Happy Dragon Boat Festival!

It was insanely humid today and so even though it wasn’t that hot, it felt gross outside. It was the Dragon Boat Festival today (a big holiday in China apparently) and even though the restaurant itself didn’t do much for it, we spent an inordinate amount of time perfecting the signs we had up on blackboards to make sure they sounded patriotic enough.

It was a busy day for hosting and there were a great number of French groups that came by. I think that they, or Germans, must be the most highly represented nationality to visit us. I always get excited because I can speak French with them, but they rarely seem to appreciate it--must have something to do with being a Quebecer.

Sticky rice wrapped in bamboo leaves (Zongzi) is a Chinese tradition on the Dragon Boat Festival, so I had one of those along with dinner. The chefs also had Giulia and me testing out tomorrow’s special--really nice chicken with plum sauce. I’m not sure I have ever tasted better plums!

On the way back home, we stopped off for a few minutes to see the old Mayor in his home in order to prepare Sean for a home visit he will have to interpret soon and another (nearly empty) residence I never knew we had that is nowhere near as nice as the one I’m in.

Giulia invited me out to the local restaurant with Jake, Alex, Gina, Emily and a friend of Emily’s and although I had already eaten dinner, I went and drank tea with them. When I came back, I went to see Mona who was on night duty to ask her if she wanted to play chess. She declined so instead I taught Tana. She’s really good! It’s exciting to have a new playing partner!