The Night I Ate a Scorpion

The Beijinger is now my best friend. I get updated on all the cool things happening in Beijing from cooking class to art exhibits. But what really struck my interest were the Jazz lounges. A lounge called Temple was having a latin jazz/bossa nova night and it was free to attend. Even though it was a little out of the way, I was really looking forward to going with my roommate and our friends. In this town (forgot the name), there were many small shops with traditional Chinese clothes, dresses, toys, and anything else you can think of. When I say anything, I even mean the “strange” things. On the side of the street, we went to a street food vendor selling fried scorpion, locus, and silkworm. I told myself before leaving that I would NOT eat a scorpion. Well~~

It was actually pretty good after the fact. My other friends had silkworm and I just had to refuse. Gathering up the courage to eat a scorpions  was thrilling and exciting, however, I needed to get the salty taste out of my mouth! To Temple we go!

The latin jazz band surprised me and my other Chinese friends who have never heard of the genre before. It was a little rocky at first with technical difficulties, but the performance turned out well. My roommate and I even got out of our chairs to dance for a while! Overall, it was an exciting night and next time I’ll bring more friends.

Icey's Birthday Party

My friend from International College of Beijing (ICB) had a birthday party yesterday and it was so much food...I mean FUN! Me and nine other people headed to her parents house and the commute wasn’t too bad. Probably an hour and a half. Icey’s parents were incredibly welcoming to having a bunch of American’s in their home. It was fascinating being in a traditional Chinese house for the first time. Oriental and traditional art everywhere, real animal fur on chairs, etc. Her house was quite comfy. 

Birthday girl Icey

As you can see here, the food was DELICIOUS! We toasted and grubbed away! All of us had to take a 30 minute break to digest for the second round of food. Ahhh...I miss home cooking and it was nice to be surrounded by a family. My program family and Icey’s parents.

I just thought that couch looked fierce

The infamous Chinese hard liquor (stay away!!) 

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Chinese Food Equals Endless Varieties!

I don’t think I will ever starve here in China. The food is very unfamiliar but delicious at the same time. In the campus cafeterias, I can get a meal so cheap for 10rmb which is less than 5 dollars. I put everything on my meal card that UCD supplied everyone. There’s also a western-styled restaurant in case I need my American food fix.

I did however get sick at the boy’s dorm cafeteria. That day I ate lunch with a friend that introduced me to a hip-hop dancer. I am still not sure what we ate, but it tore my stomach up in class. Thankfully that was the only sick experience I’ve had here so far.

I love food and it brings people together. However, I’m starting to dislike eating with the guys in my program. They just order a bunch of meat and nothing else most of the time. I’m more aggressive in ordering food now, but it was bad. I ate so much meat in one week that I stayed clear from meet for a few days and ate nothing but tofu and vegetables. 

Going into my second week in China, I am slowily but surely getting use to eating Chinese food all day and everyday. There is so much variety that I just need to try all I can. Chinese food rarely disappoints me with satisfaction or fulfillment. Bottom-line, Chinese food rocks!

There pictures were taken on the last night of the Chinese New Year. So we all stuffed ourselves like never before!

Dinner with the Program

Chinese Hot Pot!

Yanjing, the only beer I've seen in Beijing