What's on the Table?

Here is the typical dinner set up for our table. There is fish, pork, and sometimes beef, along with shrimp and lots of vegetables. On the left is a huge platter of green beans. These are good just as they are, the the cook makes it sometimes with The bowl of sop on the upper right is a cold crab soup that is at most lunches and dinners. Into it, you can put noodles or vegetables. It helps to cool us down in the heat. At the bottom is a plate of mustard greens. Just like regular mustard in the U.S., this is kind os spicy and really wakes me up. In the back is a small bowl of eggs with bacon (the best!) There are covered bowls of rice next to the plates, one bowl for two people. And finally, in the center, in front of the white napkins, is a container with a brown top. This is fish sauce that some people put liberally on anything. You don't want to know how it's made. After dinner, we have fruit, sometimes yougurt, and always hot tea. It takes us about 30 minutes to eat and no one goes away hungry. Oh, and I am getting better at using chopsticks.