12 Days of Christmas – Xining Style

• On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…a giant bowl of mian pianr*. (pronounced mee-in, pee-ar.)
• On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me…two monks in Nike(s)…
• On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me…three frisky yak(s)…
• On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…four mafan tones…
• On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…five Im-port stores!
• On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…six Hui a-haggling’
• On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me…seven pants a-splitting**
• On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…eight bullhorns blaring***
• On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…nine cell phones ringing,
• On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…ten clerks a-chopping****,
• On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me…eleven grannies spitting*****,
• On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…twelve chopsticks clicking,

(Key:  For those not accustomed to life in China/Xining)
* – This is a very delicious noodle/soup type dish served here locally.
** – As in the "split pants" worn by infants and toddlers here.
*** – Whenever you go to an outdoor market or store here you will often here the monotonous roar of bullhorns (megaphones) advertising the latest sale (Wu kuai! Wu kuai! Wu kuai!)
**** – Protocol here demands a red, official looking "chopmark" or stamp on virtually every document, bill, or receipt that is issued (usually in triplicate!)
***** – It’s gross, but true.