Dragon Boats
When we were in China, we were there during the actual Dragon Boat Festival. Our visas prohibited us from being able to see the big races in Hong Kong, but we did get to eat the special Dragon Boat dumpling.
Dragon Boat racing is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. This past weekend was Pittsburgh's Dragon Boat festival. Several teams of Dragon Boats, mostly non-Chinese folks, competed in the races on the Mon. The team is comprised of the rowers, a captain in the back, and the drummer in the front.
In addition to the races was a celebration of Chinese culture (along with other Asian cultures, too). Martial Arts displays, Traditional Indian Dance Troupes, exhibits by the local Chinese schools and the Asian Studies Department at Pitt---lots to see.
There was some not-so-good Chinese food being sold there. One thing that did look promising were some Jiao Zi cooking, just like I've seen on the streets in Shenzhen, but they were pork (zhu). Myles ate some sort of Si Ji Do with Ji. I was paticularly in search for Dragon Boat Dumplings, hoping that somewhere in this festival someone would be selling what I thought were traditional and requisite. Right before we left we found a booth selling them and mooncakes (Mooncake Festival is coming up). I was so excited!
I didn't expect them to be exactly the same as the ones I ate fresh on the street. Geometrically they were correct, though smaller than the ones I had. Instead of rice, they were made of a sweet rice jello. They weren't bad, but they weren't perfect. I did appreciate finding them, though. I mean, what is Dragon Boat (or any holiday) without the appropriate food?
One of the sponsors of this event is a local organiztion for families with Chinese adoptees. They are a pretty active group here; one of our librarians told us that two weeks ago she and her daughter went on a big camping trip with other moms and daughters in this group. At least a third of the attendees that we saw were anglo families with at least one Chinese daughter. There are two Chinese schools in Pittsburgh that offer weekend and after-school programs in language and culture. While I know one of Crispian's classmates who is Chinese and attends one on Sundays, I've heard that the adoptive families are a huge source of support for these schools. In fact, when it comes up in casual conversation (like at this festival or at the library) that I have either been to China this summer or am about to go to China in a few weeks, most people immediately assume that I either got a baby or am getting a baby. Adoption is fantastic, but hello? can't you see I'm pregnant?
Dragon Boat racing is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. This past weekend was Pittsburgh's Dragon Boat festival. Several teams of Dragon Boats, mostly non-Chinese folks, competed in the races on the Mon. The team is comprised of the rowers, a captain in the back, and the drummer in the front.
In addition to the races was a celebration of Chinese culture (along with other Asian cultures, too). Martial Arts displays, Traditional Indian Dance Troupes, exhibits by the local Chinese schools and the Asian Studies Department at Pitt---lots to see.
There was some not-so-good Chinese food being sold there. One thing that did look promising were some Jiao Zi cooking, just like I've seen on the streets in Shenzhen, but they were pork (zhu). Myles ate some sort of Si Ji Do with Ji. I was paticularly in search for Dragon Boat Dumplings, hoping that somewhere in this festival someone would be selling what I thought were traditional and requisite. Right before we left we found a booth selling them and mooncakes (Mooncake Festival is coming up). I was so excited!
I didn't expect them to be exactly the same as the ones I ate fresh on the street. Geometrically they were correct, though smaller than the ones I had. Instead of rice, they were made of a sweet rice jello. They weren't bad, but they weren't perfect. I did appreciate finding them, though. I mean, what is Dragon Boat (or any holiday) without the appropriate food?
One of the sponsors of this event is a local organiztion for families with Chinese adoptees. They are a pretty active group here; one of our librarians told us that two weeks ago she and her daughter went on a big camping trip with other moms and daughters in this group. At least a third of the attendees that we saw were anglo families with at least one Chinese daughter. There are two Chinese schools in Pittsburgh that offer weekend and after-school programs in language and culture. While I know one of Crispian's classmates who is Chinese and attends one on Sundays, I've heard that the adoptive families are a huge source of support for these schools. In fact, when it comes up in casual conversation (like at this festival or at the library) that I have either been to China this summer or am about to go to China in a few weeks, most people immediately assume that I either got a baby or am getting a baby. Adoption is fantastic, but hello? can't you see I'm pregnant?
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