Eat First, Ask Later – Part Two: Wanna Eat a Duck?

The Chinese eat a lot of duck – whether it be meat, organ, or blood. They seem to really take “waste not, want not” to heart when it comes to this feathered friend. One of the pleasant surprises of our trip was eating duck blood (no, I am not joking). This was something that I never, ever wanted to try, but I found myself trapped when some friends who took me out to eat asked, “Do you want to get a bowl like at that other table? It is a very special dish.” Who can say no to a very special dish? So when I was told that it contained gelled duck blood, I smiled and said, “I’ve never had it, so I’m not sure if I will like it, but I would love to try it.” Lies of desperation. But I do believe that is important to try what you are offered and to respect the culinary traditions of your hosts, so I inwardly prepared myself for the worst while smiling and snatching up a cube of the grayish brown gel. I bit into it quickly, ready to be done with it – “Just one piece, that’s all, then you’re free!” I thought.

Eat First, Ask Later – Part One: Dining Out and Hot Pot

China is a land of strange and wonderful food. So strange to my American palate that I quickly learned it was better to try first and ask later. “What is this?” “Chicken stomach.” “Oooooohhhh….” Was a common exchange at the dinner table. I tried – and liked – many things that I would never have believed would pass my lips. Jelly fish, tripe, fermented beans, duck wings, duck kidney, duck intestine, duck liver… And yes, I absolutely promise I am telling you the truth when I say that I honestly and truly enjoyed all of the above (ok, maybe not the tripe – but really everything else). Yes, I was pushed out of my comfort zone. Yes, I did not absolutely, one-hundred-percent love the first bite. But after one bite, and another and another, I realized that the Chinese were on to something with those little, translucent, delightfully crunchy jelly fish. And of course there are always the classically delicious dumplings – you can never go wrong with a good basket full of steamed dumplings.

Our first meal in China at the airport in Shanghai – dumplings and “boiled vegetable.”

Huanglong and Juizhaigou

I believe that every traveler has one or two things that get them especially excited about venturing out into the world – some type of experience that makes their eyes grow wide and their words tumble faster whenever you get them started talking about it. For me, these are nature and food, and thus I have selected them for these next posts. We will start with a journey into the mountains.

The winding road.

Halfway Around the World

Some of you know that I spent the last month interning in China with my mom’s small teaching business. We created and delivered English lessons to Chinese children of varying ages six days a week. Our schedule was absolutely packed, but I was sure to take notes so that, upon my return, I could share some of the highlights of our adventures. I was eager to post, but the Chinese government keeps a tight control on internet access. I discovered upon my arrival that I could, unfortunately, not access my blog in the Middle Kingdom. But now we are back in the States with pictures and impressions galore! Over the next few days I will share some of our favorite moments and mishaps – I hope you will join me!

Here is a little preview of the coming post – our trip to the stunningly beautiful Juizhaigou!