Company Barbeque

On my last day in China David's company had a barbeque for their employees.  They do it every year in the fall.  I was impressed with all the employees taking turns helping grill the pork, lamb and chicken.  When I came out to help one of the women said, "You'll smell like smoke if you help."  I said, "David will think it is perfume.  The only thing better would be if I smelled like bacon."

 

 

 

The smoke was hard on our eyes, but Mr. Dai was able to just stand in the smoke and keep grilling.  We asked him how he did it and he replied, "I grew up in a part of China where we always cooked outside.  My eyes got used to the smoke."

 

 

Later when we were eating together one of the young men said how much he had learned about grilling from Mr. Dai.  He had also watched him order the meat and cut it up the day before so it was ready to marinade and grill.  In that moment I knew he was talking about more than grilling.  He was talking about this man being a mentor in other aspects of life and work as well.  It was cool.