Thinking Makes It So: Give the Americans the mixed green stuff

“Soft fried chicken cubes.” “Fungus with onions.” “Fried fish in squirrel shape.”

Even when translated into English, the menus don’t read like a list of entrees so much as a table of contents in a book of poetry: “Fried celery with salty pork.” “Mixed green stuff.” “Local snack.”

We went out to lunch every day in Beijing, in a big group of 45 or so American business students and people married or engaged to be married to American business students. Typically, the restaurant would seat us well away from any actual Chinese diners. We’d file into our separate room, fill up several round tables and order: Coke or beer. The servers did not ask for our input beyond that, perhaps fearing we’d want Big Macs, which, after a couple of days in China, many of us did.

Somebody – the restaurants or the tour company, we never asked – took the liberty of ordering for us.

“They’ll have the ‘stir fried diced duck with lily,’” somebody must have pronounced. “Give them some ‘chilly pork,’ too.”

If you subscribe to the newspaper, you receive FREE access to all the exclusive content of the web site! Simply register to receive uninterrupted access to our award-winning and in-depth local online content!

Renew Current or Past Subscription / Register for Online Subscription

If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the Los Alamos Monitor, then simply find your account number on your mailing label and enter it below.

Click the question mark below to see where your account ID appears on your mailing label.

Newspaper Acct. ID:
Street Address:	(exactly as it appears on the label)

If you are a subscriber and you do not know your account ID or don't have a copy of your newspaper available that shows the information on the address label you can click continue below to search for your account.

New Subscription/30 Day Free Trial Account

If you are new to the award winning Los Alamos Monitor and wish to get a subscription or simply gain access to our online content then please enter your ZIP code below and continue to setup your account.

ZIP Code:

Create a limited access account.
Register to participate in community forums, post on the community calendar, blog etc. This registration does not give you full access to read our award winning content, etc.

The Los Alamos Monitor | lacirculation@lamonitor.com | 505-662-4185
256 DP Road, Los Alamos, NM 87544
Office Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday