La Mian

This morning at 7 I went to the Muslim noodle place down the street to learn how to make pulled-noodles. The night before I had asked them how to make it, and after they figured out that I wasn't trying to become competition for them, they sold me the special ingredient and then invited me for a special private lesson (I am going to miss being foreign and special). So first the guy poured out a pile of flour on the table and added a little bit of salt. 2nd, make a crater in the flour and pour water in the middle. 3rd, get mix the flour around with the water for a long time, fluffing it, patting it, massaging it... 4th spread the doughy flour out across the table and sprinkle water over the top. 5th, knead some more, and keep kneading and adding water until it is mostly ok. 6th mix together water and the special ingredient (I haven't figured out what this special ingredient is yet, but the word is Peng Hui, directly meaning "fluffy ash". The purpose of this ingredient is to make the dough elasticky. 7th sprinkle fluffy ash (just a little) over the dough, then sprinkle the water+ fluffy ash mixture over the top and knead until it is the proper consistency. I realize that perhaps this is a little boring, it was actually kind of a monotonous process, but then came the fun part, pulling the noodles. And guess what, he asked me if I wanted to do it! They make it look so easy. In fact, one book I read said that it is an art. The guy told me it took him ten days to learn how to do it, but he is sure I can get it in 5. This was truly MAWL in action (for those of you who do not know what that means, Model, Assist, Watch, and Leave). He was such a patient and encouraging trainer. This will be one of my first cooking projects when I get back to America. If successful, I will have a La Mian party and invite my friends over. Sorry no picture, perhaps I will take one before I leave.

Last Trip

I just returned from my last trip to the Asian countryside (at least this go around). It didn't really hit me until I was on the common bus driving up the mountain. It was cold and rainy outside as we wound through the mountains and along the jade river. Reddish-orange flowered trees sporadically lined the river and it made me cry. Wow! It is so beautiful. I never lost that awe and wonder at seeing the God's magnificent creation. What a breath-taking place I have been privileged to travel in for the past two and a half years. I am so going to miss those lush emerald mountains and all that goes with them: fresh air, star-lit skies, hospitable villagers, corn porridge, little old women smoking pipes, pantsless children, telling stories, the reactions of those who hear the stories, rickety bus rides....I am sure that I will think of more things as I am cramped in the city in America. I suppose I will have to let myself escape to the countryside every once in a while.

 

Traditional Photos

It took me a while to get these posted, but they are finally here. After a flood, sweaty photos in a garden, changing clothes in the minority museum, a bad photographer, and lost pictures, here are the few pictures that I thought were good enough. 

In America I am seldom what one would consider tall. I prefer to shop in the petite section of clothing stores and I am the shortest one in my family. But, in Asia I am tall. Everyone is always so amazed when I tell them how tall the rest of my family members are. Though I am bigger than most of the villagers, they are definitely stronger than I am. This week I tried to help an eleven year old village girl about half my size to haul water from the well to the house. Using a bamboo pole, she carried two buckets of water over her shoulders. When I tried, I couldn't even stand up. I have a lot of physical training to do if I want to match up to these LiHai people!
 

Suzhou and Shanghai

For a southerner, the weather was quite and dreary in Suzhou. It is said to be heaven on earth, but that must be in spring and summer. We road on a little boat down a little river inside a park. Actually we did that two places. One of the parks had a place where you could roll around inside a bubble on the water for ten minutes. I did not do it, but two of my friends did and it was quite amusing to watch. I think it would have been fun on a warmer day. 

Traveling Fun

My computer is finally fixed and I can now once again post pictures and comments from my life. So much has happened since I was last able to post, so we will just have to start from here. In Thailand I took up speed racing. I haven't driven a real car in over two and a half years, but I took to the wheel fairly quickly. I was doing fine until I got a little competitive and went too quickly around a turn while passing someone. I fish-tailed and she hit me, but no worries! It was fun, followed by a thrilling game of paintball capture the flag. Hopefully I will get a picture of that soon (from a friend).

This is a picture looking across the Bund in Shanghai. I think the globe is the exhibition center or something like that, but I could be completely mistaken. The weather in Shanghai made all of my pictures blurry, but photo editing does great things.