So today I finally took the dreaded HSK 5 test. I have no idea how I actually did. Like I said before all I need is a 60. In all my practice tests I have been getting a score right around the 60 range, but they say the practice tests
Welcoming the Hangzhou Subway
Way back 4 years ago, when I first came to China, Hangzhou was beginning to build a subway. Very late to the party, Hangzhou is really the last major Chinese city without a subway. And due to China’s legendary building prowess, the subway was expected to be finished in a
Taking Advantage of Big City Culture
I’ll admit for the most part I like living in small cities rather than big ones. Big cities, especially in China, have just too many people and too many cars. But there are some things I’m really enjoying about living in Hangzhou. The cool cafes for one (I’ve whiled away
A Crazy Coincidence
The other night I went to a TED talk (which I’ll be writing more about later). Halfway through this foreigner joins us. I never met him but he seemed to know many of the people there, and he joined in the discussion and activities. Afterwards the whole group walked to
Makin' it Rain (with Chinese Characteristics)
Like I’ve said before the weather here has been pretty hellish. Shanghai has broken all sorts of weather records and Hangzhou has been named the hottest city in China right now. (And I get to live here. Yay.) According to Xinhua News Agency for 6 of the 7 past days
Getting Discouraged with the HSK
As of today, I have 2 weeks until I take the HSK 5, a chinese language test. I’ve been technically preparing for months, but only seriously for the past 6 weeks. Every day I try to do some exercises, take a part of a practice test, memorize some new words.
Living in the Inner Circle of Hell (aka Southern China Summers)
I’d like to establish the fact that while despite growing up in New England, I’ve lived in my fair share of warm places. I lived in South Carolina during summer (with a car with no a/c), stayed in very tropical hot places like Australia and Indonesia, and survived my fair
You Never Know What's Going to Happen
One of the benefits of sticking around this summer is spending time with people I probably wouldn’t see otherwise. Case in point? Last night I went out with 6 former students. A few had just graduated, but most had graduated a year before. They were some of the first students
My New Roomie!
Yep, for the first time since college I have a roomie again. I’m moving to the big city of Hangzhou and shacking up with my friend Jason. I wrote about him a few times on my blog already. We met a mere 7-months ago but it feels like much, much
Not as Bad as I Thought
I usually travel during the summer, and have never stayed in Lin’an during a holiday before. I was a bit disappointed I had to hang around town, but it turns out that only 3 weeks into summer, things are going great. For instance? Pool party! I haven’t swam in years, but