In my writing class I asked my students to write a letter to Santa. “Tell Santa if you’ve been a good girl or boy and ask Santa for something you want,” I said. While my students all know about Santa they obviously have never written a letter to Santa like
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.
First Christmas in Xiamen
Last year I had a great Christmas with my friends. We made cookies, lit candles, watched Christmas specials and just had a really awesome day. (You can read about it here.) This year though, I’m just not feeling it. First off, it’s because of the weather. Sunny, clear, and a
I Feel a Bit Guilty About Yesterday’s Post
So after I totally dissed my students in yesterday’s post, I had my last class with one group of kids. We had a christmas party (I do it every year) and when class was almost over one student stood up and said they had a special gift for me. He
"Do You Miss Home?" Christmas in China
As it’s the winter holiday, and Christmas, a lot of my students and friends are asking me if I’m going home. When I say no, they ask me “Do you miss home?” And honestly, it’s kinda a tough question to answer. A tough question for most travelers to answer. I
A Chinese Christmas Joke
Last night my little hairdresser told me a funny joke. But to understand it you have to know a little about China. You see, in China, some old people scam people by falling down, and when someone helps them up they accuse that person of pushing them and extort money
Merry Apple Christmas Eve
There’s not much Christmas traditions here in China. Restaurants leave up Christmas trees and decorations all year long, and it’s not strange to hear a Christmas song any time of the year in rotation with Justin Beiber and that annoying Titanic song. But there is one major Christmas tradition in
Looking for that Old Christmas Feeling in China
When I lived in America to say I was burned out of the holiday season would be an understatement. I was tired of the consumerism, tired of the holiday pressure and tired of feeling like a total glutton eating all the delicious food that was laid in front of me.
A Peek into Christmas in China
I’m not a scrooge or anything, but in many ways I enjoy missing out on the pressure of the holiday season back in America. But that doesn’t mean I miss out on Christmas. In fact, if anything, Christmas seems to be getting bigger and bigger around here. This holiday season
Dancing Santa
Merry Christmas Everyone! And what holiday could be complete without some Chinese Santa’s busting a move? (A really, really awkward move that is.) Enjoy and have a great Christmas! Thanks to Sinosplice for bringing this video to my attention.