Noodles and oh so much more

Even though Jingmen contains around 2 million people, we are located on the outskirts.  The new aviation center is situated right next to a sleepy small town called Hongtu.  No traffic lights here.  Saturday night Dana and I decided to walk into our little town to try this “noodle place” that we heard about from one of our coworkers.

NOODLES MADE TO ORDER

We arrived at the little street side place and were greeted by the owners.  They seemed happy to see us and cleared a tiny table along the street for us to sit.  I watched the owner stretching and pounding some dough and then realized – he was making our noodles right there in front of us.

You can’t get fresher than this!  I took a bunch of photos of the owner and the enterprising businessman made sure I got the restaurant name in the photos. 

It’s free advertising, you know, so YOU, dear reader can find the place.

The noodles were great.  Two big bowls with some sliced beef that was really tender.  The cost was 20 RMB ($3) for BOTH of us.

Oh, and our hotel puppy apparently hangs out at this restaurant too.  She joined us about halfway through the meal.   Don't worry, she is well fed by the locals.

AND THEN THINGS GET WEIRD

Halfway through the meal, the owner started doing something in the back room.  He was getting out a bunch of small boxes and setting them up on a table.  He then waved me over.  The boxes contained brand new cell phones.  I’m thinking…”Great, now he’s trying to sell me some Chinese knockoff phone”.  I showed him my brand new phone provided by my company, but he didn’t seem to take the hint.  Then he motioned for Dana to come over too and started showing her the phones.  I thought that maybe he was trying to convince Dana to get me to buy one?  Nope. 

He motioned for us to sit down and hold one of the boxes.  Then I watched his partner get her phone out to take a photo…and it hit me.  He was making a advertising photo for his phones with us!  I can see the headlines now that will soon appear all over the Chinese internet.  

By XYZ phones!  Endorsed by the coolest foreigners!  It’s the communist inspired ripoff that the capitalists trust!

REALLY WEIRD

While we were posing like the superstar models that we are, Dana said “Stephen Look!” as a woman entered the restaurant.  I turned and saw this Chinese woman with the following shirt:

Yes, a New York Jets (my favorite NFL football team) shirt!  You have got to be kidding me.  Now it wasn’t green and white, but still.  What are the odds of seeing this logo in the middle of nowhere China?  Riii-diculous.  I immediately jumped up to take a photo next to my new best friend.  First, though, I had to use my trusty Google Translate to explain to this (now very nervous) woman why I was pointing at her chest and cozying up for a photo.  I don't think she had any idea what the logo meant.  But I couldn’t let the moment pass.

DON’T WORRY, HE’S A LICENSED DEALER

Well, after that excitement we settled down and finished our yummy noodles.  The owner though was not done.  

He had to show me some photos of himself with the “designer” of the phone.  He must have attended some kind of seminar (my best guess - a Chinese multi-level marketing scheme).  We exchanged contact info on Wechat, of course, so I expect the royalties for our modeling services to pour in any day now.

He also had his certificate as an authorized seller of Chinese knockoff phones.  He was really proud of it as you can see.  After all this, we headed back to the hotel with our hotel puppy leading the way.  You never know what a simple night out for noodles will bring around here.

Race Day

We found out on Wednesday that there was a 4k fun run in Jingmen and some of the company was going to participate. Steve obviously said he would run and several others volunteered as well.

We left this morning for a crazy ride with TONS of traffic into the town to prepare for the race. We almost missed it since we had to park so far away from the venue. It was amazing seeing so many people.

A drone picture from the race website. Mind boggling how many people were there.

We stopped for a couple of photos while the announcements finished up. Then the race started. Most people were running with a group so they had matching outfits and even flags with their company logos. The music was pumping and teams started crossing the start line. It took about 30 minutes for everyone to get to and cross the start line.

Steve and the girls - they were concerned that he would be cold.

Aloong Race Team - Ready for Action

And they're off!

I held ALL the coats. I had quite a few stares since I was walking around wearing an Air Force jacket and carrying an arm load of them too! I started watching for finishers but it seemed to be taking longer than I was expecting.

Me - trying to look innocent as the police eye me suspiciously!

About that time Stephen came up behind me. (I was at the wrong finish line) but he took 2nd place! Also the race was more of a 7k than a 4k. Thankfully the crowd forced him to start out slowly. He and the man who won actually passed the pace car. What fun! Then he was stretched by some Chinese sports therapists.

More stretching than normal for Steve

They had vendors walking around giving out prizes. We snagged two of these stuffed things. Not quite sure what they are! And Steve was stopped for a picture with the yogurt.

As we waited for the rest of our teammates to finish, people kept taking pictures of us. I believe we were the only non-Chinese in the entire area. To top it off his picture appeared not once but twice on the race website! I wanted to share the website but...censorship...so I copied the photos of him. NO ONE else is pictured individually.

Literal translation from race website: "The foreign friend's body is really good. In early March, the cold in the spring was pressing. Short sleeved and shorts contrast with the black jacket"

Literal translation from race website: "Hahaha, this photo was given a hundred percent"

Yes, yes. My husband is a rock star here! We have never been this popular in our lives.

Mandatory Annual Health Exams

We were told yesterday that today we would go in groups to the Annual Health Exam. It's our understanding that the entire population of China goes for a health exam at the start of each Chinese New Year. So we went with our company at their expense. About 10 of us went this morning and the groups will continue to go this afternoon and tomorrow.

We were told to fast after midnight. We were not pleased and expected a long hungry morning standing in many lines at the local hospital. One of our major goals for this adventure is to entirely avoid the Chinese healthcare system. Blown in the first few months! But at least we weren't sick or injured. And the wait was minimal.

So after the morning meeting we all piled into two cars and off we went. Steve actually drove one of the cars. We parked and headed inside. I was pleased with how clean everything looked. On the walk up from the parking garage I quizzed one of my beginner students. It was funny to see him shocked to have to speak English outside the classroom.

We walked in and registered at the front desk of the Health Examination Departments.

Waiting in line to register

The first line we went to was the blood drawing area. It was just right out in the open but you could smell the antiseptic in the air so we were good so far. The nurse was amazingly efficient and the blood draw was painless.

Next we went into a small room and were handed a cup of water and a pill. This is where the American fun began. The following conversation ensued:
Dana - What is this?
Nurse - (pointing at water) Swallow it.
Steve - But what is inside it?
Co-Worker - It's medicine.
Dana - But I'm not sick. (smile)
Co-Worker - You swallow it.
Steve - We don't usually swallow things unless we know what it is and what it does.
Nurse - It's for your stomach.
Steve - (translator app in hand) The back says Carbon. What do you think?
**at this point the medical staff, our co-workers, and the other patients were staring blankly at us**
Dana - Carbon is natural. Whatever.
**we swallow said pills**

We were told to wait for 15 minutes and then we were given a device to breathe into for the test. It's our understanding (thank you Google and Google translate) that it monitors for stomach cancer and acids. Although about 50% of the population test positive, very few are harmful.

Americans finally giving in and submitting to the test

And that was the extent of our Health Examination. Thankfully we weren't weighed. I doubt I pass Chinese standards!

All finished and we lived to tell the tale!

Then we all went to eat lunch together since everyone was very hungry. The guys took us to a buffet style restaurant that was delicious with many choices. Our total was 26 RMB (about $4.50). Food here is so inexpensive.

Restaurant is the red and yellow sign. So good and we've been by it multiple times without knowing what it was!

Spontaneous Dinner

Stephen was in a meeting with Abraham (company president) and Lollie (HR director and interpreter) at the end of the work day yesterday. The meeting ran late and we all missed the meal in the cafeteria. Steve messaged me from the meeting and said that we would be going out to dinner and just to wait for him. No problem.

We learned on the way that we were meeting with the head of security - at his home. So we pull in at his house and go upstairs to his office for hot tea (more like hot water with a few herbs sprinkled in), peanuts and sunflower seeds. This is a very traditional start to the meal. The hot "tea" keeps your chi (Chinese life force) warm and ready for the meal.

It wasn't long until we were called downstairs to the meal. We sat at the traditional table with the rotating center. The plates are about the size of a man's palm so you only take a bite or two as the dishes go by in front of you.

The first dishes ready for us. More was added as the meal went on.

This meal was delicious. My favorites were: fish patties (a pressed patty with fish, seasonings, and flour?), a ham and veggie stir fry (tasted like country ham), peas, greens, marinated cucumbers, a bread with eggs (tasted very much like french toast) and rice balls (fish, veggies, and seasonings in a ball and covered in sticky rice).

The man looking at the camera was our host.

They had the traditional chicken feet. I just can not. Nope. Nada. Not doing it. They can judge if they like. Y'all, you can see the little toe nails. Nope.

They just bite off the toes. Nope. No way. (I asked permission to take Lollie's picture eating it)

At these big group meals there are MANY toasts. The host typically begins with a formal toast to all the people there. We all stand and listen and then toast. Then they all go around the table and toast to individuals. This is a long thing. One person says several things they admire and wish for the other person and then that person does the same. Then they toast. No wonder people are so thin here - they spend more time at meals running around the table toasting than sitting and eating. Stephen and I stood for toasts both corporate and individual about 6 times during the meal last night.

Toasting!

Overall, it was a fun outing with some of the best food we've been served. And we were back at our hotel by 9pm. Not a bad evening out!