Footprints Recruiting

Forget the fortune cookie but get ready to tempt your taste buds! The tastes of China vary greatly from region to region but the one commonality is that it is GOOD! Greasy, but good.

Be aware and be patient and be open-minded. It make take several goes to find the right dishes for you and when you go out with Chinese hosts they somehow often want you to try the strangest thing on the menu, perhaps just to see if you have the courage, or maybe in truth because it's a delicacy. I have overcome my reluctance to try things. Did you know that it's ok to spit things on the table that you don't like. Imagine doing that at home... ok when your 4 years old but go home and have Thanksgiving dinner with mom and dad and spit your brussel sprout out and see what happens. I smile just thinking about the loving smack I would get. In China, no worries. Same with food eating sounds. Anyway, if you try something you don't like you can put it on the table after trying it or after at least making it look like you tried it, you can then spit it out or push it off your plate.

My best practises guide leads me to believe that you should try a little corner of whatever it is and then simple nod your head in an understanding way and calmly say with a non-commital face that, "it's not for me." Once you do this it won't be pushed your way again and if it is you can calmly say , "no thank you".