In the back alleys of Xian, there are many businesses. Most noticeable were the small restaurants. After meandering for a while, hunger was settling in. Food was being sold to the right and to the left of the alley, but the food looked foreign and there was no picture of food with a price like in the states. Walking to one end of the alley and then the other end, carefully paying attention to the direction because it is easy to get lost, I saw a restaurant that had pictures of food with prices. Ordering food here should be a simple. I pointed to one of the six pictures of noodle soups. The Chinese man, who did not speak English, sitting at the register said something in Chinese. I did not understand and kept pointing at the picture of the food. After five minutes of crude attempts of communication, the Chinese man was leading the way to the kitchen. He then began to point at food items (vegetables, tofu, and mushrooms) on the table. Understanding what he was trying to say earlier, I began selecting items for the noodle soup. I left the kitchen and sat at a nearby table. The noodle soup was boiling hot when it came out five minutes later. The Chinese man gestured for me to begin eating. Looking towards the kitchen before eating, there stood all the restaurant staff staring and leaning forward while waiting for the first bite of noodle soup to be eaten. I felt awkward, but smiled in response, since the situation was comical. The noodle soup was good. It had a familiar spiciness found in northern Chinese cuisine, but not in Chinese American cuisine. A universal thumbs up was given, and the staff talking went back to work smiling and talking. I paid the Chinese man at the register 3.50 yuans (> 50 cents) and did not leave, since tipping is not customary in most of China.
Being a foreigner in a different country can be a worthwhile experience. It forces the different cultures to interact in new or sometimes unusual ways. Engaging in such interactions create possibilities for disappointments and awkwardness, but the experience described above was fun and amusing. It has been a memorable experience. Difficult situations can be rewarding. The situation challenges the parties involved to try and communicate in an unconventional way. This help builds relationships, friendship, and most definitely memorable experiences.
