A Skip and a Hop to China!

Just for the record, I have never drunk a single glass of beer, wine, or any other alcohol in my life! My parents don't drink and none of my friends do so I have never really been around drunk people until I came here to China. Holy Cow! People drink alcohol here like its water at dinner! Whenever Sam and I go to dinner with our liaison and his buddies they drink. I have been offered beer but I kindly refuse them and ask for Coca Cola. I am learning to love Coca Cola and hot water. One time when we went out to eat with our liaison it was quite an experience.

It was a few weeks ago before I started teaching. Our liaison Russell invited us to go have dinner with him and a few of his classmates who were teachers here at the middle school. Sam and I accepted and headed to dinner on the back of Russell's motorcycle. Those things are meant to only hold two people but we somehow managed to fit three on it. It must have been a shock for the people in town to see two white Americans on the back of a motorcycle. I clung to Sam as we weaved through cars and buses to get to the restaurant. I have never been a fan of motorcycles ever since my dad got in a wreck on his and broke his collar bone. I flinched whenever we started to get close to a car. Finally we made it to the restaurant in one piece.

First Sam and I were introduced to everyone. Besides our liaison only one other person spoke English. They were all smoking and drinking. I sat down by this man who was smoking and Sam sat next to me and to Russell. As we I sat down they brought out new bottles of golden liquor that I think was beer. The man to my left set it right in front of me expecting me to, I think, start pouring a glass. When we convinced everyone that we didn't drink and that we wanted Coca-Cola they brought in the food. The food was really good! I'm really starting to love the food here and its spiciness. Anyways, the whole time we were eating everyone was drinking. In China it is custom to toast people at the table during dinner, usually with alcohol. They finished a box of probably 10 beers in 30 min. and kept going!! Sam and I started to feel a little uncomfortable. Russell kept on leaning over to Sam and saying, "I'm almost drunk I'm almost drunk" or "I'm very drunk!" after he said that he proceeded to drink more!!! Sam and I finally looked at each other and said that we are definately not riding back with Russell on his bike!! Sam asked Russell if he would get a DUI for drinking so much and driving his bike. He told us no. We left dinner early saying that we needed to call our families for Valentines day. We said goodbye and started walking home. Needless to say it was great to get out of the small smoky room full of drunk people and have some fresh air. It was definately an expirience that I will never forget! Sam and I now look back on it and laugh.