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OUTPOURING ALONG THE DIM SUM TABLE
At first, it was a relative annoyance; I was dining at a "dim sum" restaurant
and was forced to share a table with another small family, accounting the popularity
of the place.
However, this annoyance turned and twisted into a big emotional ball. This family
I was sharing my table with started to talk gregariously, their tone gradually
turning more serious as the precious minutes went by:
"I am not seeing her anymore."
"What do you mean you're not seeing her? 'Sister' will be heartbroken."
"No, no, listen. Listen. I found a new love."
FOUND a--- what? You found--"
"Listen, mother, I don't think love is a simple arrangement by the parents"...
You get the picture.
The conversation went on and on, and the guy's parents were bravely fighting back tears.
Suddenly, I felt quite sorry for these folks.
What at first I thought was mere interference became a conversation that they might
regret initiating.
An ethnically Chinese family's principles are relatively simple: you earn good
sustainable money, then find a good bride, then have the perfect children.
Simple enough.
But generations collide, no matter where you are, there will always be someone
who wants to break chains, or from another view... break tradition.
At least I had my lunch.
THE FAST FOOD ADDICTION
Picture this: Sitting in the Departure Level at Shenzhen airport lies a gracious
Chinese restaurant. Beside it? None other than the graciously grey colonel. You know,
of the fast food kind.
If you didn't know it was KFC (Kentuckey Fried Chicken), I have no idea what
planet you came from.
Whilst I was sitting in this fancy restaurant, I was given a set menu for drinks.
When I am usually in Hong Kong or at least close to it, I order the notorious beverage
known to Hong Kongers: milk tea.
Looking closely at this menu, I was thrilled to see this "love it or hate it" beverage.
The price, at 40 yuan (approximately $7 Canadian), however, set me in a "hate it" mood.
So I shipped into the KFC next door.
What's unusual to me is that I usually do not whinge about prices when I am at home.
However, when I am in an overseas country such as China, I count every penny I got.
I shant be fooled, I think to myself!
The restaurants at the airport are obviously notorious for their pricing. And whenever
I suspect that little ounce of unfair profiteering, I look to a cheaper option.
Which also happens to be a fast food outlet.
On a normal scale, I usually eat much more fast food in a month (travelling), than home
for the rest of the year due to a variety of reasons, like missing home.
Try that forty (40) yuan drink. I got my KFC meal for thirty-eight yuan.
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