Qibao

Yesterday a student offered to show us some interesting places. One place where she took us was a place where department stores were lined up and where people were doing "window shopping". We became kind of dizzy because of all these shops. Then she took us to a place called Qibao. She said "Its like a village but not village." We were wondering which kind of place that could be. Actually it was a village but a village which was rebuilt in an old way. Mainly it was about eating and buying souvenirs. But for a westerner the food and drink themself were interesting enough ("wanna a shot of alcohol with a snake in it?"). After eating and taking pictures the student took us to her home. When we entered the room we saw a table full of chinese dishes and in the kitchen was the father cooking (it is said that chinese men in Shanghai are good at cooking). The conversation with the parents was quite marginale because of our poor Chinese ( I tried because I had the vocabulary but after looking in the face of the mother trying hard to understand what I was saying I gave up - oh, these 5 tones, driving me crazy). The father left after a while for a "work" dinner and we were eating under the "care-ful" looks of the mother. At one time she pointed at the crab and said "yummy". What she actually meant was the brain we had avoided to eat. But one friend couldnt "escape" - the student said " Its very good, you have to try it." Then it was my turn - the mother pointed at the chicken feets, which were lying yellowish and clearly recognisable as feets on the plate, saying "yummy" (in chinese). So I had to try one (first and last time). After having a good nice meal the student decided we have to wash our faces and gave us wet towels (that seems to be normal in China). We were surprised but as well educated persons we did as it was told us. It was a nice experience.