Fun, Fun, Fun

No, this has nothing to do with the Beach Boys.

I've been busy with my social life lately. Somehow, in the course of getting sick, my social life has blossomed into a full-grown, adult social life.

Thursday was game night again. This time we had it somewhere warmer (thank god) and the Chinese friends that were invited even made us dumplings (yes, they even had vegetarian just for me!). And we ordered pizza, and one of the student's fathers paid for it! So generous! I could have played games all night. Again.

Friday was the first CTLC pub quiz. A bunch of us went out for Tex Mex before. It was certainly expensive (for China) but it was SO good. I had a chicken enchilada. Topped with real cheese. And a salad. And we got chips with guacamole. I was in heaven.
The pub quiz was packed. We ran out of room and about half had to sit outside. I'd say there were 70 people there. It was fun. But, you know the nerd in me loves trivia. My mind has an endless capacity for useless information.
My team was in 1st place all the way up till the final round--sports. European sports. Circa 2003. Yeah, not happening. We got 3rd. So, no cash prize, but we do get bragging rights... maybe a little.

Today I was supposed to go to Carrie's new home to play mahjong with her, her mother, and her grandmother. I was so excited, especially since Carrie said her mom would cook for me. But, alas, Carrie got sick and had to cancel at the last minute.

But, I made a Chinese friend, Kevin, through game night and was invited to a dinner party (with Taboo!) at his apt tonight. I was late. I took the bus, as instructed and was listening and watching for the stop info I had written down. By the time I was 5 mn late, I was getting phone calls (they kept breaking up on his end). "No, I'm on the bus. I don't know where we are, but we havent' passed the stop you told me to get out at." Then I was told to pass my phone to the bus conductor, got the feeling I had missed it, she passed it back and Kevin told me, "get off at the next stop." He came and found me (while I feel silly, stupid, and bad for making him come find me), but he assures me it isnt' my fault. And I know it isnt'. THey stop name he gave me in the email isnt the stop name listed on the sign. But I still feel inept. We took a cab back to his place ( to save time).

There were 5 of us, with his roommates wandering in and out. I think 4 people live in the 2 bedroom apt, but it's hard to be sure. I counted toothbrushes in the bathroom. Which, by the way, is the cleanest bathroom I've seen since I've come here. My mother would have been jealous.

I took a bottle of California wine as a gift. Socially, if you are not good friends with the person, a gift is required. I had received suggestions of fruit. That was my original plan. But really, how much do I buy? Too little and I look cheap and ungrateful. Too much and I look foolish and he has a ton to eat. Plus, I know Carrie said that many fruit vendors have them, but where do I buy a basket?
So I settled with wine, not even sure if he likes wine. I figured it's a traditional American gift, plus I got American wine. Really, sharing my culture wins every time. And I'm just more comfortable with wine as a gift.
Luckily, he says he really likes it. Whew!

Kevin made a vegetarian hotpot and we put it in the middle of his living room table and ate for a few hours while watching a bad American movie. We had 2 kinds of potato, string mushrooms, lotus root (which I've been craving), tomatoes, taro, carrots, seaweed, dumplings, corn on the cob (you eat that with chopsticks!), fish balls, and he had chicken wings (not for the hot pot). I passed on the wings--I'm trying to drive home the "vegetarian" thing. You might think this is overkill, but I was asked if I ate lamb. Um, yeh.
At one point in the dinner, video came up of the French President meeting with the Dalai Lama. I was asked if I knew who "he" was. It was not specified, but it doesn't take a genius to realize they're not asking me about Sarkozy. Instead of giving in to the panic attack I could feel rising in my chest, I calmly replied that yes, I did know. I knew who both of them were. That was the end of that discussion. Whew!

We played Taboo after dinner. You might think this is a bad idea, since I am the only native speaker. On the contrary, they're really good. Since they are learning English, they approach vocabulary differently, and their way of describing the words allows them to not use any of the words on the cards. Though, on occasion, there were mix-ups, like "language" for "luggage."

His friends gave me a ride home and on the way we exchanged contact info. Yeah!! I made new friends!!! They're all really nice and funny. One guy is thinking of moving to Canada. I told him it was really cold there right now. I also explained how I am from Minnesota. They didnt' quite know where that was. But I figured it was worth a shot, since a guy on the bus last night knew--he works for IBM and has contact with Rochester; it blew my mind.

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