Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Today we just hung around the island and went to our last traditional Chinese Lunch. Our wonderful guide sat with us and we had a great time toasting our time in China. The Chinese have a few traditions that we love and one of them is how they serve a meal. Everyone orders and they bring out all the dishes and place them on a lazy Susan (it may have a different Chinese name). You turn the lazy Susan to the dish you want and place a little on your plate. It is a great way to sample many different dishes. The only problem for us was you have to use your chopsticks or these little Chinese spoons to get your food. You can just imagine the amount of food dropped on the table.

Another Chinese traditional is the way they figure their age. In China Lily is 8 years old. In America she is 7. The Chinese consider your first year of life as one and on your first birthday you turn two. When asked her age Lily will say she is eight. I haven’t corrected her but once I told her she was 8 in China but 7 in America and from the look on her face she wasn’t too happy. We decided this year for her birthday we will not mention age unless by then she can understand that in America she is turning 8.

Today we were shopping (yes, again-it is so much fun!) and went to Susan’s. They were very nice and made us some tea. We sat down with them for tea and they brought out pictures of other Zhu Hai girl’s that had been to their shop. Lily knew all the girls and had a nice conversation with Dong and Susan. The only little one I recognized in the photos was Teddi. Tina, they spoke very nicely of your family and said to say hi! The other girl’s I did not recognize. I wish had paid more attention on my Zhu Hai Yahoo group!