I don’t usually do the weekly photo challenge and I have an awful feeling I may be a day late in submitting but oh well I thought it would be a good excuse to share some of the shots we took in China in 2011. It really was a bit of a culture shock, mainly because none of us could speak or read Chinese and we found that very few people could speak English so our miming skills picked up enormously! Also travelling anywhere with two teenagers (unable to access Facebook) who would rather be anywhere else in the world than with their parents is a joy that is hard to put into words!
The Crafty Pioneer 
great photos
Thanks Julie and you know what travelling with unenthusiastic teens is like 😉
mmmmmmmm bugs.
Yummers!
Those photos certainly show the differences in our food culture! I don’t think I would be game enough to try the insects.
Yes, it is a bit confronting when you’re not used to it. Of course teenage boys used to watching Bear Grylls thought it was really cool!
Ah, but did they try them?
Thankfully no!! I don’t know whether that was just because I was there lol.
Pingback: the PEEP SHOW: WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE | CULTURE | the TRASH BASH
The centipedes look frightful 😮
Yes they are aren’t they but I tried not to look to appalled as I thought that would look rather rude!
How fun! I love China! I was actually an Easter Studies major for a while and took two years of Chinese. Of course, I haven’t used it since, and that was 17 years ago…you don’t use it you lose it, as they say. I remember a few words, but not much else. It’s sad. 😦 But I still want to go to China some day.
So bugs on a stick, eh? Edible or for medicinal purposes? Love the guy’s party glasses. He must be a real kick and fun to be around, lol!
I am so impressed that you learned Chinese, I picked up just a few words but realised that just a slightly different intonation or stress on a word can give it a completely meaning! We had one funny incident in a restaurant in Xian where no one spoke any English and my husband ate something really hot and spicy and started to cough uncontrollably. We elected my younger son go up and ask the staff for water so off he went with his one word ‘shway’ and much miming of drinking water. Eventually we saw them nodding and he came and proudly sat down. The next thing was they came with a jug to the table and we hastily poured it into a glass for my red and gasping husband only to find that the water was boiling hot lol!! I hope you get to go one day it really is a fascinating place and I can tell you a good cheap place to stay in Xian.
I think the bugs were actually food but who would know, I wasn’t actually game to ask in case they wanted me to try some lol.
Loved the photos and understand the language thing. Many understand English but refuse to speak it. Just like most countries, unless you are willing to embarrass yourself trying their language, they won’t do it either. Teenagers. Isn’t that a four letter word? Especially when they are where they don’t want to be. I have deep sympathy. Spent 1 + 1/2 years in Taiwan 45 years ago. Learned enough to let taxi drivers know where we wanted to go and buy things at the market. Cultural differences are so fascinating. Your kids will appreciate it later.
Funny enough – thats exactly what I kept saying to them: “you’ll appreciate this when you’re older”! I think I would definitely go back again but next time I would go on an organised tour so that I could relax a bit more and be taken to the best bits without trying to sort out and negotiate everything myself. Thats possibly a bit of a cop out to the more serious travellers but I guess I’m just not that serious!!
I did the organized tour thing once with my mother. We had such a jolly time and you are correct, it is more relaxing. They took us to places we couldn’t have found on our own. Enjoy the variety. 🙂
Teenagers lol
I would rather starve than eat the insects lol
Ha ha, I agree with both your comments!
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Culture | wholeyjeans
Gag, those centipedes on sticks were sick! But it must take some talent to get those sticks into ’em. Very interesting post!
Yes, I thought exactly the same thing!