Language Training and Bartering (Day 3)

On our third day in China we were blessed with some language training. We spent the morning learning how to count and use simple phrases. This made both of us feel much more confident in bargaining and using the public transportation systems.

Language Training Class

After the language lesson we went to lunch. This time the food was more traditional Chinese food, or so we were told. We both thought it was very similar and enjoyed just about everything on the table. One of our favorites, that I hope to learn to make, is sugar coated yams. They are served really really hot, so you dip them in cold water before you eat them. Yummy Yummy Yams!

Restaurants have their plates shrink-wrapped to show they are clean

A very good chicken/pork (who knows) dish with a wrap textured like rubber gloves

A sugared yam dessert.  Jon is dipping it in water to crystalize the sugar and cool it for eating.

After lunch we went to a market that is known for bargaining. We were a little unsure of the directions and kept walking straight where we should have turned left. We found a ton of little vendors selling jewelry and random odds and ends that they had. The strangest thing we encountered was a full lions paw. The paw was rotting and you could see the tendons and all. It was not the most pleasant smelling or looking item they wanted to sell us.

A street vender cart selling jewelry  

Once we made it to the end of the wrong street we walked back and found the real market.  We anticipated something much similar to our experience with street markets that we had in the Bahamas. Needless to say, we were wrong. The five story building was packed full of everything you could possibly dream of. Anything from knockoff Nike’s to China Memorabilia was in the store.

The five story market (a barter's heaven)

After walking around for a few hours and bargaining for everything, we walked away with a pair of work out pants ($13.00 dollars), for two legit North Face rain jackets ($12.50 each), and a Chinese Tea pot and tea set ($17.00). Even though it was nothing like the Bahama’s it was still fun and we enjoyed every minute of it.  

Jon and Jessica in an americanized grocery store

Some frozen Chinese breads in the grocery store

On our way back to our motel we spotted a grocery store and had to stop. The store was similar to grocery stores back in the U.S.. They had carts and baskets. Check out lanes and all the food you could want. Two of the biggest differences we found were the security guards that were placed throughout the store. I was a little confused what they were doing at first when one was passing out our cart to us. The other difference was the meat/deli department. The refrigeration of the meat is not a priority here and everything is kept warm and uncovered. It will take a while for both of our stomachs to get use the to smell.

It's common to see people playing cards in the street.

We left the market with a loaf of whole wheat bread, jelly and a cold orange juice (tang with pulp). The food is a little different but generally tastes the same. Once we got back to the motel we called it a night.

Some of our purchases for the day.  (look how small a loaf a bread is!)

Next time church in Beijing and the Kong Fu Show!