I did manage to get a bike yesterday, so getting around the city suddenly became much easier. Went out and got a USB hub (that I should have thought to bring with me) and wireless router (for when I actually get some internets in the apartment).
The International Student Cafeteria is across the road from my apartment. I ate there once so far. I was the only non-Chinese person there, the food was all Chinese, and the menu on the wall was entirely in Chinese. (They did have an English menu if you walked up and looked confused at them.) The food was pretty good, but I’m unclear on what’s “international” about it. There did seem to be a lot of non-local Chinese food. (I had a fish thing I had clearly involved Sichuan peppers and something described as “Shanghai greens”.) My theory is that “international” in this context means “not from Hangzhou”, but it’s just a theory.
As a result of that (I suspect), there is a block of shops just off campus near me that I think of as the “things international students want” strip. There are a couple of coffee shops and restaurants that seem very non-Chinese. Out of curiosity, I wandered into a panini place there last night. Not a half bad panini and a beer for $8.
What I’m realizing is that in Vancouver, it’s astonishingly rare for us to eat food from the same country more than about three days in a row. The trip was good: we spent 4–5 days in each place and didn’t get bored with the food. But looking at more than four months here, no matter how much I like the food (and I do), “all Chinese all the time” isn’t going to cut it. It’s nice to know there are soem options. There’s a Mexican place called Pancho’s not too far away. I’m saving that so it’s a treat.
I actually got a little work done on some course notes today. I’m teaching discrete math here, which I haven’t done at SFU for probably 7 or 8 years. It’s nice to get back to something a little “normal”.
I also stopped by my local Wal-Mart (a <5 minute ride from here). Wal-mart here, like ones at home, has everythign you need. Other shops have some of what you need, and it’s probably cheaper/better, but I’d have to find each shop. So, Wal-Mart it is. I got a few more basics. Not exactly a fully-stocked kitchen, but at least I’ve got something in the place.
Note the sad-bachelor-ware: one spoon, one knife, and a pair of chopsticks. I bought one bowl and one cup on a previous outing. Not like I’m having guests over. 🙂
February 22nd, 2013 at 9:29 am
“I was the only non-Chinese person there, the food was all Chinese, and the menu on the wall was entirely in Chinese.”
Isn’t that usually what you seek out when you are traveling? 🙂
February 22nd, 2013 at 9:31 am
On the eat the same thing for the next four months: isn’t that why God and Kat gave you cooking skills?
February 22nd, 2013 at 2:04 pm
To give you more living space,I would convert the second bedroom into a make-shift living room. Use your imagination.
February 22nd, 2013 at 4:51 pm
There is a place called reggae cafe near the end of zheda road (浙大路）. The road runs right into the main gate at yuquan. When you get to the end (T intersection), cross the street and turn left. Follow it down and you’ll see it pretty quickly. That restaurant has some western buffets during certain days of the week, if I remember right, they have a breakfast buffet and a dinner buffet. It’s relatively pricey compared to regular Chinese meals, but it’s pretty good when you are missing burgers, mashed potatoes, etc.
About 3/4s along Zheda lu, on the left, is a small gate and side street that has a pink-colored building called Ellen’s Bar (é…’å·´). it’s more of a resturant with a small bar, but it’s popular with foreigners. it also has western food. Burgers and pizza aren’t half bad
February 23rd, 2013 at 4:31 pm
I think the main reason it is called the International student cafeteria is that the building it is in, is called the International College of something something. That building and Building 31 (across from the cafeteria) house the majority of international students learning Chinese, the classrooms for teaching it, and the teachers’ offices. It’s popular with the locals because they have a large menu, it’s cheap, you can eat by yourself or with a large group, and you can pay cash. All of the other cafeterias on campus require a card (either student or other). That cafeteria will be popular with foreigners once school starts up again.