China #2 - Heading North

Friday July 14

It seems like we've been here a long time because we've already seen and done so much!

The second night here, Tuesday night, we went out for a meal with Kevin and his parents again. This time we were in a busy downtown area in a private room up above one of the shops that lines the  busy street. The room was very plain, in need of painting and cobwebs hung in the corner. It was booked by Kevin's dad for our private party. A large bowl of broth boiled  in the middle of the table. on a built-in burner. Several different types of fresh thinly sliced meat were brought in, and Kevin cooked them, plopping them into the boiling water for about 10 seconds, and then serving them to us. It was like a never-ending soup, you just add another ingredient, eat it, add another ingredient, eat some more, adding water too as the soup evaporated. There were several cuts of meat, different vegetables and and even bouquet of romaine lettuce was cooked, all of it delicious, until we were stuffed.

After supper they took us to a huge building for a 'foot massage'. The men went into one room and ladies into another. Bert got his first pedicure and, as embarrassing as it was "to have a dude cleaning your toes for you," Bert marveled about how soft and smooth his feet feel now.

Meanwhile, Kevin’s mother and I had body massages, but they do it while you sit in a lounge chair watching TV(none of it in English of course) and drinking warm - yes, lukewarm - drinks. The staff's range of skill seems to be masseuse-chiropractors. It was awkward for me, not understanding either the TV or the conversations, or their verbal directions when they wanted me to stand, or turn, or move this way or that. They were so thorough, I was sore for two days! But my neck doesn't crack any more!  It was almost midnight by the time we got back to our hotel. I was surprised they were open that late, but they said it's open 24 hrs a day. Really? Um, what kind of massages are they doing during the wee hours of the night?

Wednesday morning we were taken to Shenzhen airport for a flight to a city further north. Our translator Wenci  met us at the airport. I remembered Wenci; she has been to my place once with her boss Mr. Lai. We met another two North American men from factories in the U.S., all of us going to Mr. Lai's toolshop known as Pengfei in a city called Xi'an.

 As our plane rose into the sky, I couldn't get over the massive size of the city from the air. I realized that I hadn't actually been in the  busy "downtown" area for dinner the previous night; skyscrapers are everywhere, as far as you can see for miles and miles and miles! Most of them are housing, with small businesses at the bottom of the high-rises on the street level.

We flew a couple of hours into a tiny airport in a less-populated area. A hired driver picked us up and drove another hour to our hotel in the city. Right after checking into our hotel, the men and Wenci all went immediately to the Pengfei toolshop. It was so hot and humid I was happy to remain at the hotel. Despite the small airport, the city of Xi'an probably has a million people.

For dinner we were taken to another rather shabby-looking place for another fabulous meal. We were in an upper room again, with Mr Lai & his wife, the American & Canadian businessmen, and some of Mr. Lai's executives, in total about 12 of us seated around a large round table. The food was placed on a massive Lazy Susan which turns very slowly on a motor, bringing the food around for each person to help himself. SO MUCH FOOD! They keep bringing in  another dish and another. We try them all, of course.

With Mr. & Mrs. Lai

There was wine and beer and much joyful toasting. I toasted with my canned coconut milk and lukewarm water.  Chinese believe it isn't healthy to drink cold water.
The food was delicious, and quite spicy. 
Watermelon is common as a dessert. 

Wenci is between two American businessmen, another one speaks to our server who is in front of Mr. Lai and Bert.

With Mr. & Mrs. Lai

Not understanding the conversations around us, we just follow or get swept along with whatever is being planned, and what was planned was an evening of Karaoke back at the hotel. Bert and I were pretty tired but felt we should go to be polite. Besides,  it might be fun!

 The Karaoke was  held in a room at the back of the hotel.  A couple of the Chinese  men started singing  (it’s all Chinese music and lyrics of course). MORE food and drinks came out, even though we were still stuffed from dinner! (Mr. Lai wants to show us a good time.)

The brightly lit snack table and  the TV in the karaoke room

Then a group of young ladies paraded into the room. I presumed they just wanted to join our group to watch videoes or to sing along - but when they all lined up facing us, presenting themselves  like models in a sort of "stance" I wondered what was going on. Were they performers of some kind? I asked about it, and the man beside me said, "This is where we chose our companion for the night."

"Companion"? 

 "For the NIGHT?!"
 Is THIS what happens every time Bert comes to China?! 

I jumped up and ran back to our hotel room. I did not want to know any more about these hired "companions!" Bert followed me back, and an argument ensued, as you can imagine!

Wenci heard that I was upset and showed up at our hotel room with Mr. Lai to apologize for upsetting me and to assure me that Bert was a good and honorable man in all ways. This was the first time Mr. Lai had ever hired this type of entertainment for his guests,  apparently. He kept saying ,"I sorry, I sorry!"  I felt bad for ruining Mr. Lai's plans for entertainment., for embarrassing him and misunderstanding something that may  (or may not) be common in that culture. In this culture, it's expected that workers will spend a lot of  time socializing with the boss beyond regular work hours. Bert would be quite rude to simply leave when Mr. Lai has made plans for them.  But I remained - and STILL remain - pissed about the whole idea of renting pretty young ladies for men’s entertainment like so much chattel. WHAT THE HELL?

The plan for Thursday that I found myself swept into, was that Mr. Lai’s wife - who’s name I cannot pronounce and who speaks no English- was to show me a good time.  More about that in my next post!

So far, I’ve been a lot busier than I thought I’d be. It’s very tiring - and I’m not the one who’s working!