I was thrilled by Wendy and Peter’s invitation to visit his family in Weihai. I knew Peter grew up near the sea and I’m a sucker for the sea cold or warm.
We left Thursday evening after classes. I tried my best to pack light, still working on that skill. We piled in the car and headed out about 5:00pm. I settled into the back seat for the four hour road trip.
As soon as we hit the highway the fear struck. Two things flashed through my mind, I’m going to be spending the weekend with a family that speaks no English, and I have not really been schooled in Chinese etiquette oh and then of course there’s the toilet situation. I was going to rural China the likelihood of Peter’s family having a western toilet was slim to none, okay closer to none here. Yes Culture foi-paux’s and toilets make the top of my fear lists here. As if reading my mind Wendy turned around and tentatively asked if I understood we were going to the country not the city of Weihai, namely living conditions were rough. We soon stopped for a break and I figure then was as good as time as any to start using squatty potties.
The ride was dark, so I was unable to see the countryside as we passed but I enjoyed the ride. I’ve always loved travel and as long as I have music can stay fairly entertained on any road trip. Wendy answered Chinese questions as I tried to read road signs and the time passed quickly.
- Peter, A’yi, Lao lao, Wendy
We arrived at 9:30 to a warm family and a piping hot meal.
A’yi (I called her Aunt) Peter’s mother came out front to greet us and help unpack the car. Lao Lao (Grandma) was close on her heels with a beaming smile.
As soon as we walked in we were ushered to the family Kang and the weekend began. I soon felt right at home even if I didn’t understand a lick of Chinese.
I’ve learned not to ask about food just eat. The meal was delicious! I soon learned that your location determines your diet in China and we were by the coast that was for sure. Steamed clams, fish, shrimp and then that great pepper and meat dish. I commented on the final dish and his mother promised to make more the following day, boy did I not know what I had just done.
The center of life!
Kang* – a heated stone bed that doubles as the kitchen table, living room sofa, and general gathering place for the family. I was relegated to the back corner as it is the warmest, kind gesture yes but my bum would not agree after awhile.
During the day it is bare with thin pads if it gets too warm, I tended to just stay on a pad. At night blankets are unfolded on top for comfort. After five months of Chinese mattresses two comforters on a stone bed seemed like plenty of padding.
- My Bed for the visit! Great for the back.
After dinner I was shown to my kang in the adjoining room. One thing I’ve learned the Chinese pull out the red carpet for foreigners. I felt truly guilty when I realized they had given me the large Kang in the Master Bedroom, all to myself no less. There were no heaters in the house so I went to bed in thermals skeptical of the kang’s ability to keep me warm. Wrong decision! I soon learned the errors of my ways as I began stripping layers, then I was glad no one else was in bed with me as I eventually got down to my skivvies and still had to throw the blanket off at times. Holy smokes who knew!
Full Squid, hummm, did I really say that was the great dish?
Friday morning I woke at 8 and entertained myself until I heard Wendy get up in the adjoining room. Breakfast was leftovers from dinner and a larger dish of what I had commented on the night before. My bad, it was squid. Okay I hate squid unless it is battered and deep-fried and smothered in a cocktail sauce but I had to admit last nights did taste good surprisingly. But now it was the full squid not just strips.
After Dinner Peter offered to take us to the Village Market and then the Beach. I will never turn down a tour. So the three of us piled into the car and took off for the morning.
Our First stop was Peter’s Junior High. So exercise equipment such as this is all over China! I need to start taking advantage of it on our campus.
Peter's Junior High
There is just no way to describe the loss of feeling when you finish this one.
Who said Exercising couldn't be entertaining?
That was a good stretch.
On to the Open Air Village Market. I was the only foreigner obviously and mostly likely the only to have ventured there. I was shocked when I few asked if I was Peter’s wife. Did not see that one coming. We finally just stuck with Wendy’s little sister, Can’t you see the resemblance?
Village Outdoor Market
A relative of Peter's, he gave me two free Candied Hawthorn sticks.
Oh no, please don't, oh great Peter just bought that for lunch. Umm do I have to I mean really what is it?? Oh just Pupas well in that case of course.
Then a quick spin to the beach, on the way we stopped at Shandong International College. The campus was dead.
Shandong International College
Can we say a little Europe in Shandong?
This was a random building on the campus. We never did find out what it was for but it just seemed so out of place.
Wendy says this place is packed in the summer.
I'm going to miss these two!
Sea farming
Are engines damaged when they get water logged?
Everyone does it! "Happiness to China"
Peter has quite the arm.
Collecting shells, I collected shells, Peter collected rocks and Wendy just shook her head asking what we planned on doing with them.
Beach homes of the rich.
We soon headed back for lunch, which I must admit I was not looking forward to as I knew the menu!
Don't these just scream yummm? Yeah I didn't think so either.
I'll try anything once, the second time is optional.
Pupas are Peter’s favorites it turns out so I turned to him for eating tips, wrong idea should have just waited for his dad. I tried Peter’s way first, pop the whole thing in you mouth and chew don’t swallow the casing just the creamy inside. After a few that way, yes I had a few, his dad came in a insisted his method was better, I have to agree with his dad. Pull off the end and using your teeth to squeeze/suck the filling out. I think I had about six although Lao lao didn’t think that was enough. I never could bring myself to eat the heat sack on the inside it was hard, after the gooy insides I just couldn’t bring my self to chew something crunchy.
Lunch with the family
Friday evening I watched “The Founding of the Republic” the Chinese film about the birth of China. It was on television and had English subtitles, surprisingly good subtitles to boot. I was also surprised at the sypathetic way in which Chang Kai Shek was portrayed throughout the film.
Saturday was colder than Friday so we remained in doors most of the morning. I took the time to study Chinese with Wendy. A’yi and Lao lao made fish dumplings for lunch which were to die for.
A'yi and Lao lao making dumplings, yumm Now there's a wok.
After lunch I asked if I could take a walk around the village, Peter volunteered to give me a tour. It was fun just walking and looking but the guided tour made it amazing. He showed us all his old haunts and favorite spots.
Main Street
Peter's home village. Looking down Peter's street back to the Main Street.
Peter and his childhood home. His home is at the end of the lane.
Side Street
Nothing like a good game of "Arrows & Bows" Peter's favorite growing up.
The boundary between villages, crossing over
The villiage across the river - This is where Peter attended Elementary school.
Before garages where needed this was the original parking space.
This is a piece that has been up since Peter's childhood days, I'm guessing the original from the 50's. Where is Mao?
Exploring the villiage in the late afternoon was picturesque, now if I could only learn to capture that.
The family garden.
Saturday evening I watch one of Wendy’s favorite films, a good Chinese Spy movie. When I discussed the plot with Victoria upon my return boy did she have a good laugh at the historical inaccuracies of the aligencies portrayed in the film. It was intriguing and the subtitles were dencent. If you haven’t caught on by now the quality of the subtitles is something of a running debate in China. There is no point in commenting on the quality of the film, I mean what do you expect from bootlegged copies. But really are subtitles suppose to be legit no matter the picture quality?
Sunday Morning A’yi and Lao lao woke early to make a fresh batch of dumplings in China it is a tradition to serve dumplings prior to a departure as a sign of good luck. The dumplings resemble little boats and the attached saying is equivelent to “Smooth sailing”.
Sunday's farewell breakfast. Traditional dumpling sendoff.
You enter into a courtyard and rooms are situated along the right and back walls. The front walls are storage and pig pens there is only the outhouse along the left wall and a staircase to the roof.
Feeding the Kang
* The Kang is heated from outside. Corn husks are dried and stored all winter to feed the fires lit beneath the stone beds.