jINhua: Food!!

I often get asked what I eat here in China. For those of you who know me, it is pretty much Heaven. Noodles. Noodles. More Noodles, Dumplings and Rice. AND, I don't even have to make an excuse to eat them! They are just always around! (screw you low carb diet!)

I decided to take note of what I eat and experience in a day - and then blog about it. Ha! In doing this, it made me realize just how lucky I am. (yes the emotional roller coaster is still on track!). Seriously though, when you take photo's of everything you do in a day, and really think about all of the things you have in your life, it gives you an entirely new outlook and appreciation for what we have. I realized I really needed to look at all of the wonderful advantages there are to teaching and living in China. It is a bit of a sacrifice, don't get me wrong, but there are some upsides to it. And food is one!

Things I realized taking photo's and thinking about my life here in China.

I eat a lot of noodles!
My job is pretty awesome, and gives me a lot of time to work on me.
I have really cool friends who also eat really good food (and own yummy restaurants!).
Eating out with friends was the best idea i've had yet, best remedy for your heart.
My friends love to eat! (who knew?!)
I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT COFFEE.
Aunt Pat and Uncle Paul would LOVE to try all of the food here.
I rarely cook at home - something I need to work on - but eating out is SO CHEAP and so goood.
I will walk and bike great distances to get to my favourite dumpling place. Chris Walker you should be jealous!!!
I have cut back on Snickers Bars by about 90%!
Food is good for your Soul
I learned about these bad boys...

Tea Eggs - Eggs boiled in tea - they are really really yummy - not to be confused with Pee Eggs which are given out in the Spring and the eggs are boiled in young boys urine. (the boys must be under the age of 10) Then eaten by the locals. I wish I was joking. I'm not sure what happens to your urine after you are 10 years old, but it is not good enough to be boiled in the urine. Our secretary is bringing some pee eggs back from her home town tomorrow. I'll let you know if I get up the nerve...

I really want dumplings as I am writing this blog, not pee eggs.

The past week has been a food adventure - tonight I am going to a friends house for some Iraqi food, I have no idea what this will entail, but I am super excited. Last night was Korean, the night before, Chinese dinner, and before that Sushi. All were Awesome. So here are some photo's and a little adventure in the life of Melanie and the kinds of foods I eat every day. YUMMM.

This is how most Chinese restaurants seem to be set up. Big round table with LOTS of food. (and in the winter no heat!) Everyone shares. Lots of little dishes and everyone digs in. So get your chop stick skills down before you embark on one of these places! Also, if you invite everyone out for food, you pay. Don't even think about offering money because the person buying will bite your head off. At least that is my experience so far.

Gramma's - across the road from our school

The first place that I eat at almost every other day and is called Gramma's. It is directly across the road from the school, I get noodles with red bean paste and "pork". It costs me about one dollar to eat this giant bowl of noodles.

Olives and Hummus - SO YUMMY.

I have talked about Danny's quite a bit - and for good reason. Danny and Lucy are good friends and they make some pretty fantastic food and more importantly - coffee. They have introduced me to some new food, new restaurants (including the Korean one we went to last night) and tonight, Iraqi Food!! <3

I also kicked Lucy's ass at Jenga. Yep.

Lucy and Danny attempted an outdoor BBQ the other night. Basically put some coals in a bowl - light them on fire - (or try to anyways!) Put a grill on top, layer your meat and BAM! BBQ. (or you could do what Danny did, and since he could not get the coals going, just bring the meat inside and cook it in the restaurant. teeheeheeee

Like any good friends, when McDonalds is brought to town, Melanie got a Big Mac. OMG. I know what your thinking...why?? but go six months without it...in China, you would have one too! I know it!!

Curry Fish. YUMMMM.

This is Sai - he owns a Chinese Restaurant that I just experienced the other day. The fish dish that we ate - Thai Curry something or other was amazing. BEST part was the fish had NO BONES!!! That seems to be rare here -Sai also gave us a bottle of wine that was NOT from China. Chinese wine to be frank, sucks. It was an added bonus to our already yummy meal.

New friends, who are just Awesome. Craig and Sai.

Craig does not drink wine...so saddest news, I had to drink most of it myself....hehehe

Fried Rice and some sort of egg plant dish, MSG added for free ;)

At Sai's restaurant.

The Chinese school takes our staff out for dinner every so often. The dishes are always interesting, and most times we have to ask what we are eating. Colleen was attemting to eat this piece of meat that she just could not break down. We found out it is actually pig stomach. Yummmm. More to come on some big changes happening in the Chinese School and our school as well.

The Korean Restaurant was so YUMMY! Danny, Lucy Sai and myself went there last night. We ate some really good food - and I think it might have even been MSG freeeeee!!! Amazing!!!

So your going to cook right at our table? YEAH!!! She turned this....

and this....into

THIS! Which we wrapped in...

Lettuce!! And mixed in the sauces from the picture above. SO GOOD. Then we ate...

These are little rice cake sort of things..thick, very thick noodles. And Spicy.

Calamari - yes please.

I am unsure....

And they had SUSHI!!!

Bones...but very few...

Team DINNER!!! (Although I have been told it looks like Sai might be holding my hand, I assure you he is not, beautiful daughter and wife)

Asaad is hooking up the Iraqi DINS!!!

Lucy. xo

Street Food - Always good for the bowels.

Oh little lamby...i know your fate...

If you were wondering what happened to your meat...it is right here, being killed on the street. Unbelievable!

Yep. Turtle Soup. Turtle by the way is very chewy - and not something I would ever eat again, but I was told it was expensive so EAT!! :)

Okay. Sometimes I cook for myself. French Toast Baby!!

Peanut Noodles - at the same Dumpling place that I LOVE.

To end this blog today, I will show you a little bit of Spring time!! It has been so beautiful here. 30 degrees yesterday! Trees are blooming, the smell of fresh flowers is in the air, and it is wonderful. I cannot believe how it has gone from totally freezing around here, to yesterday shorts and a tank top. Crazy. Such is the roller coaster of China I guess. This blooming, warm weather and the ability to be outside sure has made my mood about a hundred times better.

I hope you are enjoying your time wherever you are in the world, and that you take note of everything you are able to do in a day - try it - it can make all the difference.