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tasty bytes from China
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04/23/11
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Filed under: General
Posted by: @ 2:31 am

jadeloops

Since moving to China, I’ve gotten really good at two things: using chopsticks and yoga.

Yoga is my release and yes, it’s all in Chinese. It’s me, the westerner in a room full of Chinese contortionists who reek of garlic and money.

And like any activity that’s dominated by women, it’s full of cattiness.

There is social ranking in Yoga based on a few things. The first is if you can stand on your head.  That’s just the ante.  The second is if you can do the Chinese splits without wincing or farting.

The third and most important thing that trumps them all is not what you can do, but what you are wearing:  Jade.

Jade is the Chinese diamond, the green equivalent to the two carat rock Lincoln Park wives can use to land plans at ORD.  

But in China, it’s not the carats on your ring finger that women compare, but the quality of your jade bangle, pendant or necklace that dangles during downward dog.

During this basic Yoga pose, women are eyeing each other’s jade.

Meanwhile, the men in the class take the opportunity to eye one’s dog.  Color and weight of jade mean quality, so when you hear a bangle clanking when you’re eyes are supposed to be shut, you know it’s something to peek at.

Anyway, for our 12th wedding anniversary (April 18th), Jeff got me a jade necklace.

The necklace looks like an oversized froot loop (which is what caught Jeff’s eye) attached to a thin black cord. It’s really got some weight to it. I doubt if it would float in a bowl of milk.

This is the piece of jade used on my necklace: just like diamonds, jade is graded and comes with paperwork.

FA30110100512[1]

 

 

http://www.giyn.net/SecendPage/searchDetails.aspx?num=FA30110100512< ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

I got Jeff three small jade beads attached on to braided leather cords that he wraps around his wrist.

Supposedly, jade brings you good luck (if you believe in that sort of stuff), but is good for your health, and oh yes, social status.

On weekends, I exchange English lessons for yoga with my friend, Doodoo (pronounced like the bird, not the pooh). I’m excited to show her my necklace.

 

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