Eric's Beijing Diary

This morning, I stopped at KFC to grab a breakfast sandwich. While I was getting my stuff, there was a guy from some European country at the counter. He kept telling the lady in English that he wanted a "Big Mac." She gave him the menu, and he was searching the sandwiches. She was trying to explain to him that they could not get the regular sandwiches until after 9am. Only the breakfast menu items were available before that time. This guy kept saying, in English, "I just want a Big Mac." I kindly informed him that he was at the wrong place.

"You mean I can't get a Big Mac here?"

"No. You have to go down the street to McDonald's"

"You mean this is different?"

"Yes, very different. It's a different company."

"But it looks the same."

Hmmm... makes me wonder..don't they have KFC in Europe? I didn't ask the guy which European country he was from. I guess I should have. I took him outside and showed him how to get to McDonald's.

Today Raymond and I went to the Miyun Reservoir to have a dinner of giant reservoir fish. I think that is the biggest fresh-water fish I have ever eaten. I think they must feed them grain, or something. Man, that thing was huge! And we added some very delicious mushrooms, scrambled eggs, and green vegetables. The food is definitely good, but it takes a long time to get there. It's one of the only times I can think of where you would actually benefit from having a car. Raymond told me that it takes about 40 minutes by car. It took us about two-and-a-half hours by bus and light rail.

After lunch we went for a little hike in the countryside near the reservoir, and scared up one of the prettiest pheasants I have ever seen. As we were talking Raymond said, "I need to have you explain a joke to me. I don't understand it."

I said, "Go ahead."

Raymond said, "Take your hat off. The pope is in the Volkswagen."

I said, "Raymond, where did you hear that?"

"Friends."

I said, "Raymond, with something like that, the humor comes from the context. Without knowing the context, it's hard for me to say why someone might think it was humorous."

He said, "I told that joke to a girl and she didn't laugh. She said, 'Why is that funny?' and I said, 'I don't know, either.'"