On Feb 6, 10:17 pm, Smitty Two wrote:
In article
,



wrote:
Hi,

I am a graduate student of Tsinghua University and major in
Information System. Our team are trying to finish a project related to
Beijing Olympic Game 2008. The project's goal is to figure out and
show the differences forChinesefood between native China and western
counties. As you know, when in Rome do as Romans do,Chinesefood does
the same in your country. For example, in Unite States, even though
the same dish, compare to the one in native China, they are different,
maybe totally different taste. There are some popularChinesefood
dishes in U.S. but you cannot find in China. And more interesting,
something maybe caused by custom and culture, as you know, almost in
every AmericaChineserestaurant, they will give you fortune cookie
after you had meal. But nobody knows such thing in China. Actually,
this is our project on research to know how many of them between our
Chinesefood and yours.

Our mission is to help more and more people to know the culture of
China viaChinesefood whatever they are coming to Beijing for Olympic
Game 2008 or not. And this is also a way to let our people learn the
world outside.

Why through the topic ofChinesefood. As you know, there's old saying
in China -- To the people foodstuff is all-important.

After some research work, we came out this idea to contactChinese
restaurant's owner (or Chef) in U.S.. We think they should know such
differences very well since they do business in the different world
market. And they still keep in traditional way to cook for them self.
So far, there are many problems needed to solve. Ex. We have almost 12
hours difference in time zone. So it's hard to phone those
restaurant's owner from Beijing China and cost is high too. We have
searched for their e-mail address from Internet. Unfortunately, 99% of
them don't have it or unavailable.

We hope we can collect 1000 samples to the date to finish done with
the project. So this is why I post here looking for help. Any
suggestion or information will be very appreciate.

Thanks in advance and happyChineseNew Year here!

BTW, you can contact via or
, Gmail is preferred since it's easier to manage.

Bread

You're a University graduate student and you can't figure out how to
phone the USA? Sheesh, I've got a friend in Beijing and we talk on the
phone frequently. The time zone issue is negligible for anyone of
moderate intelligence. The cost is negligible, too, unless your
"project" has no funding at all, in which case, it'll fail for other
reasons than an inability to make a phone call.

If you need help locating restaurant owners, I can put you in touch with
my Beijing friend and he'll do the research for you for a modest fee.
He's an American married to aChinesewoman, and aChinesefood lover at
that, as well as a professional researcher.

We do know how to use IP phone to make a long distance call to USA.
The cost is OK if via Skype. But we think the time zone is a problem
since they always tell us they are busy (impatient). But still many
issues, we have only four people and no funding until now since we
decided to start this project on winter vacation for our own
interest. They don't want to talk about the recipes. Their chef may
not speak Mandarin or English (only Cantonese) and so on.

Thanks!

Btw, can you give us a name list of your favorite Chinese dishes for
the research.