Eggplant and Green Beans

Intellectual Flexibility is often lacking here in East Asia.  I have noticed a lack of problem solving or even thinking outside the box.  It's very much a things are either black or white culture.  There is usually only one way to do something and if it can't be done that way; there's no solution.

The other day, my roommate and I went out to eat.  We really LOVE this dish you can get at a lot of restaurants called "eggplant and green beans".  Simple huh?  It's basically stir-fried eggplant and green beans in this yummy garlic sauce.  We love it.  So at this particular restaurant I asked the waitress "Do you serve eggplant and green beans?"  

Waitress: "No"
Me: "No? Really? It's such a common dish."
Waitress: *looks at menu* "Well it's not on the menu"
Me: "Well do you have eggplant?"
Waitress: "Yes we have this eggplant dish" and points to it.
Me: "Do you have green beans?"
Waitress: "Yes"
Me: "Can you put them together and cook them?"
Waitress: *Thinking* "Uh, let me ask the boss" and turns and leaves.

She comes back a few minutes later and says "Okay."

Okay? OKAY, REALLY?  And sure enough about 10 minutes later this comes out…

Voila. Eggplant and Green Beans.

It was so delicious too! We told them we liked it so much that they should put it regularly on the menu. :)  

It's definitely the little victories, like getting exactly what you ordered and it being yummy, that keep you going when you live so far away from home.