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| The proper way to attack a Tawain style custard crépe. Janet, muching on the mango monstrosity pictured below looks on. |
So, according to some of my Taiwanese buddies here, "weight culture" is viewed a little bit differently. They seem to claim people in Taiwan are a little less sensitive about the scale, and that bringing up weight in casual conversation between friends is no big deal. I'll give an example. Girl spots an old friend who is male. They greet each other with happy "long-time-no-see's" whereupon the guy confidently jabs:
"You're fatter."
A similar custom, grabbing a finger-full of a friend's spare-tire chub, is a favored activity of my roommate.Now, I don't know about you folks, but something tells me that no matter what my good Taiwanese friends say, I don't think that kind of "compliment" is very widespread. Something about "When in Rome, call girls fat" just doesn't have the right ring to it.
Now, I may be exaggerating and generalizing, but the above information may or may not be 100% true. Or, it could be totally false. Needless to say I've yet to adopt any of these traditions myself. The girls seem to appreciate that. (I even got complimented today on having a face that would probably be attractive to homosexuals. Score!)
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| No human should be consuming this. |
I digress. Young friends, no matter what the customs are, I do give you full permission to call me fat when you see me again. I am eating like there's no tomorrow. Plump, pork or cabbage stuffed steamed buns for breakfast, plates full of of who-knows-what from the school cafeteria for lunch, and a rotating menu for dinner--stacks of potstickers or a dump of thick chow mein noodles, pulled and cut in house. Mmm.
But in Taiwan it's about more than eating the three squares--it's about eating way more than humanly possible. We're talking about more than a hobbit's second breakfast--this is late night, momma-told-you-not-to, street grazing at one of Taipei's local night markets.
Life is good, here in Taipei. Don't worry mom, I'm eating well. Maybe too well. LM
No matter what you look like or how much more you weigh, when you return from your trip through Taiwan's decadently delicious delights I promise not to pinch your waist and call you my baby Chinese chub muffin!
ReplyDeletemy chinese grandparents can totally confirm this fat-compliment-theory. everytime i see them they either remark with gladness that i look fattened up or with serious worry and disapproval that i look too thin. ironically both of them are thin as can be, and they've got bottomless pits for stomachs for all of that food to disappear into.
ReplyDeletetotally jealous of everything you get to eat, it looks amazing!
^ Agreed. If my mom doesn't see me for a while, she always tells me i've gotten fatter. and then tries to feed me. :<
ReplyDeleteNTU food. makes me so nostalgic :D