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continued from 9th June entry..........



The education department head was there and various other people. In came the food and out came the Baijiu. If you didn't read the link in the last entry, then I will summarize. Baijiu is a white spirit that makes you shudder and leaves an after taste like an earthquake. Good stuff. We were all served a small bottle with a clay top that needed to be smashed off to reveal the cork. One bottle is basically one big shot glass full.

Old habits die hard, and with me being so fit, I am able to hold my drink pretty well. When asked if i wanted more, I thought why not? since your asking. They were only being polite I think, and thought I would say "no". We had a laugh about levels of tolerance and then the second round came in. One guy dropped out and lost face for Hunan.



It was a really great dinner and I learnt a lot about the do's, the don'ts and the, it doesn't maters. Here is a brief summary of what to do and not to do during dinner. I may add to it later as I figure it all out.

Etiquette at a Chinese meal seems complicated but its not. Do the following and you'll be fine.





ONE

Don't tuck in until the host says to do so. No different to a western meal really. Common sense. You will be urged to try each dish, but you don't have to do it straight away. There is seemingly lots of pressure during a meal to eat everything and try everything. Its just their way of making sure you are taken care for. Slowly slowly.


TWO

Very important: Never drink alone

Water and soft drinks are ok, but alcohol is a social drink. 'Cheers' or 'Ganbei' (Chinese version) each time you drink, or simply tap your glass on the table making eye contact with the person you want to 'Ganbei'. You don't have to 'Ganbei' everyone each time, you can single people out. Its good to individually 'ganbei' people at the table especially if they are the host, some other special person.... or if they simply haven't been drinking very much. Get them back, because your involved in every toast and are getting more and more pissed.

You don't need to drink the whole glass, even if the other person decides to do so. If they say the 'whole glass' then either politely say 'just a little' or go along with it. Up to you.

'Ganbei', literally means dry glass, as in 'down the hatch'. Not always so though. Play it by ear. Basically though everyone will try and get you hammered.

Don't feel pressurised if your not into it. Its not rude to say you don't drink or will only drink a little bit. Just be firm, but friendly and its fine.

Sometimes at the beginning of a meal you will be asked if you prefer beer of Baijiu. Baijiu is normal for a welcoming or formal dinner. But you can still ask for beer. Even though it is a formal meal, if Baijiu is ordered the meal will soon become jolly and relaxed. Relax with the whole occasion. The more you relax the more your host will relax.



THREE

Don't worry about making a mess.

All bones or Grissel that you can't eat go on the floor or the table. These are considered separate universes so you can use them freely. If you have a fish bone.....single it out and spit it out.

If the food is spicy eat some congee (rice soup). Good for calming down your mouth.
If you blow your nose on a tissue, drop it on the floor. It is considered disgusting to put a dirty tissue in your pocket or on the table. Remember the floor is a separate Universe. Once something is dropped on it, it is not even noticed. Same goes for litter.



FOUR

Don't flip the fish if there is one. Its bad luck to do so. The Chinese are superstitious and flipping a fish has the same connotations as a capsized boat. If the dish has lots of fish in it then don't worry about not flipping them. You'll have a nightmare otherwise for absolutely no reason.



FIVE

Don't stuff your face then just suddenly stop. Best to gradually stop eating, and rub your belly maybe. Leave some food in your bowl and some drink in your glass. If you empty it each time, someone will refill it as they are good hosts. To leave food unfinished means that you are satisfied and that the host provided too much.

It is quite natural for a western person to finish the food as it is considered an insult maybe that you didn't like it enough to finish. Depends I guess. Anyway. If your full, your full, but leave a bit in your bowl and glass anyway. Saves a load of hassle.



FIVE

Like in any country compliment the food. Quite often you are an honoured guest so the host wants to make sure you enjoy yourself.



SIX

There is no need to keep saying thank you the whole time. If you have made it this far you are already considered a friend and friends don't need to keep saying thank you to each other.

This is one of many things that are misinterpreted by westerners. Chinese do not always say thank you. If you are a friend then it is just accepted that you mean well. To keep saying thank you is a bit dodgy and suspicious....... But don't worry. Ample room is made for your cultural errors.



SEVEN

Make a toast, or even a few. Say all the things that you think you should say. Be bold, say it with conviction. 'You feel very welcome' or 'you are happy to make good friends'....you can of course say thank you in a toast, just not all the time when someone gives you a drink, a bowl of rice or the waitress gives you a new Chopstick that you dropped.

There must be other rules I guess, but from what I can work out, the above are the fundamentals.




The english teacher (left) / my saviour from the world of difficult dialects and embarrassing situations...




So here I am. Sat in an Internet cafe somewhere in China, whilst the world is on fire to the frenzy of the World Cup.

I however....am in a frenzy doing battle with baijiu induced back to front typing and a throat that's on fire.

Not even going to bother with apologising for the bad spelling or grammar. Tonight I just don't really care.



I will apologise though for all the pointless e-mails you get sent automatically. Even when I cocked up an entry you'd get one. Thanks to good old Turle media thats been sorted. Don't remove yourself from the mailing list... I wont abuse you any more.

Oooo... by the way. Check out this link.

Its a veritable feast of information on how China ticks. Its written by an old Chinese guy and has plenty of gems that explain many a mystery.

From getting a date because of your blood group, to the Chinese perception of hairy legs.

Enjoy.

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