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Mum reminded me this Sunday is Mid-Autumn Festival in China. Traditionally family gathering together eat a fancy meal at home. The dessert will be special moon cake with Gong Fu Tea. John said I never bought him a moon cake since … Continue reading
This gallery contains 7 photos.
It was a really hot day about 32 degree. John and I decided to visit the famous Highgate Cemetery. Normally if we were in China, this was really spooky and superstitiously wrong, however, it seems ok and respectful to visit … Continue reading
One of my best friends in London Eileen (Jiyong) from Seoul has invited us to her place in Wimbledon, and made some Korean food for us and we also explored around Wimbledon area. It was a fun day to eat good food with friends and knew more about Korean culture. Eileen is a very independent and cool girl and I appreciate her personality a lot.
After we stuff with too much food, we had a walk to the Wimbledon Park for almost 2 hours. The park was well-maintained and many young families were enjoying their afternoon with their babies. There are many independent fashion shops, food stores, cafes and restaurants. Overall, Wimbledon is a nice place to live and it is only in Zone 3.
Over a year in London, I am very glad that I found some of the close friends to share experiences. Life is not easy to go through without friends. Thanks all the friends in my life to keep my alive and accompanied.
韩国好朋友 Eileen (Jiyong)邀请我们去她家吃韩国菜,她住在温布顿，离市中心1个小时。她从早上9点就起来准备，弄了很多好吃的给我们，还给我些打包呢，真贴心！昨天过得真的开心，大家一起动手帮忙，然后吃吃喝喝聊天，是最开心的事！Eileen是个十分独立有个性的女孩，我很欣赏她的性格。
大家吃了太饱了，决定走去温布顿公园，一走就走2个小时。蛮喜欢温布顿的区域的，很多富有中产阶级的家庭住在那里，很多时尚的个性店，新鲜蔬菜店，餐厅和cafe，是一个住行都蛮方便的地方，公园又不远，离伦敦市区大概1小时的车程，不错的地点。
在伦敦快1年了，快乐的时间过太快了，但很开心认识蛮多好朋友的。大家来自世界各地，从认识到成为好朋友，难得大家性格的都相近而又成熟，可以一起能分享生活的点滴，真蛮难得。 生活假如没有好朋友陪同，真难过！谢谢朋友们和我一起走过的日子。
Olesya from Russia invited us to join her house party on Saturday night. Actually I am not really familiar with Russian culture, either with the food. Even though Russia is close by the Northern China, it feels so far away from the Southern China where I grew up. But I am glad that I have met Olesya and she showed me a lot of real Russian food and culture. With all the hard work preparation for the party, she had woken up 6 am and home-made all food with her closest friend Anastasia. The food looked professional as well as tasting delicious.
After few bottles of wine and vodka, everyone started dancing, talking, laughing and enjoying themselves. When we tried to leave, Olesya and Anastasia didn’t want us to leave, then gave us a lot of hugging and kisses – not sure it was the alcohol effect or the Russian culture that they look tough and cold outside, but after being friends with them, they are very warm and passionate inside.
I guess one thing I learn about Russian culture from Olesya is that everything needs to be perfect and she is a very discipline girl. (I am sure there are some exceptional people like her) It was a fantastic party and we enjoyed a lot, also experienced another type of culture in the UK. Here some of the pictures.
俄罗斯派对
俄罗斯来的澳丽莎周六邀请我们参加她在她家开的的派对，说实在话，我不是很熟悉俄罗斯文化和食物，虽说俄罗斯和北部的中国是近邻，历史或政治上也很多‘关系’，但俄罗斯对在南方长大的我，实在太遥远太陌生了。 但我十分高兴认识澳丽莎，她让我认识了很多俄罗斯文化和食物。她说她早上6点和她老友安娜就起来准备食物。派对食物看起来十分专业及好吃。
过了一会，几瓶红酒和伏特加之后，大家纷纷跳舞，开始变得疯狂 － 不知道是酒精的效应还是这就是俄罗斯的文化，虽然他们有时候看起来十分强壮和严肃，但和他们认识之后，才发掘其实他们内心很温暖及热情。我在澳丽莎身上学到俄罗斯文化的一点就是他们的严禁纪律性和一切都要整齐完美，不能有瑕疵。当然也可能有很多不同的例子。我们12点先走人，她们不让我们走，老亲亲抱抱我们说不要走，他们继续派对到4点。我十分享受这个特别的‘俄罗斯派对’，对我来说，又体验了一个不同国籍的文化是一件极开心和特别的体验。这里有些照片和大家分享。
Congfu Tea , talking about Congfu tea it made me have a thought about another different culture in between Chinese and Western country.
Cong Fu tea, which is popular in Chaoshan area of Guangdong and the south of Fujian, is integrated with many aspects of tea such as spirit, ceremony, tea-making technique, and quality commentary. Regulations are made for the tea sets, tea-leaves and water, and its making, teaing and serving. It’s wonderful beyond words to sip and taste tea slowly and carefully with the small pot and cups. The fragrant of tea is divide several like green tea Tieguanyin, brown tea Oolong tea etc. As a chaoshanese from Shantou we are not only proud of our Congfu tea culture, every one also know how to make Congfu tea. but today we aren’t talking about how to make the Congfu tea; we are going to talk about the core of Congfu tea spirit.
Western people normally there have four dairy drinking cultures. One is coffee culture or British brown tea with milk and sugar one, the Coke drinking and the sparking water. In west, people drinking or eating are very individual way because people are more emphasis on what you own like and respect the other people’s choice. Western people are prefer to their own characteristics and specialties.
In Chaoshan or even the China, we are more emphasis on the group. My foreign friends always say Chinese like to follow the leader; Like if a shop has many people on the line waiting; other people might think it’s the nice shop, then follow the group. We like have a big drink or big meal like Hot-pot and everyone share with the same pot. Like Congfu tea, congfu tea always have 3 cups or more than 3 cups; it means all the people are sitting around the tea-set and talk in a group. It’s like a small party with serving a Congfu tea. That’s why people in China always say Chaoshaneses have the coherence of all the Chanshan people; I think it’s naturally form from our dairy life eating & living and become a culture.
It’s just funny that when I had a congfu tea with friends and talked about Congfu tea spirit and I realized it’s true that the different living style form in different culture, and I suggest sometimes these two opposite culture should exchange. Let Chinese experience more individual more; let westerners enjoy more group spirit.
说起功夫茶，它令我想到了中西饮食文化的差异，做为地道汕头人的我，不但个个都要会冲一壶好茶，也要懂得茶的文化精神。流行于广东潮汕、闽南等地的工夫茶，融精神、礼仪、沏泡技艺、巡茶艺术、品评质量为一体。无论是对茶具、茶叶、水质还是冲泡、饮法、礼节都中规中矩，大有讲究。茶具小壶小杯，品茶需慢慢吸啜细细品尝，妙不可言。内涵丰富的工夫茶习俗可谓中国茶文化一绝，但今天我想讲的是中西文化的饮食文化的不同而带来不同思维方式。
西方国家的人通常有四种是他们日常会喝的东西，像多数是咖啡，英式红茶，可乐和有汽的矿泉水。在西方，大家都很强调个性与独立，他们尊重别人的选择，不会把他们的思想强加在别人身上，这让每个人都很体现个性和独特性的追求。你喝你的咖啡，我喝我的饮料。
在潮汕地区，甚至其他中国地方，大家喜欢跟群，跟大伙；总之大伙说的一定是好的，像一家店前面很多人排队，那家人一定好吃；我们的个性宣传不是很大，中国人喜欢谦逊，喜欢照顾大众牺牲自己，可以说集体思想偏多一点，这是我们的一种美德，。潮汕地区的团结力就象我们大家围在一起品尝功夫茶一样，客人喝茶先，永远照顾大众，像一个陌生的人在藤下遮荫时，你要你看见有人在冲功夫茶，只要你停留片刻，大家都会热情叫你喝上几口功夫茶然后跟你闲话几句，体现照顾大众的文化。
在跟朋友品尝功夫茶同时启发我其实中西文化的不同来源与饮食习惯。中国人喜欢大伙一起分享；西方国家的人喜欢个性的美；其实我觉得这两种文化应该交换和综合，让中国人学习更有个性的美，多点享受自己的空间，自己争取想要的东西；让西方国家的人学习更有集体主义的美。