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Last night the CEO of the school hosted a banquet for the staff and new teachers.  He presented us with gifts of the traditional Moon Cakes.   Monday is the Mid-Autumn Festival day which is like our Thanksgiving holiday.  Families get together to celebrate and they exchange Moon Cakes as gifts.    These are round pastries that have a variety of fillings.   Lotus seed paste and red bean paste are very common, but more extravagant ones are filled with Peking duck and even ice-cream.   Ours tasted like it had almonds and dates in it.


The Chinese take their banquets serious no matter how small or personal they are.  We had about twelve people in ours and we all sat at a round table with a rotating center.  The dishes were placed, and around it went with everyone grabbing bits of food to their plates with chopsticks. Great fun, unless you couldn't hold on to that slippery piece of fish.....lol.   The food was superb with classic Chinese fare and some western tidbits like french fries also.  There were a couple of items I intentionally didn't try, maybe next time.  However, I did get to eat some abalone, which is very expensive and difficult to get.  It was creatively prepared and served in it's half-shell.   That was my main courageous act of the night.  


Another identiying characteristics of the Chinese people is their obvious love of beer!  Whenever we would go out to eat, we'd see anywhere from 5-10 empty beer bottles on the tables of people dining, especially the men.   So, I can't begin to tell you how much alcohol was consumed during this banquet.  Toasting is traditional at these formal meals.  At the start, everyone joins in for a group toast.  Then afterwards, and all during the meal, people make toasts.  Sometimes it is a toast between individuals, groups, high-ranking staff, the host, or whomever.   They LOVE to make toasts!!!    The amount you drink at each toast can vary. Sometimes it is a sip, and you just tap your glass on the table.  Other times the person making the toast will say "ganbei"  or "bottoms up", and you have to drink it all and then turn your glass over to show there's none left.   There were way too many of these.  I was drinking soda, but if it was a "ganbei" toast, the host filled my glass with beer, and to the top!   The host will do at least one of these toasts with the guest or guests of honor to show sincerity and friendship.     There is also a toast where the person will drink the entire bottle of beer!  We had one of the Chinese staff, Jack, who did this.     They do love to drink and love to have you drink with them.   After 40 toasts, not all "ganbeis", I stopped counting!!!!    To be safe and stay sober hopefully, always start with tea or soda at these events.  That will cut down on the amount of alcohol consumed.