Welcome Harry...

All around the world we each have our particular cultural traditions... Some are very similar, and some not so similar...
I think I am confident enough to say that in China, these cultural traditions are shall we say... Quite Different...

Only 2 weeks had unfolded since Harry had taken his new position as the "Director of Simulator Maintenance & Engineering Dept", when an invitation was cast his way. 
He had been invited to a welcome dinner with his colleagues. Prior to the engagement, his Deputy director had asked him several times if he could "hold his liquor". And Harry responded "Moderately"... Hmmmmm....
So Friday the 6th of November at 6 pm, 30 of his colleagues hauled him out to a traditional Chinese Restaurant to celebrate and toast his arrival in their workplace.
Not a minute was lost....
 At these places, you sit at round tables with a gigantic lazy susan at the center. One person orders for everyone, and all is shared. There were 3 tables of 10-12 people. Harry was sat at the far end table, against the wall, so there was no chance of escaping... Doesn't it sound scary??? (it wasn't..just fun and friendly..)
Then it's time for toasting!!! There is a traditional wine in China called "Chi Fon" which comes in a small 1/2 litre bottle, and served in small 1 inch high, chalice type glasses. 
So, losing no time what-so-ever...the ChiFon started flowing. 
It is custom for each and everyone to toast once and toast a second time for good luck, and the guest of honor must toast and drink every time. If my math skills are correct. 30 x 2 = 60 shots of ChiFon!!! OUCH!!!!!! The goal is to literally get the guest drunk as quickly as possible. And for some reason they find this VEERRRYYYYYY funny.. Especially if you are a foreigner....
needless to say, Harry was I'm sure quiet funny... He even thought them all to say "How You Doinnnnn'?" with a New York twist.. heehee...Can you imagine? 30 Chinese men in a chinese restaurant saying, " How You Doinnnnnn'???????" priceless!!!!!!!
To come back to the dinner.. Harry experienced a few different dishes that night... I think the ChiFon made him brave... He had 'beef Lung" which was good but a bit chewy, Greenish Black eggs, which were also good, I had them last week and they taste mildly pickled. He tried what he thought was noodles, but had the texture of skin and was chewy, YUCK! Ignorance is BLISS!!!
He refused to touch the chicken feet, which are a treat for the Chinese.. And there were regular chinese foods which includes veggies and dumplings and BBQ'd meats etc...
Well, good times were had by all and Harry survived the ChiFon....and did not have a hang over the next day...home very early... 9 PM... : ) And he doesn't remember the ride home... Heeheehee...
Yippee for Harry and Welcome to Zhuhai...


Your word of the day.. " Hao Ba". Prounounced " Ha-o-ba" , meaning "O.K"


Cheers, Pauline : )