Governmental Banquet‏

Good Evening Everyone;
It is Friday night and we just returned to the apartment after attending the big banquet with the Municipal Government of Qingdao. There were so many dignitaries there - members of the Communist party, as well as the mayor and several "big wigs" from the community. They were celebrating 49 years of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China. It was a big "shin dig". The table settings were spectacular, as were the flowers, as well as the food. They all looked like something out of a Martha Stewart magazine.
The meal started out with 6 cold combination dishes - very tasty. The second course was boiled fish ball soup with bamboo piths. Third, and best course, was deep-fried prawns with sweet and sour sauce. Then there was the fried, diced beef with black pepper and, of course, garlic. The next one was braised conpoy (fish) with winter melon - it was ucky! Then, the grand dish - roasted duck - head,eyes, brains,and all. Oh, and the duck was marinated with bean curd sauce - very appetizing!!!! ( It was enough to make you hurl!) Next came the steamed mandarin fish in X.O. sauce. Of course, the fish included the head, eyes and gills, etc. A real treat... Then came the fried lily bulbs with bamboo shoots and gingko nuts - interesting. Next came the fried rice - not as good as the type I have learned to make!!! Oh, and next came the spring rolls filled with chicken. To top the meal off, we had the best pudding - made from fresh mangos and topped with fresh fruit, along with 3 different melon squares on a skewer. The desserts were set in a gorgeous square block of sculptured ice. And the fresh flowers were in abundance everywhere. So, it was a 11 course meal. I can honestly say that it was really good - except for the conpoy fish and the distainful duck, with parts. The programs and invitations were the very finest as were all the dishes and table settings. The Chinese have, on a fancy little dish, by each place setting, a white rolled up, damp washcloth to clean your hands on. It is really nice. There were very fine porcelain chop sticks for everyone, as well as a fancy, wrapped toothpick at each place setting. I was impressed. Not to mention all the free flowing wine, in abundance.
Tomorrow we both teach for 4 hours straight and then home to prepare for Sundays lessons, as well as washing clothes,for our Silk Road Trip. We still do not have the promised visas!!!!!! I am getting a little nervous. Tomorrow will tell alot. We do have that big "to do" at the University tomorrow night. I am SURE that it will not be as fancy as the one tonight. What a let down...
We pray that all is well with everyone and want you all to know that we think of you often. We miss our home and family. We miss our children and ESPECIALLY the grandchildren. You are all in our prayers. We feel so very blessed to have such a good life in the good old USA. We know that we are here for a reason and we love these people. They are very special and when the time comes for us to leave them, we will be sad. They will always be a part of our lives, from now on.
Will write more tomorrow.
Much Love, Mom