Andy is emailing and blogging now from China. Today he said he has been eating adventurously and felt a little funky. He has discovered the "hot pot". At the restaurant there is a common pot of boiling broth where a variety of unidentifiable foodstuffs are cooked. After he had eaten he asked what it was. He had sampled pig's ear, sheep stomach and rabbit. His Chinese hosting partner asked if he liked frog or turtle. I laughed because we ate both of those dishes at home when I was growing up. I told him the turtle tastes like beef and the frog legs like chicken. I think in China the frogs served are more recognizable. My nephew Peter, who goes to China on business, was served a whole bullfrog in a bowl of broth. I could eat it only if it was skinned and dismembered. ( My apologies to Linda who is a vegetarian, but them then alll of our carnivorous habits probably gross you out.)
Andy commented on working in the lab at the University. He said they take no safety precautions that are mandated here. No gloves. No goggles. No ventilation. No safe storage of toxic chemicals. China is not known for their environmental protection measures. Pray Andy stays safe.
Most of the news from him is good. His hosts are very gracious and the University grounds beautiful. His housing is like a hotel. It is a building for foreign students and is air-conditioned. That is a relief because the humidity is extremely high and the temp 110. I wonder if it is worse in July. Maybe that is why they do not wear the goggles and gloves and protective gear. It would be intolerable in that heat.
While the son has to adjust to cultural differences, his Chinese partner who will be coming to Minnesota will also experience a shock. She told him that Beibei, the city where he is living, is a small city of only 200,000. Nearby Chongquing has a 13 million population. Andy informed her she would be living in St. Joseph which has 2000 people.
While Andy has access to computers, they must observe the posted rules. No politics and no religious stuff can be downloaded on the internet. It is still a communist country with statues of Mao and oppressive anti-religious policies. I think he will enjoy his six weeks there and appreciate his homeland even more when he returns.
Andy commented on working in the lab at the University. He said they take no safety precautions that are mandated here. No gloves. No goggles. No ventilation. No safe storage of toxic chemicals. China is not known for their environmental protection measures. Pray Andy stays safe.
Most of the news from him is good. His hosts are very gracious and the University grounds beautiful. His housing is like a hotel. It is a building for foreign students and is air-conditioned. That is a relief because the humidity is extremely high and the temp 110. I wonder if it is worse in July. Maybe that is why they do not wear the goggles and gloves and protective gear. It would be intolerable in that heat.
While the son has to adjust to cultural differences, his Chinese partner who will be coming to Minnesota will also experience a shock. She told him that Beibei, the city where he is living, is a small city of only 200,000. Nearby Chongquing has a 13 million population. Andy informed her she would be living in St. Joseph which has 2000 people.
While Andy has access to computers, they must observe the posted rules. No politics and no religious stuff can be downloaded on the internet. It is still a communist country with statues of Mao and oppressive anti-religious policies. I think he will enjoy his six weeks there and appreciate his homeland even more when he returns.
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