We'd already learned the hard way that the 3 rmb (~ 50 cent) street vendor dumplings did not jive with our digestive tract. The bibimbap (stone bowl with rice, vegetables, and egg) at the Korean restaurant down the street was a good value for 20 rmb (~ $3.50), but that option was wearing thin. The food in the university's cafeterias was only marginally better in taste and sanitation than the street dumplings. Even after finishing a meal on campus of pork gristle, tasteless chicken tenders, mushy bok choy, or oily noodles, we still felt physically and emotionally unsatisfied. And the Wal-Mart that was only a mile away from our dorm had nonetheless betrayed us. The store's name was a familiar one, but its products (with their strange packaging and contents) were leftovers from the previous tenant, a Chinese grocery store. We were becoming desperate for more suitable sustenance.
You can imagine our joy, dear reader, when we discovered that Hangzhou had a Carrefour. You've probably heard of Carrefour, the French version of Wal-Mart (and second only to Wal-Mart in the world in terms of locations and revenue)? I first learned about Carrefour in 2003 when I studied in Valencia, Spain for a semester. The French supermarket seemed insignificant at the time in Spain; in China, as my stomach growled and howled for healthier cuisine, I took notice.
On November 10, 2011, I found Carrefour in Hangzhou for the first time, in a nondescript mall on the other side of West Lake. Little did I know that the hourlong trek from my dorm to that mall would soon become a regular habit. That I would battle bone crushing crowds on stifling, screeching, and jolting buses, as I hunched over my heavy grocery bags in an attempt to protect my treasures like a hen protects her chicks. I briefly recorded my first China Carrefour encounter in my journal:
We...went to Carrefour (which happened to be nearby), and enjoyed their AMAZING imported food and beer aisle. Picked up some black beer, canned baked beans, pasta sauce in pouches, and more soup mixes (November 10, 2011).
Those two sentences don't do the experience justice. Perhaps the full bloomed love I now feel for Carrefour has colored my memory of that day. In my mind's eye, I remember a sudden wave of gratitude and joy upon discovering a whole new world of grocery options previously unknown to me in China: reasonably priced and decent Tsingtao stout ("black beer" in Chinese). Baked beans for more protein options. Marinara sauce that could flavor the pasta we (clumsily) learned how to cook in our rice cooker, our only kitchen appliance at the time.* And Korean soup mixes to expand our repertoire of food in the "just add water" category. I would later add high fiber cereal Wheetabix, imported canned tuna in spicy sauce, Carrefour brand green beans, and German boxed skim milk to the rotation. My tongue and my tummy gave thanks to our Great Provider for leading me to this French grocer.
Any foreign companies who want to do business in China quickly learn the importance of choosing the correct Chinese name for their company.** Such a name should not only be mellifluous, but also meaningful. Carrefour's Chinese name, 家乐福 (jia le fu), literally means "family joy blessing," or "the joyful blessed family." The name is fun to say, and the meaning is something aspirational for everyone. I came to associate 家乐福 with consistent inventory, as well as hope for feeding my "joyful blessed family" of Brian and me more sustainably.
You can imagine our joy, dear reader, when we discovered that Hangzhou had a Carrefour. You've probably heard of Carrefour, the French version of Wal-Mart (and second only to Wal-Mart in the world in terms of locations and revenue)? I first learned about Carrefour in 2003 when I studied in Valencia, Spain for a semester. The French supermarket seemed insignificant at the time in Spain; in China, as my stomach growled and howled for healthier cuisine, I took notice.
On November 10, 2011, I found Carrefour in Hangzhou for the first time, in a nondescript mall on the other side of West Lake. Little did I know that the hourlong trek from my dorm to that mall would soon become a regular habit. That I would battle bone crushing crowds on stifling, screeching, and jolting buses, as I hunched over my heavy grocery bags in an attempt to protect my treasures like a hen protects her chicks. I briefly recorded my first China Carrefour encounter in my journal:
We...went to Carrefour (which happened to be nearby), and enjoyed their AMAZING imported food and beer aisle. Picked up some black beer, canned baked beans, pasta sauce in pouches, and more soup mixes (November 10, 2011).
Those two sentences don't do the experience justice. Perhaps the full bloomed love I now feel for Carrefour has colored my memory of that day. In my mind's eye, I remember a sudden wave of gratitude and joy upon discovering a whole new world of grocery options previously unknown to me in China: reasonably priced and decent Tsingtao stout ("black beer" in Chinese). Baked beans for more protein options. Marinara sauce that could flavor the pasta we (clumsily) learned how to cook in our rice cooker, our only kitchen appliance at the time.* And Korean soup mixes to expand our repertoire of food in the "just add water" category. I would later add high fiber cereal Wheetabix, imported canned tuna in spicy sauce, Carrefour brand green beans, and German boxed skim milk to the rotation. My tongue and my tummy gave thanks to our Great Provider for leading me to this French grocer.
Any foreign companies who want to do business in China quickly learn the importance of choosing the correct Chinese name for their company.** Such a name should not only be mellifluous, but also meaningful. Carrefour's Chinese name, 家乐福 (jia le fu), literally means "family joy blessing," or "the joyful blessed family." The name is fun to say, and the meaning is something aspirational for everyone. I came to associate 家乐福 with consistent inventory, as well as hope for feeding my "joyful blessed family" of Brian and me more sustainably.
Our Great Provider was feeding us in other ways, as well. The small group we attended on campus was leading a Bible study whose topic directly applied to our situation. Some friends connected me to a Chinese family in need of an English language tutor, where I could earn a little spending money and sense of accomplishment. One good friend sent a care package with the perfect autumn touch: pumpkin pie spice! Family in Georgia and friends in DC encouraged us with video chats. The capstone that November happened on the fourth Thursday, as we celebrated US Thanksgiving with Chinese, British, and American friends over a delicious chicken and dressing feast at our favorite Western restaurant near campus.*** In short, God fed us on the manna of healthier food and hope.
*That's right: no fridge, no oven, no stove. We had nothing but a rice cooker, and we lived in the middle of a food desert. Five years later, I still shudder as I remember the difficulties of trying to feed ourselves then. After writing this post today, I'll especially appreciate the veggie burgers and sweet potato fries I'm going to cook for dinner this evening.
**Coca-Cola experienced some growing pains in this regard, and every expat who moves to China quickly learns their story. Dear reader, you can also learn their story by clicking here and here :).
***Any turkey in China is crazy expensive and lacking in taste. I'm grateful the American chef at the restaurant that year opted to go with roasted chicken instead--it was a wise and delicious substitute :).
*That's right: no fridge, no oven, no stove. We had nothing but a rice cooker, and we lived in the middle of a food desert. Five years later, I still shudder as I remember the difficulties of trying to feed ourselves then. After writing this post today, I'll especially appreciate the veggie burgers and sweet potato fries I'm going to cook for dinner this evening.
**Coca-Cola experienced some growing pains in this regard, and every expat who moves to China quickly learns their story. Dear reader, you can also learn their story by clicking here and here :).
***Any turkey in China is crazy expensive and lacking in taste. I'm grateful the American chef at the restaurant that year opted to go with roasted chicken instead--it was a wise and delicious substitute :).