The Messy Side of Chinese Banquet

So here I am, getting ready for another trip to Asia with a bit of anxiety bubbling underneath. This time the destination is Shanghai! I have been there lots of times and it is a cool city. It has ultra futuristic architecture with traces of the older European influence. There are plenty of shopping options from the one time use Fauxlex to über-nice Rolex. Shanghai is also home to over 1 million foreigners so you never feel that out of place and Shanghai has the best food in China. Not just Chinese food but all kinds of cuisines. So why is a seasoned Shanghai vet like myself a bit nervous about his upcoming Shanghai stopover?

Well it is the formal banquet business dinners that get me on edge. The actual business part is fine; talking shop with my partners is easy-peasy. I also love the food, some of the best Chinese food I have had were at Chinese dinner banquets. It is the drinking and in particular the multiple gambeis that gets me nervous.

Back in my university days, one of claims to fame was my high tolerance for alcohol but that was with beer. That ability goes out the door when a China gambei (gum-bay) is calling. Gambei translated in Mandarin means “down the hatch”, and there are a few, but important guidelines about how this drinking celebration works.

• Everybody drinks. The banquet dinner is being held in your honor so it is imperative that you do not offend your hosts.
• No one drinks alone. If you want to have a sip of your drink, you must toast someone first.
• The drink of choice is Baijiu (bye-geo). It is an incredibly strong clear alcohol reminiscent of sake with an alcohol level 40-60%
• Baijiu is shot, not sipped.
• Every time you do a shot, you look into the eyes of the person you are toasting. Say or shout “gambei” and finish your shot. You then need to show your empty cup to your partner.
• You are only allowed to stop drinking when a) the host stops drinking b) you leave the banquet.

So now you are starting to see my predicament, as I was never good with peer pressure but never fear, here are a few tips/tricks I have picked up along the way if you ever find yourself behind the gambei 8-ball.

1. Don’t start the gambei game. It is best to opt out at the very beginning. Once you have committed to just one shot of baijiu, you are in for the long haul. It looks very bad if you quit halfway. If you are with a group of people from the same company, elect someone from your team to be the gambei delegate.
2. Lie. If you are uneasy about the festivities tell the host you are pregnant or are taking medication that cannot mix with alcohol.
3. Cheat. When no one is looking, dilute your baijiu with water.
4. Avoid eye contact with the gambei drinkers. If the baijiu is starting to take its toll on you, do not make eye contact with anyone at your table because if you do, you will find yourself receiving another gambei.
5. If you are a female, ask if you can have wine, beer or less baijiu. This is a common practice in China, however, ladies, you cannot flip-flop. Once you do a full shot of baijiu, it is expected of you to always do a full shot of baijiu.
6. Pace yourself. A Chinese banquet consists of 8 -10 dishes and will last at least two hours. There will be a lot of different foods swishing around in your stomach so make sure you do not go overboard. This is a business dinner after all.
7. At the end of the night drink lots of water and take some aspirin. Your body will thank you for it in the morning.

Gambei!

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations

What's in my Carry-on?

When it comes to packing, I would consider myself a pro. Averaging 4-5 trips a year, I am able to pack with confidence the morning of a 12 day trip and still manage to not forget anything. I think part of this is luck, but most importantly, planning.

Here are 5 items that, you can guarantee, are in my carry-on each and every time.

1. iPod. My 120 gigabyte gadget has helped me kill countless hours in planes and airports. Having access to all my favourite music is a great but where it really shines is the amount of movies and TV shows it can hold. On my last trip to China I was able to enjoy all three seasons of Arrested Development as well as some of last year’s Oscar winners. An iPod also allows you to block out a lot of the noise pollution found in airports and planes.
   



2. Change of clothes. A change of clothes (and a toiletry kit) is always recommended. One may never know when their bag will pull a disappearing act on them. I try to pack clothes that are compact but also soft on the skin in case I need to use a shirt as a pillow in an airport lounge.
   



3. Local currency. I always like to have a little bit of local currency for when I arrive in a new country. Having local currency accessible allows me to hit the ground running instead of heading straight to the foreign exchange counter in the airport. Local currency also comes in handy for when I get hungry or thirsty before I have reached my local hotel.
   



4. Aspirin, allergy, cold medicine and Pepto pills. These little guys have saved me time and time again. It is no fun being sick. It is even less fun being sick, looking for a drug store in a new city and trying to decipher the medicines’ packaging at the local pharmacy. Just remember when even travelling with any medicine, that it is in pill form or under 100mL.
   



5. Insurance. As travel professionals, we all understand the importance of insurance. But it is also important to ensure you have the correct type of coverage. For me, I always go with the deluxe options. Full medical coverage as well as trip interruption. I always have a copy of my policy number in my suitcase, wallet and local smart phone.
   
   

Having the above five items with me always makes my flight and first 24 hours in a new city much more comfortable. And do remember to make sure your carry on suitcase is small, light and has good wheels. Your back will thank you for it.

Regards,

Otis Ashby
Sales & Operations