We have always been lucky with finding friends, no matter what country we are in, and China has been no different. A fellow student in my PhD program invited us to go to her home and meet her parents, and we ended up going several times and really getting to know her family.
As we were getting ready to go to Chengdu for 3 weeks in the summer so that Mark could teach in a summer program for Sichuan University, we stopped by Yue’s (my friend) house as a pit stop to the airport. Yue’s mom and Auntie made dumplings with us and even taught Alex the right way to fold a dumpling. While mine don’t look nearly as pretty as theirs do, they still taste good!
This is Yue’s Auntie mixing up the dumpling mix.
Alex, Yue’s mom and Yue getting ready to start making the dumplings.
Yue’s mom with one completed tray of dumplings, if you’ve never had homemade dumplings you are missing out! I really enjoy the process of making them too, it’s like meditation really.
Yue’s parents think Alex is great because he can speak Chinese and he loves tea- they are always thrilled when he comes over. He even came up with tea related nicknames for all the parents, auntie and uncle, even me and Mark.
Alex getting to taste the first dumpling because they like him more than the rest of us!
Yue and her Dad, who is discussing something important about our upcoming trip with Alex as he and Yue have to act as our translators for everything.
Every time we come over, they have a big bowl of cucumbers for me, it’s one of my favorites, and though it’s not pictured here, when it’s mixed with garlic, peppers and soy sauce it is the best salad a person could have.
A steaming bowl of dumplings that we all helped make- what a great way to spend an afternoon as a family.
After lunch we move over to the tea table for as much tea as we can handle and even more snacks. This is where Yue’s dad has taught Alex all about tea, the Chinese zodiac, and we all just relax and chat before leaving for the airport.
One uneventful flight later and we landed in Chengdu. We walked into the hotel that the University had booked for us, and it had the prettiest lobby.
Fountain with plants and fog, and a slightly grumpy Mark. There is even a musician that plays in the rocky formation behind the waterfall at certain times of day.
I’m so behind on this blog, so this kid has changed dramatically, but it’s nice to remember his fresh little face.
As you’ve seen on previous posts, I really love the unique shingles and end tiles on roofs in China, so every time I see a new one, I have to grab a picture of it.
Chengdu is known for many things; the Giant Panda Research Center, lots of temples, one of the oldest tea houses, Sichuan Opera- and of course- good food. Mark had so many wonderful places lined up for us to try, so on our very first day we went out for Dan Dan Mian. It’s a small local place (you know we love our little shops) and it had outside seating. Chengdu in July is hot! Spicy dan dan mian helps cool you down – they may not look like much here, but this is before mixing the hot chili oil from the bottom. They are traditional made with pork, noodles, chili oil and sometimes peanuts.
Here are the boys enjoying the first tastes of real dan dan noodles. You can see a bit more of the scenery, this is a small place off a busy road but the road the restaurant is on is mostly residential.
Alex felt the noodles were maybe a bit spicy!
Below is another Chengdu speciality, spicy wontons. I first got this dish at a Chinese place in California with friends and absolutely loved it, so getting to try it where it originated from was a real treat. It exceeded my expectations and as I’m writing this up it’s making me want a bowl right now!
As you can see by the clean bowls and thumbs up, this place was a win for the boys! Honestly, everything was fantastic and the staff were lovely and very curious about Alex and us, I’d go back here any day.
Just around the corner from the noodle shop was a main touristy shopping street, and to cool down from both the heat of the day and the heat of the noodles and wontons, Mark found a bingsu spot nearby.
I wrote about Bingsu on one of the Thailand posts, but to save you from having to go back- bingsu is a Korean shaved milk dessert. It can come in a relatively plain form, or all decked out in fruit, sweets, syrups- anything a young boy could want.
Alex picked an oreo bingsu, that when it came we realized how huge it was- which is also typical of bingsu. The texture is light and fluffy, and melts in your mouth. If you ever get a chance to try one, I highly recommend it!
Mark and I decided to share a peach bingsu, we had originally wanted a different fruit but they were out and it was peach season, so you get what you get!
Our came with sauces and jellies and creams on the side, we didn’t do much with them because we thought the dish itself was sweet enough.
Not a bad way to start a working holiday if you ask me!
Traveling Expat Family 