Okay, I click-baited you with that title. It wasn’t a lousy light show at all, it was quite spectacular but “…and all I got was this spectacular light show” isn’t how the t-shirt goes, so there you have it. So yeah, July 1st was the 100th anniversary of the founding
I Wouldn’t Expect to Like This But…
There is a secret food in China that people in the south eat almost everyday, yet in other countries it’s virtually impossible to find outside of a dim sum restaurant or Chinatown. That food? The slimy, squishy but amazingly delicious changfen. It comes from Cantonese dim sum food, but it
This Meme is Stupid
I’ve seen a meme passed around on facebook for a few years that seems like a good idea. It’s a picture of a city street with fruit trees and the words “The trees planted on city sidewalks should be replaced with fruit trees, so the homeless have something to eat
What Does $12 Buy in China?
I went to the store to just pick up one thing and of course walked away with a bagful. On the walk back home I mentally berated myself for buying too much, and spending too much money. But, being as I live in China, what I like to do when
I Got the Chinese Vaccine
While the vaccine has been available to the public in Xiamen for months (including foreigners) and free, I have been putting off actually getting the shot. It’s not because of any dumb notion of anti-vaxxers, or not trusting the science. It’s more that I, along with the majority of people
What School is Like in China Right Now (Fall 2020)
We are a month into the fall 2020 semester, so I thought I’d give a little update on what the teaching situation is like. Masks? Alternate day in-class attendance? Social distancing on campus and a mix of classroom and online learning? Well….no. None of that. If you were beamed to
I Won “Favorite Teacher!”
College has started and students have come back to school after being gone for 6 months, so I wasn’t surprised when a few students contacted me to ask if I was still on campus. But I was surprised when they said they wanted to see me and give me flowers.
I Entered a Puzzle Competition! (You can make fun of me all you want.)
I still have a few weeks of summer holiday left, and since I’m stuck in Xiamen, I decided to try to make a staycation out of it. You know, basically trying to do as many new activities and eating at as many different restaurants as I can. So why not
What is the Situation in China Like Now?
I know the word “China” is still a trigger for many, but it’s been awhile since I’ve updated the situation on the ground here so I thought I would take a moment to do so. Just so you know, Xiamen (population 4 million, equal to the second largest city in
Painting a Chinese Dragon
So with no travel plans this summer I gotta find something to keep me busy, so I’m kinda having a “say yes to anything indoors and not too exhausting” summer. When my friend invited me to her Chinese calligraphy/painting (indoors with a/c) class I obviously jumped at the chance. The