The truth about banquets

It was another relaxing weekend, until around 4:50 PM this afternoon, but I’ll explain that in a bit. On Saturday, we woke up at around 8:00 AM, got ready for the day, had a successful tutoring session, did the week’s shopping, cleaned the bathroom, and enjoyed some downtime. Today was essentially a repeat of yesterday, except I finally finished The Memoirs of Cleopatra, which was an interesting, if lengthy, novel. 


So what happened at 4:50 PM to change our day’s course? Jean-Jacques received a phone call from a Chinese friend who invited us to dinner at 6:00 PM. (Note to reader: As I am writing this, I realize that I am an ungrateful person who shouldn’t be complaining. In the future, when I smell like roses again, and I can breath without feeling like my lungs are charred, I will try to be a better person. I promise.)

Ah, The Chinese Banquet. It’s an experience that every westerner who visits China must have, though as you’re enduring the two-hour-plus cultural exchange, you wish you were comfortably back in the apartment eating a melted cheese sandwich. I dislike every banquet I attend, but after the event I’m satisfied, pleased, happy I went because I learn something new. No, I don’t always enjoy the exotic food, suffocating plumes of cigarette smoke, being paraded around like a stuffed poodle (I’ve gotta pay for my dinner somehow...), or the custom of competitive drinking, but the conversation that I can understand (and participate in) usually provides me with some fascinating new insight into Chinese culture, so the pain is worth it in the end. 

What did I learn tonight? Chinese executives consider drinking to be an important part of a business negotiation. If someone is sober, it can be difficult to trust him or her, so that’s why business is done over a meal with drinking. 


It’s late, sleep calls, and I need to find a new book to read. ¡Adiós!


P.S. The in-heat howling cats are starting to make me sad. I don't want to be sad. I want the kitties to be happy like Pickles and Ninja. Maybe the rain will quiet them for a little while.