雞爪

雞爪
Jī zhuǎ

This week I started tutoring a little girl...and she might be the cutest little girl in the world. A friend of mine who has been working with her while living in Taiwan, passed the job along to me when she moved back home.

Meet Iris:



Iris is three years old, and understands English like a native speaking 3 year old. She loves to color and do different activities...and just like any other three year old I know, she has a really hard time staying put doing one thing. So, it is really important that I switch things up every 10 minutes or so. The part I love the most about this new little side job is that Iris tries to teach me some Chinese, too. Yesterday, when I was over, she taught me how to say Chicken Feet. Although I don't think I will ever need to know how to say that, unless I say 我不要雞爪 (Wǒ bùyào jī zhuǎ or I don't want chicken feet), but I think it is cool to learn Chinese - regardless of what it is! Here is how it happened:

After I finish our lessons, Hannah, the housekeeper, fixes a nice dinner the three of us sit and eat it. Now, Hannah doesn't speak much English either, but we still try to have a conversation. So, we were eating this delicious soup that Hannah made. It was a light broth with ginger and chicken in it. First, I served myself some noodles (because...in Taiwan no meal is complete without noodles) and then I poured some of the chicken and broth in. I was eating it, and loving it! I was wondering why Iris kept saying something in Chinese over and over again. Then I realized she was pointing into the pot of broth. I grabbed the big ladle and scooped around trying to figure out what she was showing me. Then, when I scooped up a black chicken foot, she screamed and clapped her hands.

"Jī zhuǎ!!! Jī zhuǎ!!!"

My first thought: Wow, there is really a chicken's foot in there.
Then, I realized that Iris wanted me to repeat it, so I did. After a while, she was trying to get me to try it. But, I didn't.



Now, I am not saying I won't try it, but honestly I was full because I had eaten already. I will admit though, that I kind of want to try it because of the way Iris ate it. She sucked that thing off it's little feet bones so fast and so intently. It was like that little chicken foot was the only thing that mattered once it was in front of her. There were only two of them in the soup, and after Iris realized I wasn't going to try it, she scooped up the second one.

Here is Iris enjoying what seems to be her favorite delicacy.



All in all, it was a great day with Iris...and I now know how to say Chicken Feet in Chinese!