Chinese Corridor has launched this year on Bates first floor. To celebrate the coming Moon Festival, the corridor members decided to make dumplings and eat moon cakes together for their first Chinese Corridor activity, Chinese Kitchen, on September 23rd.
The Chinese Kitchen was started at 12:30 pm. The members had authentic Chinese dishes made by Huang laoshi, including stir fry vegetable and lamb, mushrooms and Chinese cabbage and braised pork. Braised pork rice is one of the most popular dishes in Taiwan, and it is the must try food for every tourist in Taiwan. For most of the members, this was their first time having braised pork rice. ‘太好吃啦! (so good!)' said Emily, '黃老師煮的菜比食堂的好吃太多了! (The dished made by Huang laoshi are much better than the dining hall.)’
While the members were eating, Huang laoshi introduced Taiwanese cuisine. She talked about street food in Taiwan and the difference between northern Taiwanese and southern Taiwanese cuisine.
Since this is the first activity of the corridor, every member introduced themselves and asked questions about each other. The whole conversation was carried out in Chinese. Additionally, Huang laoshi said if she heard one person said English more than three times, that person needs to help her clean up.
The plates were cleaned up by munching mouths quickly. And then came the highlight of the activity, which was making dumplings. Nicole was so good that she become the TA of making dumplings. She taught everyone the technique of making dumplings, ‘不要放太多餡，要慢慢地包起來。 (Don’t put too much filling. Wrap it slowly.’) They laughed how greedy one was when the fillings fell out.
Huang laoshi was surprised by the beautiful dumplings that members made and joked about fundraising by selling those dumplings.
After finishing making the dumpling, Nicole cooked the dumplings, while Huang laoshi fried the dumplings. Some people prefer the cooked dumpling, and some prefer the fried one because ‘比較香’.
The activity couldn’t round off without a delicious dessert: Mooncakes. When members were having mooncakes, Huang laoshi talked about different kinds of Mooncakes and how different countries in Asia celebrate the Moon festival. At the end, everyone left with a full-up stomach and satisfaction.