Chicken's feet or Dumplings?

I was excited, but I wasn't ready for what Tuesday would have in store for me.

I had agreed to meet with 2 Chinese women to practice English and maybe talk about Christianity. I was excited. I have a lot of patience to take the time to talk slowly, and simply with people from another language/culture. I actually enjoy it. 

Alex, Cheryl, myself & Daniel

I met Cheryl & Daniel at 45th and Walnut and we walked over to Anna's house. Cheryl and Anna are the wives of visiting scholars. Daniel is Cheryl's 10yr old son. As we walked we conversed. I found out that Cheryl had only been in America for 3 weeks and was only staying for an additional 3 weeks. Daniel has been in America since September and he's enrolled at Penn Alexander School in 5th grade. I was able to talk more with Daniel because his English was decent.

Cheryl is a pediatric nurse back in China. Her husband is a pediatric doctor. He is doing 6 months of research and 6 months of work at CHOP. He is very busy.

So we arrived at Anna's apartment. A middle-aged, very well dressed Chinese woman came to the gate to let us in. We walked up to her high-end apartment. As I started to take my shoes off (an Asian cultural norm) she motioned for me to keep them on. We went into the living room and sat down. 

In Chinese, Anna asked if I had eaten breakfast. Daniel translated to me the question. I had eaten. Anna still put out grapes, bananas and also took a bag of potato chips from the fridge. She also brought us all a cup of water.

So far I was getting the vibe that this morning was going to be interesting. 

I learned SOME Chinese 5 years ago. Since then I had a baby (Alex) and hadn't really practiced any Chinese. Whatever was still stuck in my head came out that morning, which wasn't much. I was able to use a few words and a phrase or 2.

Anna spoke no English - oh wait - she could say "Hello," and "Thank you."

Cheryl could say some things, but couldn't communicate much of what she wanted to say in English. 

All I can say is thank goodness is was Veteran's Day and Daniel had no school! He was translator, back and forth, all morning. 

I taught them a phrase or two. They helped remind me of the bits of Chinese I had once learned.

As I told them I had to go to get Alex from school, Cheryl asked if we wanted to come over for lunch.

I paused and thought of our schedule for the day; clear. I said sure!

Cheryl then laid out the plan, "Daniel and I will come with you to get Alex. Then we will all drive back to my house for lunch."

"Ok." I replied. What choice did I have.

We arrived at their tiny apartment. We walked into the kitchen and she began to heat water for dumplings (mine and Alex's favorite.)

She then pulled something out of the fridge I had seen before, but had never eaten.

Chicken's feet.

Served cold.

And in some weird jelly-like substance.

She then asked me in Chinese, "Ni xihuan ma?"

I remembered what that meant instantly.

Do you like this?

Thankfully in Chinese culture you can be honest.

"Bu xihuan."  I don't like, I replied.

I proceeded to tell her in Chinese, "Americans don't like this dish."

Dumplings or Jiaozi

Cheryl went over to the stove and added homemade dumplings to the salted, boiling water.  Minutes later she served Alex and I a steaming bowl of our favorite Chinese food. I added some hot Chinese sauce to mine, but I just a tad. I knew to be cautious. These were hands down the best dumplings I've ever had. 

We enjoyed lunch and their generosity. They offered us ice cream, candy, peanuts, and Chinese snacks to take home.

Even though it was an awkward morning of listening, but not understanding a lot of Chinese, and only communicating a little of what both parties wanted to say. I was rewarded with a fantastic lunch, some new friends and even leftover dumplings (3 bags!!!) for another day!

"Ni xihuan ma?"