This is my seventh year avoiding the western holidays. But maybe it’s my last. Despite my best attempts at moving halfway across the world to a communist country the holidays have finally found me. Christmas is unavoidable, and it looks like Thanksgiving, the American-only holiday, has landed as well. I’m
100 Day Milestone!
So I think by now you know I’m pretty obsessed with my Xiaomi bracelet. It’s a fitness bracelet ala Fitbit, but made my a Chinese brand that I love. (The fitbit is $88 the Xiaomi one is $10 and works better.) It tracks your steps, and your sleep as well.
War on Christmas (in China)
I know that right now there is a kerfuffle against the plain red Starbucks cups. It seems like it is this year’s battle in the never ending “war against Christmas.” Well, I’m in China, so who cares? In this Communist, developing country, Christmas is far, far away from me. Right?! Nope.
Nerdiest. Graffiti. Ever.
Just like in every country, there is scribbles and scrawling on the walls of the bathroom stalls. A few short words, a number to call. But instead of the expected “for a good time” graffiti, it has another message. You’ll see this same graffiti in schools across the country. It
Badminton Becky (dotcom) is Born!
So I might as well finally announce it, I started a new website! No, it won’t replace this one. I’ll keep posting here about China, teaching students and dating Chinese guys, but lately I have a new obsession: badminton. It takes up a good part of my week and when
I’m on Vagablogging (Again!)
I’ve been featured as a case study on Rof Pott’s site Vagablogging. Please go check it out! If you don’t know, Rolf Potts is the author of the influential Vagabonding–An uncommon guide to the Art of Long Term Travel. If you’ve ever experienced wanderlust and dreamed of traveling the world,
Halloween in Xiamen!
Woot! Woot! It’s Halloween time people! While not an actual holiday in China, Halloween is getting bigger and bigger and in Xiamen there are now THREE major events thousands will be going to. And bars, restaurant, and most stores are getting into the spirit with spooky decorations and lots of cut-out pumpkins. And
Lunch Time on a Chinese Campus
If you’ve lived in China for any length of time, you know how important lunch is. No squished sandwich eaten at your desk, or some long ladies luncheon. Lunch is fast and quick for the main event: the afternoon nap. At a college campus lunch is like a flash flood.
Badminton Queen
I’m one month into the semester so I thought I’d fill you in with how things are going. This year I changed departments. Before I was in a different department, but now I’m back to teaching English majors. I wish I could say it was some grand gesture to get
Mid-Autumn Festival and Bobing!
While the America’s were enjoying their blood moon, we had just finished worshiping the moon ourselves here in China. The lunar eclipse coincided with Mid-Autumn festival, a day you are supposed to gaze at the full moon, eat moon cakes and enjoy the day off. (Sadly, the lunar eclipse was