Dicos is a fast food chain that has been in China for quite a long time. At least in 1997 it was all there was for fast food in the provincial capital (so others tell me, I was still in college). Every town in China big or small has a Dicos. That tells you how small our town is (or was), Dicos just had its grand opening last week a few blocks from our house. It is kind of like a KFC, but not nearly as good. What makes it so special to our little town is that it has AC, that's right, real live air condition AND a kid's play place which is basically just a slide, but Sophia loves it. We ventured out during water splashing, in the evening as things died down, and made it there without a splash, we got there before dinner and stayed a little while after, all for Sophia to get her fill of the slide. We ran into a few people we knew, none of whom were expats, all locals, trying it out. They agreed with us on the food: okay and way overpriced, but the atmosphere was nice.
When David went downstairs to order up some ice cream (good but not Mcdees good), the man next to him asked (in excellent American English): "do you speak English?" "yes." David replied. The man then asked: "do you speak Chinese?" David hesitantly said "yes." thinking 'who is this guy,' the man then asked with relief: "will you help me order?" David smiled and helped him order, still wondering if he was for real (he was an Asian man). Come to find out this guy was from Long Beach, his parents are Thai and they ended up in our little town on their travels together. His parents were back at the hotel. He came up and sat with us to chat for a little bit. He now studies in Chiang Mai. We told him how much we love Thailand, how Sophia's very first language was Thai (ha ha), and how we would make Thailand our home for a few months very soon...
We then walked home, without a drenching! Yeah!
