You might think that like McDonalds, Walmarts of the world are all the same. I’m here to tell you that nope, they definitely are not. And going to a Walmart in China is nothing like going to one in America. Sometimes it’s downright freaky. Just for the record, I hate
Xiamen, China — An Intro to my New Hometown
I thought I’d give you a small tour of my new hometown, so you can understand the place that I’m now living. I’ve been here before, way back in 2012, but I had no inkling at that time I’d be moving here, and seeing things as a traveler is very
The Fit Life in China
One of the things I love, love, love about living in China is how fit you get. Some foreigners come to China and get fatter, and I just don’t even get how that’s possible. You need to walk everywhere, the food is much healthier and aside from the poisoned air
Starting Over Again
As my plane was landing into Xiamen Gaoqi International airport, I couldn’t help but be reminded of a similar situation that happened exactly 5 years prior. Me, a backpack and a suitcase arriving in a place I had never been, ready to start a new life. But this time was
Good Chinese Wife Review and a Chance to Win a Free Book!!
There’s a new book out about a western woman Asian man relationship and I was lucky enough to get a review copy ahead of time to tell you, my dear readers, about. And even cooler I was picked to give away one of the free books! Woot! But I’mma gonna
Farewell Tour of Zhejiang–The Final Phase
So I’m home now. Jet-laggy and culture shocked. I’ll write about that in a bit, but I first want to write about my last few days in Lin’an. With just six days left after my Hangzhou bash, I had finally reached the center of my onion. I had been peeling the
How to (Successfully) Find a School to Teach in China—and Announcing my Next Destination!
I have the signed contract and visa paperwork in hand so I think it is only fitting to finally announce where I’m going next year. (I wanted to wait till it was legal before I jinxed anything.) Next September I’ll be teaching in the beautiful seaside city of….Xiamen. I know,
Farewell Tour of Zhejiang–Stage 2
Stage one of my farewell tour was saying goodbye to my friends in Shanghai. Like peeling off the layers of an onion, I started furthest away and I’m getting closer and closer to home. Stage two of my farewell tour was all about students, school stuff and Hangzhou. I also
The Shanghai 1933 Slaughterhouse & Puzzle House
On Saturday we went to two different “houses.” One was a 1933 art deco slaughterhouse (no, not just a catchy name. A literal former slaughterhouse) and the other was a room where you pay someone to lock you in and figure out puzzles until you free yourself. We first went
Farewell Tour of Zhejiang
With classes over and a few weeks remaining before I leave for the summer, I’ve wanted to see my friends one last time. I’ll be changing jobs, and moving to a new part of china so it’s time to start saying goodbye to everyone here. I’ve dubbed my month of