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Sunday, June 10, 2012

First Day In China

Went to Wal-Mart! Ok, well, I am a bit scared being vegan and eating out. I have done it a few times already here but I can pretty much guarantee my last meal had some meat stock. I printed out notes saying no meat/fish/oyster/etc etc etc. (Yes, fish is meat and so are oysters). Anyways. I really am finding people looking at me weirdly. Very very very very few people understand English well or at all. I am really surprised. But, earlier, I met one really nice kid who helped me order. We spent ages! He took me to a restaurant, sat down, and helped. I tried to give him a few Yuan, but he turned it down. Just wanted to meet me again. That was really humbling.

So what else? Well, I met a few really nice people at the airport. I must say, the hotel is pretty slick. Looks nice, goldfish throughout the hall, Chinese art. Pretty neat. But... I still haven't had a real cup of coffee in a while, the one at Melbourne airport was frikkin' awesome!

And I've already stopped up the toilet once! Triple-ply. I was counting them layers as I was doin my business. I haven't had much sleep either.

Much love from the Northern Hemisphere!

-Matt

3 comments:

  1. > I can pretty much guarantee my
    > last meal had some meat stock

    Told ya. Told ya that exact same thing, no?

    > Very very very very few people understand
    > English well or at all.

    Told ya that too.

    > notes saying no meat
    > finding people looking at me weirdly

    That's because (with one exception) Chinese people totally fail to understand the concept of "no meat in any form" (which I also told ya). You may as well say "A racemic mixture might be ok for you, but when it comes to chiral molecules, I only only go for the right-handed enantiomers". You're speaking a foreign language in a foreign language.

    The one exception is these strange Buddhist restaurants they have. But if you go there, you have to watch the TV with people telling you how good Buddhism is. Imagine going to eat at a revival meeting. Still, if you're that desperate.

    Good things about China: No tipping! As you found out, if people want to help you, they will do anything for you, and no expect anything in return.

    Stay safe Matt!

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  2. Have you tried expressing your food requirements in terms of religious requirements? I know some buddhist sects are strict vegetarians. Might be easier to ask for 'buddhist food' than 'vegetarian/vegan food' y'know?

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