This semester I have been focusing on polishing my book and finding an agent, so I’ve been spending a lot of time at Starbucks. I know, I know, I can hear you groan from here. “Starbucks, really?!” Especially as Xiamen has a lot of amazing cute little cafes all over
How to Manage a Writer’s Retreat in Your Hometown
How times flies! It seems like only yesterday I was announcing my writer’s retreat and here it is all over and done with. It was the first time I have attempted one of these in the place I live, and I was successful I thought I’d share my strategy with
Chinese Things in America that Aren’t Actually Chinese
So I’m still stuck in America. It’s been a month so culture shock is a thing of the past (people are back to being assholes and driving like maniacs.) Basically I’m homesick for China. Very homesick, and to make myself feel better I’ve been looking for Chinese things in America.
My Tea Collection
I’m proud of my tea collection because it has taken me quite a bit of work. You’d think that living in China I’d be set. After all, China tea is world famous. And if I liked green tea that would be true. But the truth is while I like green
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
Crouching Tiger, Dripping Becky
EXT. YUAN COMPOUND – DAY Security men and porters are loading wagons for a convoy. As they work, we see across the lake a lone horseman entering the village. One of the men recognizes him. WORKER Master Li is here! ANGLE ON: Li Mu Bai, thirties, powerful and handsome. In
A Greasy Day at the Tea Academy
So I mentioned the other day that I recently went on a trip to the Yun He Tea Academy, (Where I met my BFF.) It was a trip was set up by the International Office. They do a trip for the foreign teachers every fall and spring, and sometimes I
My New Best Friend
You’re probably thinking that Ryan and I are at Madame Tussauds or something, standing next to a wax figure of an ancient kung-fu master. But we’re actually at a tea culture institute and standing in the middle is my new best friend. I don’t know what his name was, but
The Magical Tea Cup
A few weeks ago, my mom came to China for a visit. We spent the weekend in Hangzhou, and went to a few tourist places, including the Chinese National Tea Museum. I hate going to museums with my mom and Ryan because they both take soooo long, stopping at every
Baked Green Pea Tea
This blog is called “Writer.Traveler. Tea Drinker” and I’ve talked a lot about writing (and our new book), traveling (and living in China) but I have been remiss lately in writing much about tea. Today, I want to change that. A student told us that her hometown had a special