Eric's Beijing Diary

Well, folks, this is it. The big Five-O is finally here. I am fifty years old today. I sure don't feel like it, but then I really am not in a position to say, because I have no idea what fifty is supposed to feel like. I remember last year thinking how depressed I would be if I were still in America on my fiftieth birthday. Thankfully, I was spared that fate.

Some students had a party for me today. Believe it or not, the timing was coincidental. It started a couple weeks ago, when Lily was asking me why I didn't cook. I tried to tell her that I didn't know how, but she insisted that I should learn. Practice. Then I told he that I had no reason to, because the cafeteria is right by my building. If I need something, I just go down there. Actually, there are three cafeterias right by my apartment, but I usually go to Student Canteen Number Eight. It is open until 10pm. Anyway, that's another subject for another time, but there is just no motivation for someone who doesn't cook to adopt such a horribly time consuming hobby when there is such good food at such low cost right across the way. Finally, I said, "Lily, if you want to come to my apartment and cook a meal, you are welcome." Well, she took me up on it. The others who were there also thought it was a good idea. They wanted to do it last week, but I wanted to put it off until the cleaning lady had been here, so I delayed it one week, which happened to be today.

It started this morning at the Wudaoko Market. Lily's approach was very straightforward, "You buy the cooking materials; we buy the food." I didn't argue. Actually I paid for all the seasoning, too, since that is going to stay here (for the next party). The Wudaoko Market is a large "farmer's market" under a roof that has every possible variety of foodstuff. Leander wanted to buy a fish, so we stopped by a place where they had several tanks with several types of critters. One tank had some large bullfrogs swimming around. Another had some turtles. And then there was the fish tank. Leander picked out a fish. The lady picked up the fish, wriggling and gasping for air. She banged it's head on the side of the tank. Lily turned away. Then she looked at me, "Are you a Christian?." Yes, I admit, it is not proper for a Christian to see such violence. But I also must admit that I really like to eat the fresh fish that is the victim of this violence, so I choose to live with the contradiction.

They also picked out some chicken and pork, and lots of different kinds of vegetebles. Then we had to buy some cooking utensils, since I have absolutely nothing in my kitchen. I am all outfitted now. For about twenty US dollars. And the dishes they prepared were well worth all the trouble. Food from three different cuisines. One guy was from Guandong, so he prepared a classic Cantonese chicken specialty. The guy from Northeast China (Manchuria) prepared a couple of meat dishes, and Leander prepared a Sichuan stew. Lily made a egg and tomato dish that is pretty common all over China. And they even topped it off with a birthday cake. Lots of fun, lots of food, and a good time was had by all.