Leaving Anshan

Trip Start Jun 05, 2006
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17
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Trip End Jun 28, 2006


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Saturday, June 24, 2006

My last week in Anshan was pretty amazing. Classes went well and we were taken to some very nice dinners. One night we ate at a Korean restaurant where the waitresses are all Korean college graduates who also sang and played instruments for us. (I was later told that one or more of them undoubtedly are Korean spies-seriously.) One night a very senior VP for Anshan Steel, Mr. Fu, took KC and I to dinner with his son (who we hope to recruit to UAB) and some Anshan's top managers. He ordered the one thing I swore I would not eat: sea cucumber (note: not a vegetable). It looks like dung with spikes. Thank God it has very little taste. I had to eat it because it is very expensive and Mr. Fu ordered it especially for us. I made the mistake of asking for wine with dinner. The "wine" was rice liquor that tasted like lighter fluid and was strong as hell. After one glass, I switched to beer which is much safer.

ANU held a graduation ceremony for the classes we taught
ANU Central Admin Building
ANU Central Admin Building
. It was very nice. They gave me a huge bouquet of flowers and several gifts, many of which were from the students themselves. After lunch there was a talent show for all the foreign students, most of whom are from Korea.

I am having a good time, but am ready to come home now. I think we have tried enough bizarre food and seen enough odd stuff. I know I've drunk enough beer. Someone took us out to dinner about every night; either Foreign Affairs officials or local businessmen and they LOVE to give toasts and you have to chug after every toast or it is very insulting. I swear they drink like fish and I'm growing gills!

By the way, the Communist Party Convention began yesterday at our hotel. We are the only foreigners left in the hotel and all long distance lines were shut down.
Anshan hotels Slideshow

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