Yue Li's dad, arranges a family dinner at a famous Peking Duck restaurant. Above, her dad and step-mother, both very gracious and welcoming, pose with us.
Yue Li's aunt and uncle.
Two tables full of these very good dishes - we spin the lazy susan around and pick food out at whim - Yue Li's uncle, a chef, chooses our dishes with care, I think. Only one is unpalatable to our western tastes - duck feet. When Guy unknowningly selects a pair, Skyler tells Guy, discreetly, that he probably won't care for those and to transfer them onto his plate. Shortly thereafter, Sky transfers them to Yue Li's plate.
Yue Li's cousin and her husband and daughter.
Yue Li's cousin and his wife and son.
The Peking Duck is carved.
There is a toasting tradition here very different from ours. People or small groups are toasted individually - the night is filled with guests walking over to each other and toasting them - several people came to Guy and I and said many nice things to us - Guy then picked up the idea and went around the room toasting others, as was Sky. It's a good way to express admiration or gratitude or fondness toward people - I thought it very touching.
Yue Li's dad, arranges a family dinner at a famous Peking Duck restaurant. Above, her dad and step-mother, both very gracious and welcoming, pose with us.
Yue Li's aunt and uncle.
Two tables full of these very good dishes - we spin the lazy susan around and pick food out at whim - Yue Li's uncle, a chef, chooses our dishes with care, I think. Only one is unpalatable to our western tastes - duck feet. When Guy unknowningly selects a pair, Skyler tells Guy, discreetly, that he probably won't care for those and to transfer them onto his plate. Shortly thereafter, Sky transfers them to Yue Li's plate.
Yue Li's cousin and her husband and daughter.
Yue Li's cousin and his wife and son.
The Peking Duck is carved.
There is a toasting tradition here very different from ours. People or small groups are toasted individually - the night is filled with guests walking over to each other and toasting them - several people came to Guy and I and said many nice things to us - Guy then picked up the idea and went around the room toasting others, as was Sky. It's a good way to express admiration or gratitude or fondness toward people - I thought it very touching.
What a nice looking family! And how great that Star Star has some little cousins.
ReplyDeleteHere's the big question - does Yue Li like duck feet or did she just end up with them by default? You and Guy must be so proud of Skyler, Maggie. Chinese culture is so very complex and he seems to be doing wonderfully well at learning it.
Oh, I forgot to ask; do all of these family members live in or near Chongqing?
ReplyDeleteAnd I've been wondering about the eggs that Yue Li's grandmother sent her. Were they preserved some how or all fresh? And has Yue Li eaten them all yet? Is she supposed to consume all of them herself or is it o.k. for others to eat them too?
Haha - yes, she does like duck feet and she did eat them, the relatives that were at the dinner do live in the area, she has a half-brother who lives some distance away and a grandmother in the country, we are proud of Sky and he does know an amazing amount of stuff, yes, all of the 300 eggs are gone and her aunt just brought her 200 more, they are fresh and are refrigerated a few at a time, otherwise they sit in a bucket in the living room, and yes she shares them.
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