I was eating in the Hong Kong style cafe on Huai Hai Rd after a difficult gym workout (I’ve been sick so missed two sessions and this was the first after a week away). On the table behind me I could here a foreigner struggling with both the menu and the language barrier. It’s always difficult in these situations to know whether to jump in and help or let them figure it out. I decided to let them work it out. After a while another waitress came back to confirm the order – I guess they were nervous about getting the order wrong, because in China the waitress often has to pay for any mistakes from her own pocket.
After a few minutes the waitress came back and said they didn’t have what she ordered and so the whole process started again and it was quite painful to listen to, because the foreigner didn’t eat meat OR seafood and I was sure that would be quite a challenge, so I got up and offered my help:
“Hi would you like some help there? ” I said.
“Oh that would be great, thank you” said the woman, who was clearly British and seemed relived to hear another English speaker.
I ordered her a sea bass with sweet and sour sauce and a bowl of steamed rice.
“You’re from England aren’t you?” I asked.
She also picked up that I was British and asked if I’d like to join her, so I moved my stuff across to her table and we started chatting.
“Are you working here or travelling?”.
“Oh I am working in Beijing but have a few days off so decided to come to Shanghai today and stay for a few days before going back to Beijing.”
“That’s great, what do you do?”
“Oh I’m a freelance dancer and doing some work in Beijing for a few weeks”.
“What kind of work?” I asked.
“Well, I am part of a dance troop and we performed the London segment of the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.”
“A-ha!”
I think only a Brit would take such a long route to get to that punchline. Any other person would just have said straight away, “I’m here to perform at the Olympics”. I think it’s that British idea that to be immodest is somewhat impolite or even vulgar.
She was with Candoco, one of the 3 dance groups involved in last Sunday’s 8 minute performance to kick off London 2012 (the other 2 groups being hiphip dance troupe ZooNation and the Royal Ballet).
She’s going back to perform at the closing of the paralympics which starts September 6th and apparently it’s going to be a different performances, presumably without David Beckham, who had to fly in for the closing ceremony and straight back out the next day to Los Angeles for team practice.
I of course mentioned to her that Swedish Chinese blogger Shopgirl described the performance as “a disgrace” and we both laughed at how it was possible for someone to know even less about performing arts than they do about fashion (apparently big rimmed Jiang Zemin glasses, high waist denim shorts and fur vests is the in look for summer 2008!).
August 27th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Good stuff, it always takes me at least three sentences to mention the fact I’ve been on the BBC website standing next to Miss World.
Sometimes in fact, like when I was registering at the Police station recently, it was 4 or 5 sentences before I shoehorned it in.
August 27th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
…whereas I’m in no doubt that Miss World brings up your meeting in the very first sentence!
August 27th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
James – I always like to slip in that I’m best friends with celebrity blogger James Creegan who knows Miss World and has tea with the Queen. It gets me in to exclusive clubs like Windows for free.
CP – I think she’s already added James as a Facebook Top Friend.
August 27th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
you should have asked her on a date.
August 27th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
wow lucky you is she beautiful?
i live in london right now going to royal ballet/opera/jazz gigs a lot.
mite go and check out zoonation and candoco someday.
August 27th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Ah yes, if I had to choose one word to describe Brits, it would definitely be modest…
August 27th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
modest? i dont think so… modest on the surface perhaps.
i checked out candoco they look pretty interesting, but wont be performing here until Feb nxt yr
(QEH south bank)
August 27th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
D – Yes, check it out. Zoo Nation has a show called Into The Hoods. Candoco is something different made up of disabled and non-disabled dancers which I think fits well with the Paralympics so I look forward to the closing ceremony in Beijing on 17th September.
August 27th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
D – I think NJD was being sarcastic, a concept you will have to try to understand if you live in the UK. Sarcasm is also a very British characteristic!
August 27th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
yes, that is why i thought candoco looks more interesting. plus their venue is better (QEH)
either way i might go and check both out.
Zoonation’s hoods could be better in a street event
did u see my link btw
cute isnt it?!?!!?
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?itemdescription=true&id=15288616
August 27th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
D – Yes, thanks. Seen that a long time ago. It’s mainly for those crazy Japanese who love old cameras like Rolleiflex. But it’s a very basic camera, so it’s fun but not very useful.
August 27th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
think it is more of an accessory than a real cam
August 27th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
What a disgrace
August 28th, 2008 at 8:17 am
I once waved at Prince Charles as he was driven up the A34!!!
August 28th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
So what happened after dinner, did you y’know…..slip her one?
August 28th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Yes Wiggy of course that’s exactly what happened!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
You’re smooth.
August 31st, 2008 at 11:17 pm
So this woman doesn’t eat meat or seafood, so you ordered her a sea bass? Am I missing something??
September 1st, 2008 at 1:41 am
Adee – Indeed I am. It comes from years of practice.
Bangers – She said no meat or seafood but she eats fish. So I am guessing she meant no shellfish. Good to see you reading carefully!
September 10th, 2008 at 3:35 am
[...] public links >> freelance The People You Meet First saved by Camenschic | 1 days [...]
September 18th, 2008 at 10:20 am
[...] segment, which I thought was pretty good, but I’m biased because a) I am from London and b) I met one of the British dancers performing at the event. It seemed more British than the segment to close the main Olympics a few [...]