Dinner party or dumplings....that is the question?
This happened a couple of weeks ago now, but I have to tell the story because I found this entire situation pretty hysterical.
It was a Wednesday night when we first started talking dumplings. Sitting over a tower of beer, 3 Americans and a Chinese woman were making plans to make dumplings. One American was especially keen on the idea (Christina - I am calling you out on this one). The next day our Chinese friend, Fu, who teaches Chinese at our school (the kids here learn 4 languages - Thai, Chinese, English, and Tagalog) comes up to us and says she cannot show us how to make dumplings this weekend because she has a dinner party, but she invited us to join her. I am grading papers and only half paying attention, but I tentatively agree to join. All Christina hears is - Dumplings.
Sunday rolls around and I completely forget about our plans. Christina calls to remind me. I had plans to go into Bangkok, but since I didn't give Fu an answer one way or the other I agree to go. I didn't want to be rude and drop out last minute. This is where I will switch to dialogue:
Me: So what is it we are doing again? (I thought I remembered dinner party, but I was looking for a confirmation)
Christina: Fu is taking us to the Chinese market and then we are going back to her place to make dumplings.
Me: Oh, okay. (I still was not convinced, but since I didn't trust my own recollection I just went with it.)
We met up with Fu and a few of the new Chinese teachers to our school. They are dressed to the 9's, which makes me think this is not a trip to the market after all. I am feeling relieved that I sort of dressed up. I ask again....
Me: So, are you sure we are making dumplings.
Christina: Yes....but let's ask Fu. Hey, Fu, we are making dumplings, right?
Fu: Wednesday or Thursday....Dumplings
Christina: Ok, dumplings. Yes, we are making dumplings.
Now I'm really confused. We board a bus and Christina and I sit together. I lean over and whisper...
Me: I don't think we are making dumplings. I think we are going to a dinner party at Fu's friends house. I think I remember Fu saying dinner party.
Christina: Really? .........I think you may be right. I thought the girls looked a little dressed up for the market.
Me: Hahaha...Yea...this should be interesting.
As it turned out I was right, and the two American girls ended up crashing the Chinese teachers dinner party. Well, we were invited, so not exactly crashing. I thought it may be a little awkward considering the new girls knew little English, and we spoke no Chinese, but the truth is it turned out great. It was nice to get to know all of these girls who were teachers at our school. Our host cooked us an enamoring amount of food from just a rice cooker and fryer - french fries, chicken, fish, pork on rice, spicy noodles. She had fresh fruit galore and snacks for days. Only one rule of the house...do not say FULL. We all sat around her studio apartment in whatever seating she had available, including her bed, which she insisted she had changed the sheets on and would change them again after we left, so no worries. It was like a giant mixed language lesson, with Christina and I teaching them English words, them teaching us Chinese words, and a couple of the girls also teaching everyone Thai words.
In the end we walked off our meal at the nearby DPU college campus and fed the turtles. It turned out to be a really fun day, and I am glad that I made the decision to join the party. Lesson learned never to shy away from new or different experiences.
Maybe dumplings next time, Christina. :)
This happened a couple of weeks ago now, but I have to tell the story because I found this entire situation pretty hysterical.
It was a Wednesday night when we first started talking dumplings. Sitting over a tower of beer, 3 Americans and a Chinese woman were making plans to make dumplings. One American was especially keen on the idea (Christina - I am calling you out on this one). The next day our Chinese friend, Fu, who teaches Chinese at our school (the kids here learn 4 languages - Thai, Chinese, English, and Tagalog) comes up to us and says she cannot show us how to make dumplings this weekend because she has a dinner party, but she invited us to join her. I am grading papers and only half paying attention, but I tentatively agree to join. All Christina hears is - Dumplings.
Sunday rolls around and I completely forget about our plans. Christina calls to remind me. I had plans to go into Bangkok, but since I didn't give Fu an answer one way or the other I agree to go. I didn't want to be rude and drop out last minute. This is where I will switch to dialogue:
Me: So what is it we are doing again? (I thought I remembered dinner party, but I was looking for a confirmation)
Christina: Fu is taking us to the Chinese market and then we are going back to her place to make dumplings.
Me: Oh, okay. (I still was not convinced, but since I didn't trust my own recollection I just went with it.)
We met up with Fu and a few of the new Chinese teachers to our school. They are dressed to the 9's, which makes me think this is not a trip to the market after all. I am feeling relieved that I sort of dressed up. I ask again....
Me: So, are you sure we are making dumplings.
Christina: Yes....but let's ask Fu. Hey, Fu, we are making dumplings, right?
Fu: Wednesday or Thursday....Dumplings
Christina: Ok, dumplings. Yes, we are making dumplings.
Now I'm really confused. We board a bus and Christina and I sit together. I lean over and whisper...
Me: I don't think we are making dumplings. I think we are going to a dinner party at Fu's friends house. I think I remember Fu saying dinner party.
Christina: Really? .........I think you may be right. I thought the girls looked a little dressed up for the market.
Me: Hahaha...Yea...this should be interesting.
As it turned out I was right, and the two American girls ended up crashing the Chinese teachers dinner party. Well, we were invited, so not exactly crashing. I thought it may be a little awkward considering the new girls knew little English, and we spoke no Chinese, but the truth is it turned out great. It was nice to get to know all of these girls who were teachers at our school. Our host cooked us an enamoring amount of food from just a rice cooker and fryer - french fries, chicken, fish, pork on rice, spicy noodles. She had fresh fruit galore and snacks for days. Only one rule of the house...do not say FULL. We all sat around her studio apartment in whatever seating she had available, including her bed, which she insisted she had changed the sheets on and would change them again after we left, so no worries. It was like a giant mixed language lesson, with Christina and I teaching them English words, them teaching us Chinese words, and a couple of the girls also teaching everyone Thai words.
In the end we walked off our meal at the nearby DPU college campus and fed the turtles. It turned out to be a really fun day, and I am glad that I made the decision to join the party. Lesson learned never to shy away from new or different experiences.
Maybe dumplings next time, Christina. :)
Our dinner party crew
Photo shoot time on campus
The campus was beautiful
Feeding the very friendly turtles
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