I hit a milestone in language learning the other day!
Before we started studying Chinese, I always looked forward to the point where I could understand what people were saying, while they still thought I couldn’t understand. People here speak so quickly, and often in a different dialect, that for the first few months of learning Chinese, I definitely was in the dark on what the people around me were saying, except that is, when they said, “Ah, a foreigner!!”
Yeah, I learned to recognize that word quickly.
But I so badly wanted to one day shock a local talking about me by saying in Chinese, “I know what you’re saying!” or “I do understand!” This exact scenario happened just the other day.
After buying too many items from Walmart to carry back home with me, I decided to take a taxi. I had just gotten into the cab when I heard the driver pick up his walkie-talkie and start talking to the taxi driver ahead of him, who was stuck at the same traffic light as us.
“Hey!” he said. “There’s a pretty, foreign girl in my car. Where do you think she’s from? She doesn’t understand what I’m saying.”
This basic question/conversation went on for a few more minutes, with my taxi driver trying to get his friend to look back and guess what country I was from. Even a few more times he said, “She doesn’t understand.”
Then, after a few minutes of smiling to myself I said in Chinese, “I do understand!”
You should have seen his face! With eye wide and full of embarrassment and surprise he said, “You do understand? She understands! She knows what I’m saying!”
Ah, I couldn’t stop laughing. I got him so good.
Thankfully he didn’t say anything too embarrassing about me and we even ended up having a good conversation about family, kids, pollution and terrorists the rest of the way home.
You know, the usual.
Now I just need to think of the next milestone I want to hit. Any ideas!?!
Let’s change topics and talk about this Simple Lemon Couscous Salad shall we? I actually made this amazingly simple and light salad for Brett and I to eat throughout the week, only to be reminded of a potluck I had that night. Guess I know what I’m bringing! It was such a great side dish to bring to share with everyone and it was gone in a flash.
If you’re looking for a healthy, oil-free, light summer salad, this Simple Lemon Couscous Salad is the ticket. Full of fresh, chopped veggies, hearty chickpeas, and dressed in freshly squeezed lemon juice, this salad is such an awesome side dish for summer or a great salad topping.
I hope you can give it a try! Let me know if you do by leaving a comment below or taking a picture and tagging #theconscientiouseater on Instagram!
- 2½ cups vegetable broth or water
- 2 cups Couscous
- 1 can Chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- ½ large red onion, chopped
- 1 large tomato, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, deseeded and chopped
- 1 English cucumber, peeled and chopped
- 1 bunch Cilantro, minced
- 3 Green onion, minced
- ⅓ - ½ cup freshly squeezed Lemon juice
- Salt, pepper and (optional) red pepper flakes
- Bring the vegetable broth (or water) to a boil in a medium size saucepan. Once boiling, turn off the heat, add in the couscous, stir, cover, and let sit for about 5 minutes.
- After about 5 minutes, use a fork to fluff the couscous.
- While the couscous is cooking and then cooling, drain and rinse the chickpeas, chop up all the vegetables, and squeeze out the lemon juice.
- In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients and toss to combine.
- Add more lemon juice, salt, freshly ground black pepper and red pepper flakes to taste if desired.
Eat Consciously,
Faith
Liz @ pumpkin & peanut butter
That story is hilarious! I’ve always wanted to be able to do that when I’m around people who speak another language— and how cool is it that you were able to!! And this salad—- so fresh and flavorful and totally up my alley. Can’t wait to try!
Faith
It was a dream come true haha! So fun:) And I hope you can give this super simple salad a try. We loved it! Thanks Liz!
Natalie | Feasting on Fruit
This feels like perfect summertime lunch food, or a picnic! Simple and lemon–enough said 🙂 And I love the couscous too, much tastier than quinoa in my opinion. Hahaha the taxi story is great, well played!
Faith
Exactly! So great for those hot days when you don’t want to eat anything too toasty or be in a hot kitchen!
Kate @ Kate Lives Healthy
Bet he felt embarrassed! Glad it wasn’t too awkward of a ride home. I’ve made variations of this with quinoa but not couscous. Always handy to have go to items for cookouts that don’t require refrigeration. Happy 4th Faith!
Faith
I know. At first I felt bad for him, cause I would’ve hated if that happened to me, but we had a good laugh about it! And I love quinoa salads too. So perfect for summer!