Relaxing and a huge family dinner
Jul 24th, 2007 by Peter
23rd July 2007 Yilan
Another cool nights of sleep. I’m still dizzy, but it doesn’t feel as bad as before. Not quite sure yet though, as I had done nothing but go to the toilet and sit in bed and write up on the last days doings.
C went to eat breakfast at her parents and to do some shopping. She returned and I learned that tonight is the night where we invite all the family to a restaurant. I expect C to have known the date for a few days, but as usually I am not let in.
I had a little talk with C about her communicating plans and translations to me. She agrees to a certain point. Somehow she believes she translates everything fully most of the time, and if not, it’s because people interrupt her. I will agree to that. People interrupt constantly here and if they are not heard, they just start shouting. She does not translate much or let me in on plans though. Anyway, I told her that I’d rather stay in the apartment the rest of the days here, than to be dragged around not knowing what was going on or what the plan was. Not sure she believed me.
At lunchtime we went to C’s parents to eat some jaozi. I had a late breakfast, but still managed to stuff down a good deal. Seems that I am recovering well. The dizziness also stays smaller than the day before, so that’s a good sign too.
After lunch C chatted up with her family. One of C’s uncles, who is a farmer and lives in a tiny village somewhere close to Yilan, was visiting. He was here to participate in the big dinner his brother (C’s father) had invited to this evening. Contrary of what I have been told all the time, it now appears that C and I will not be hosting this evenings dinner (or ever), as C’s father put his foot down and wanted to treat. It’s a matter of face I think. I don’t mind. We will see if we can “forget” some money in his house or something before we leave next Friday. He and his family already spend plenty of money on us already and never let us pay anything.
I lay my head on the bed and allowed myself yet another nap. Not that I was tired, but these days its wise to get some rest. I’m still ill and there really wasn’t much else to do other than watch some pointless Chinese TV.
At 4.30pm we took a cab back to our “home”, found some clean clothes and walked down to the nearby public bath. Afterwards we met up in the apartment and got ready. It was restaurant time yet again.
There were lots of people. We had 2 rooms combined and of course 2 tables. There were 2 of every dish and everything tasted yummy. Even the cow stomach that I had never had before. I think the chili saved it.
At one point C asked if we could get my laptop so her family could see our pictures from back home. So we did and it was a grand success. People were pushing to get a glimpse, so that was well worth it.
9.00pm and it was time to go back and get some sleep. We declined an offer to go and see C’s aunt’s home, since C was too busted. I was too, but not as bad as C. C now has a full grown flu which is set on her throat. It is no help being at a restaurant, where people chain-smoke. So she badly needed some sleep and rest. I told her to make sure she got the same all day tomorrow too, but not quite sure she let it sink in. We’ll see if she is allowed anyway. As mentioned before, we never know what the day brings.
I had a chance to write down today’s events, and then its bedtime. Zzzzzzzz.