From Tea to Alcohol & Chopsticks

Cups of tea soon turn into cups of alcohol. Family members begin arriving and are so friendly. They say “hello” to me in English. Their accent shines through, which makes it that much better. Their warm smiles rub off onto me. The feeling I have at this moment is amazing.

The food that is brought out smells so fragrant and lovely. The waitress tries to give me silverware, but I kindly refuse. I had practiced using chopsticks for a good two months after I decided on accompanying Pengfei back to China, so I will be damn if I don’t put those skills to use.

The food is placed in the center of the table and I am given a bowl. I do as everyone else and fill my bowl with white rice and begin taking food from the plates in the center with my chopsticks. The family watches and giggles as I maneuver my chopsticks to grab food.  It’s all in good fun. It hasn’t been a full day in China yet, and I have already fallen in love with the food and people.

After eating, Pengfei tells me to grab my glass and follow him around as he introduces me to everyone. As I am introduced, each family member “cheers” me. I wasn’t aware until now, that when a person “cheers” you in China you are to try to tap your glass lower than theirs to show respect and then you are to drink the entire content of the glass. Needless to say, I have been in China less than 6 hours and I am already drunk.

Once the dinner party ends, Pengfei tells me that he want to get his haircut. His aunt is a hairdresser, so we go to her business. When we arrive the other shops are all closed and she unlocks the gate to her salon and we enter. Pengfei gets his haircut and his aunt gives me a box of delicious Chinese cookies to keep. I am so thankful. So many kind gestures by people I have only known for a collective of 3 hours.

I notify Pengfei that I need to pee, however, her shop does not have a restroom, so I follow him to an alley. My first night and China and not only am I intoxicated, but I am also urinating in a dark alley. This trip is bound to be for the books.