Sunday, December 21, 2008

CHRISTMAS DINNER PARTY, JINAN CITY

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM JINAN.

THE CITY GOVERNMENT INVITED ALL FOREIGNERS LIVING IN JINAN, TO A CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS AND THE NEW YEAR, WHICH ALSO INCLUDED THE PRESENTATION OF CITY AWARDS AND RECOGNITION.

THEN A WONDERFUL AUTHENTIC CHINESE DINNER WAS SERVED IN SEVERAL COURSES. THE EVENING ENDED WITH A WALK ACROSS THE MALL TO A LARGE THEATER WHERE WE ENJOYED ANOTHER CHINESE ACROBATICS SHOW. IT WAS A GREAT TIME FOR US AND AN EXCELLENT FREE DATE.

WE ENJOYED THIS WONDERFUL GALA AND DINNER, AND ONLY DANA LEFT HUNGRY.

I WORE MY BIG AMERICAN SUIT AND COSSACK FUR HAT WITH DIAMOND TEDDY BEAR ON THE FRONT...
THE MEDIA LOVED IT AND JAY PARTICIPATED IN A LITTLE FRIENDLY COMPETITION TOSSING TOYS INTO A BASKET WHICH A PARTNER WAS HOLDING ON STAGE AND CAME AWAY A WINNER. HE RECEIVED A RED CHINESE KNOT AS FIRST PRIZE.


THIS IS DANA WITH MARY, OUR LIASION WITH THE UNIVERSITY. MARY IS THE CHIEF OF THE INTERNATIONAL OFFICE AT SHANDONG UNIVERSITY AND OUR WAIBAN. SHE IS A GREAT HELP TO US. SHE IS REALLY NICE TOO.

THE FOOD WAS INTERESTING. THERE WERE SEVERAL BOTTLES OF BEER AND CHAMPAGNE, BUT WE ASKED THAT THOSE BE REMOVED AND SPRITE BROUGHT TO OUR TABLE. WE LOVED THE SPRITE. IN FACT, IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF THIS BANQUET. I THINK THEY MUST LAUGH A LOT AS THEY PLAN WHAT TO FEED THE FOREIGNERS.
HERE IS A PHOTO OF THE SILK WORM LARVE WHICH WERE COOKED AND SERVED TO US. JAY TRIED ON FIRST AS ALWAYS AND ANNOUNCED TO DANA: "YOU DON'T WANT TO TRY THAT!"
(CHECK IT OUT CLOSE UP. Click on Photo...) WANT SOME OF THIS?
OTHER ITEMS ON NOTE: A LARGE BAKED FISH, A GARLIC SALAD, DEEP FRIED DARK CHICKEN, SEA CUCUMBER (SLUG) IN A SEA WEED SALAD, A CUCUMBER DISH WITH BABY SQUID, HOT SESHUAN STYLE VEGETABLES WITH RED JALAPENO PEPPERS, BIG CHUNKS OF BEEF BACK BONE WITH A FEW SHREDS OF MEAT LEFT ON THEM. JAY ACTED AS THE QUEEN'S TASTER AND TRIED EVERYTHING, AS A SERVICE TO DANA. HE THEN GAVE HER RECOMENDATIONS ON WHAT WAS EDIBLE OR TOLERABLE.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think I would have enjoyed eating that meal. Hey, 'when in Rome'. What a fun evening. How many people (FOREIGNERS) were in attendance?

As a note, the green text is somewhat hard to read...fyi.

Jensen Family :) said...

Wow Mom and Dad you both look so beautiful, It looks like a very fun evening! I am so happy your really liven it up! Merry Christmas! I love you! Trish

Tiffany said...

Gross, who wants to eat a silk worm? Not me!!!!
It looks like a fun party though.
Dad, thanks for the Training advice, I am doing it, but no luck yet. The older girls love to get the candy when they go and Jennedy really wants to but has not figured out what muscle to release. Hopefully soon.

Suzanne said...

Oh my. I think I would lose alot of weight in China, too, but more from living off noodles and Sprite than walking!

Suzanne said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
SBrooks said...

OK - I ewwed at the silk worms. I am with Aunt Dana on going away hungry. Whew! Great photos though!

Dana Wartena Thelin said...

There were about 100 foreigners in attendance at the City Christmas
Dinner and Celebration.