I’ve been to plenty of meat markets in China. Usually located in the back corner of a dank, smelly building with various animals in different states of butchery. It is usually one of the most unpleasant places to be in China. But last weekend I went to a different meat
Epic Night in Shanghai
Last weekend my best friend returned from Hong Kong and we met Shanghai to have fun. I haven’t been to Shanghai too often (though this was my third trip this semester) and I didn’t really know much about the Shanghai social scene, but luckily I knew someone who did. My
Declaration of Love
Last night my friend Color and I were taking a post-dinner walk when we came across two of my student. They were all giggly and excited and told me “something special” was happening before running off, still giggling, to the lake. So we followed. What we found was the preparation
Nobody Told Me it Would be This Hard
This time last year I waxed poetically about the melancholy that surrounded me during the end of the year. Students and teacher packing it up and taking off. Last year I felt melancholy. This year? I feel downright depressed. That’s because last year I wasn’t that close with the graduating
The Latest from the Video World
Recently there have been a few viral videos here in China that have been making the news (and have all my students talking). In case you missed them, I thought I would share them with you. Let’s get the first one out of the way (like eating something bitter before
Tea Season: Have You Gotten Your Virgin Picked Tea Yet?
Springtime is tea time in china. The time most of the green tea is plucked and roasted for the coming year. This time is so popular for picking tea that the approximately 3 month period is broken down into four different “growing seasons.” Some of the best, top end teas
PostSecrets….Chinese Style!
So you know the website PostSecret? (If you don’t go check it out right away!) Well, it gave me an idea for class. Writing class can be a bit dry. I mean, the writing exercises are totally creative and fun, but it’s still sitting quietly and writing. And I know
Tests, Tests Everywhere and Not a Drop to Learn.
For the past few weeks I’ve been going easy on my students. In writing class we haven’t done much writing, and in speaking class we’ve just done a few easy and fun activities. Why? Well, my students were under a lot of pressure, A LOT, and I didn’t want to
Office Hours
Many universities in China mandate teachers do Office Hours, a time in which the teacher must sit in the office and help any student that comes. My university actually doesn’t make the foreign teachers do that. In fact, no one even suggested to us, and yet, I do it anyway. I know,
The Voyage of a Fish in China
I should start by saying I am not a fan of eating fish. But I’m in the clear minority here in China. In almost every restaurant there is a tank, or small cooler filled with fish just waiting to be eaten, and every supermarket has a tank. In fact, when