Ministry of Education and Hot Pot

**Sorry everyone. No photos today. The internet is soooo slooow, and I need some sleep!

This morning most of the group woke up early, and many of us walked over to the park. Each morning, many elderly people gather in various groups to do morning exercises like Tai Chi. Some of them just stretch and move around...think hip and arm circles. Anyway, it is both adorable and peaceful. Also, anyone can join in! I'm not sure I will, but two ladies from my group were working out and an old woman joined them in their morning exercise! It's just a thing, I guess. Apparently some people also take their birds for walks in the park! Unfortunately I didn't see that. Maybe tomorrow morning.

Our first stop of the day was at the Ministry of Education. There we met with an official who is in charge of the Division of American and Oceanic Affairs. I think he's kind of a top-dog. He had just returned from Washington, D.C. the day before. We met in a fancy conference room and they served us delicious tea. Some of the issues we discussed were the divide between education in the rural areas vs. the cities, centralization vs. decentralization, and improving higher education in China.

Our lunch today was at a place called Mao's Bay. Apparently all the dishes served there were some of Chairman Mao's favorites. Our guide explained that it's an interesting cultural shift that Mao can be remembered lightly and favorably. He also explained that this is mainly for the younger generation that did not have to live through all the hard times during his leadership. The food was amazing! There's a lot to say about Mao, and one thing is that he had good taste when it came to food! So far, this was the best meal. Again, it was many dishes out on the lazy Susan. Today's favorites included a yam that was encased in what I can only describe as a lightly fried pastry, and eggplant with spicy peppers.

In the afternoon we went to The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies for two lectures. The first was a lecture about Chinese history from a professor who works at Renmin University, which is one of the top universities in the country. I'm not sure if it was jet lag, or lunch, or what, but I really had a hard time paying attention and following his lecture. Oh well. We also had a lecture from an American who has been living in China for the past 7 years. He talked about traditional Chinese art and architecture. One new piece of information I learned from this lecture was about the gates we always see at the entrances to China Towns in our cities which are called Pai Lou and always have either 3 or 5 entranceways.

Believe it or not, after this lecture it was time to head to dinner! We went to a restaurant called Hai Di Lao. It is a chain of hot pot restaurants that actually has expanded into China. This was the weirdest, and most fun restaurant experience I've ever had. The restaurant is on an upper floor of a multi-store building. When you enter, a restaurant worker radios upstairs so that the minute you exit the elevator, there is a restaurant staffer ready to whisk you away to your table. Then, you get a hot towel to wash your hands, and a smock! Yep, just like in elementary school art class, although this one didn't have paint or anything on it. Then, one of our guides came in and asked which of us would like to get our nails done. A manicure! In a restaurant! Of course I said yes. So then we all got our nails done. At a restaurant! It was awesome!

A NOTE ABOUT HYGIENE: Our manicures took place in a different part of the restaurant than where we ate.

When I returned from my manicure, I found out that there was a “fixin's” bar where one could make her own sauce for the hot pot! I made three. Other services this restaurant offered: hair ties (anyone with long hair knows how nice it is to tie back your hair when eating), and clothes to clean your glasses! What??

Hot pot is kind of like fondue. There is a burner in the middle of the table and we had two sauces for the veggies, meat, and tofu. One was hot and the other more mild. All the food goes into the sauce and cooks for a while. Then you scoop out what you like and dip it in your sauce. As it turns out, I loved the experience of Hai Di Lao much more than the actual food. It was fine, but it didn't match up to the wonderful lunch we had earlier. Plus, I inhaled a chilli. A tip: it's best not to breathe in hot chillis.

Tomorrow we go to The Great Wall! I can't believe it. Photos to come...