No Free Lunch

Today we were given about $35 in gift certificates for a choice of local restaurants in the local shopping center.  We thought it was weird that they had to be redeemed on this particular day and between 6pm and 12pm, but we  chalked it up to a normal Chinese oddity. A lot of things here are like that, just odd with no real explanation.  Turns out there was a concert in the area and to promote it they gave a ton of white people these gift certificates, they were handed out in the international housing areas and hotels.  You see in China, your event isn't worth anything unless white people show up.  It's kind of weird.  Erin realized we had basically been paid to show up and she felt like she was duped, but I'll basically show up anywhere if they pay for my dinner. I had steak, it was great.