Are we still in France?

As we entered the small apartment, we wondered if we'd somehow entered China without our passports.

Rice simmered.  Water boiled.  It smelled of sesame oil and asian seasonings.  A Chinese movie played in the background.

Yet we were greeted with a hearty "bonjour" and a kiss on either cheek.

No, we were not in China.  We were in Chambéry, a neighboring city of Aix-les-Bains, in the home of our classmate and friend about to indulge in an authentic Chinese meal.

While one of our friends chopped vegetables, and our other friend made space on the counter, our host's boyfriend prepared the meat for our dumplings.  We watched and we learned.

Chopping is an art….

….as is making dumplings.

Looking at the plate of uncooked dumplings,
it was apparent which were made by the Americans.

Once the dumplings were stuffed and folded just so,
they were boiled in water.

We ate the dumplings with rice vinegar or a Chinese (hot) sauce.

Then we ate amazing pork….

….followed by chicken and carrots and potatoes….

….followed by some sort of sea food and peppers….

….and some yummy green beans, too…..

It was fun to spend an evening in the house of friends, learning about and experiencing their culture, which is so different from both our own American culture and hour host culture of France.  Now that we've shared American and Chinese meals together, perhaps the next time we will share a French dish.