food food glorious food

I'm really trying to have an open mind.  Really. I promise I am.  And this is not going to be a rant about how awful the food in China is.  Because it's really not awful.  It's very good, just very different.  The major problem I am having with it is that it is IMPOSSIBLE to find vegetables.  I don't think the word vegetarian exists.  Everything has meat in it.  And it's weird meat.  Looking and tasting.  But, like I said, I'm trying to have an open mind and try everything.  Yesterday at breakfast I dared Andy, our trumpet player, 20 RMB to eat the duck head that they had on the buffet table.  It was a serious duck head.  It had been de-feathered, but its' eyes, beak, and skull were all intact.  Literally the grossest thing I have ever seen.   Somehow, I ended up being roped into the situation, and he convinced me to try it with him.  Armed with chopsticks, we dove into the brain.  Salty, mushy, and nauseating.  Needless to say, I will not be eating duck again anytime soon.  But see? I told you! I'm being adventurous!
Our meals have pretty much consisted of dumplings, noodles, dumplings, strange meats, dumplings, and stewed tasteless and nameless veggies.  I promised myself that I would not eat at any of the American fast food places while I am here, however, when Arthur handed out menus to Subway today during rehearsal I jumped on the bandwagon and snagged a turkey hoagie.  I needed a taste of home, don't judge.  Later in the day I stopped at a convenience store and bought a bag of kumquats, an apple and an asian pear.  My pear delights that I love so so much, unfortunately were just not as good as they are in the states.  Why? Aren't they asian? Shouldn't they be better over here?  Does America inject sugar into their fruits? I was bummed.
Tomorrow, I am going to journey off on my own to find really good chinese food.  i know it's out there. It must be.  Right now though, all I want is a bag of carrots.  and celery. cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes.  Fresh, raw veggies. PLEASE!