such a suggestion." Steven
Don and I had a good laugh about this email. As a matter of fact, I had been wondering if I should try to
find something else to wear, since I usually select my coolest (in terms of temperature) outfit.
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