Every semester the Inernational Office takes us foreign teachers out on a little trip. In the past we’ve gone to amusement parks and tea schools and in the past, the foreign students and the teachers were invited, making for a large group. But as there are more foreign students the
Tea Sets
As a tea drinker I have to say I am a fan of tea blends. You know, those crazy teas that mix like, 2 different kinds of mint, with chai and black tea and some sort of flower petal and maybe some chocolate flakes. I like those, and I thought
Westerners are Pussies
A few months ago another foreign teacher asked for our help. He had a big cabinet that he wanted moved from the basement of our building to his 2nd-floor apartment in the building next door. It was one of those huge, 80’s era ridiculously heavy office equipment type cabinets that
My Commute
I’ve lived and worked in a lot of places, all with different commutes. When I lived in New Hampshire and worked at a local stationary store, my commute was a 10 minute walk along a river. Once I saw a moose. When I lived in L.A. I had one of
I Thought it Would be Fun……
My writing students keep a weekly “adventure journal.” Every week at the start of class I tell them a new adventure to go on some point during the week. Previous adventures have included keeping a dream journal, having a conversation with a tree, and trying a new type of food.
Chicken, Worm, Bunny and Cops: The Many Shapes of China
Recently, the China Daily Show had a funny article about the importance of Tibet and Xinjiang not because of political or economic reasons, but because of the shape. A senior Ministry of Interior Affairs official has claimed that the principal reason behind China’s annexation of Tibet and Xinjiang was to
Horrors in the Lunch Line
Sometimes I’m busy and just don’t want to deal with going to a restaurant and wasting my lunch break. So I eat at the school cafeteria. The quality is just as dismal as you might think (lukewarm food, prison issue metal trays) but they tend to have a wide variety
I'm on Lost Laowai!
I’ve recently become a contributor to Lost Laowai, and today my first post was published! (And it already got 5 comments, not bad!) If you live in China (or are thinking of moving here) then you probably already know Lost Laowai. It’s been around for a long time and is
The Bank of Becky's Class
I’m teaching history this year, which is not my field of expertise. In fact, you could call me a history dummy. Oh sure, I know about, say, Lincoln’s assassination, but if you asked me the date of when it happened I have no idea. I’m not into things like dates
Our Unexpected Visitor
I take a walk every evening. When I came home the other night, I saw a flash of fuzz peek out from the bedroom door and then dart back inside. “Uh….what was that?” I said. “She followed me home, can we keep her?” Ryan said (kinda). If you haven’t figured