Communal Eating Habits

Eating. It's something we do to survive, to indulge, to cope, to socialize. Never in my life has eating become such an intriguing topic of conversation as it has since I have lived in China. Maybe it's because Erich now owns and runs a cafe/coffee shop, maybe it's because of all the new smells and tastes there are to experience in a new country, or maybe it's because there are so many foods we were used to having easy access to in the States and just can't find here...so when someone does, an entire celebration feast ensues to celebrate said food item. (This last example mostly refers to the Mexican Potlucks that spur up in our building. Cheese, tortillas, avacados, peppers, sour cream...all are rare, but more rare is someone willing to pay the ghastly prices of these items if they are found. Sowhen one ingredient is discovered and purchased, we join forces to come up with creative solutions for the other ingredientsand"voila", Mexican Night.)

Eating is no longer a solo event. We find ourselves making plans around meals. New restaurants pop up on the streets around our apartment like wildfire. So as soon as we see the ceremonial flowers outside of the front doors (indicating opening day), we are typically lined up at the door to try out the new tastes and experiences they have to offer. When we moved here a year and a half ago, our block had one pizza pub and one European eatery, the rest was local cuisine. Now there is Cup O' Joe (American breakfast and sandwiches), a Malaysian restaurant, Korean food, and a Chinese vegetarian place, among other new local places as well. We have probably visited every restaurant within walking distance, found our likes and dislikes, and continue to try out new places as they open. Our taste buds are always cravingnew anddifferent things.

But more than the food, what we go out to eat for is the company and socializing. Most often, we eat with friends from school, along the trail of a newly found hiking/biking trail, with Chinese friends, with staff at Joe's and other people we meet along the way. Entertainment in Beilun is not quite the same as Fort Collins, so if you want to hang out with someone, and you don't want to go to KTV (kareoke), a restaurant is one of the best places to do it. Locals are not too keen on hanging out in their home until you know them really well and bars/pubs just came into the Chinese culture in the 1980-90's, so they're not a hot spot to chill out unless you're only with foreigners. (Most of the Chinese girlfriends I have don't drink at all and if they do, it's a sip of wine and then juice or tea. And the Chinese men we've hung out with are the exact opposite...give them 30 minutes and a bottle of bai jiu and they're good to go!)

Beyond the eating out, I think "potluck' is on the top 10 words that I text these days. As mentioned before, ingredients that are hard to come by are best enjoyed in the company of friends, so we often find ourselves inviting others over to enjoy some chili, home brewed beer, or baked goods. Plus as the weather getscold and walking a distance to eat involves adding 4 layers to your ensemble, staying in and cooking becomes more and more enticing. We potluck with friends on a weekly basis and it has come to be something I look forward to...simply eating and chatting and sharing.

Sometimes we joke that we're living in the 1950's. We take the elevator up two floors and knock to borrow an egg...we skype a friend on the25th floor to see if he has cinnamon...neighbors ring our bell to share 10 oranges they were given among 30 they were just given as a gift from their boss.

Food sharing is a commonality that we encounter daily and although it may seem irrelevant, it seems to be a stark contrast from what I recall in the States. The whole style of "my meal/my plate/my dish" doesn't exist here. You order several plates at a restaurant, they go in the center of the table, and everyone shares. If you run out of something and want more, you order more. There is rarely "ownership" of food...it belongs to everyone and all are welcome to eat. I guess you could say it's communist China at it's best. But I see similar eating habits in our school cafeteria. One of the Japanese students will bring sushi rolls in their lunch and never eats them all...they are passed among friends from all nationalities to share and enjoy. He is not concerned about eating them all, or greedily hiding from everyone else the deliciousness. The favor is returned by other students who fill his bowl with noodles, and pour sweets into his hand. It is this open, generous spirit that I love about China and my school.

To end this random rant on the in's and out's of our Chinese eating habits, I will share my favorite thing about Chinese culture and food: In China, the best gift you can give someone is a box of fruit. They are relished, carried on buses/trains for trips to visit family members, and given to us as a greeting almost. "Hi friend, long time, no see...here, try this fruit. It is delicious. My wife just picked it from a tree this morning." I love it and the fruits I have received here are among the best I have ever eaten. Bon apetite...wherever you are eating in the world today!