So last week in China was National Day (celebrating the 70th anniversary of the PRC), but that meant I had a week holiday. I haven’t talked about it much on this blog, but this past year my health has sucked, and I haven’t been able to travel or get out
The Year of the Bullet Journal!
Sorry for a New Years post a few days after Jan 1st, but things have been a little rough over here in the Becky household. I ended up going in and out of the hospital the last few weeks of the year and I was too tired to do anything
Ready for More Weird English Names?!
It seems as if they more my students become aware of western culture, the weirder their english names are. When I started the weirdest names were like, “Cookies” and “Chanley” but now I’m getting so many odd names that make those look positively white bread. Here are some of the
The Start of my Tenth Year
It’s impossible to believe, but I am beginning my tenth year in China. It also means it’s my tenth year as a teacher making it the longest job I’ve ever held. Despite that, I almost never think of myself as a teacher. When someone asks me “what do you do?”
Taking the Blog to the Next Level
OMG y’all I’m a vlogger! That’s right, I thought it was time to take Badminton Becky to the next level and start a vlog. After all, sports is very much a visual thing and while I love, love, love writing, some things have been harder to express without visual help.
Why I Can’t Watch Crazy Rich Asians in China
Unless your still using dial-up internet in the backwoods of Montana, you must have heard about the new movie Crazy Rich Asian. Based on the book by Singapore-American Kevin Kwan, it is the first all Asian cast in 25 years and is a big step for diversity in Hollywood. By
Mangoes, Unlike Money, DO Grow on Trees!
I’m still not totally used to living in a tropical climate. I’m used to seeing flowers in winter and melting in the summer I’m still surprised every year when I see tropical fruit growing on the street. Xiamen has mango trees everywhere, and this time of year the fruit is
Chinese Wedding (with video!)
Remember those students I call “my babies?” The ones I taught for four years and watched them grow up? The ones who stayed with me when I was in the hospital 5 years ago? The one’s that sobbed into my shoulder as they graduated and said goodbye? The ones I
Book Review: Expat Jimmy
Expat Jimmy is the latest book from blogger and writer Travis Lee. I will start with an apology because I’m a total jerk. Travis sent me the book ages ago, and I read it, and then I completely forgot about it and never wrote about it. Total duh moment. Expat
How to Type Chinese on the Computer and Other Questions
I’ve had a lot of repeated questions about China and while many are based on stereotypes (no, most people don’t eat dogs and Chinese animal activists are making sure that the small little villages that still do cease forever) some are actually good questions I thought I’d take a moment