The theme of my winter holidays was one word: mountains. I started in Hong Kong and Shenzhen for a week, then I stopped off briefly at home to change my clothes (from warm to cold weather clothes) and then I spent
After Seven Years I Finally Have a Thanksgiving Dinner
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
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
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
Lantern Festival: Such a Pretty Name for Such a Loud Day
The Spring Festival holiday officially ends on the 15th day of the lunar new year, with the Lantern Festival. This is a day when you look at beautiful lanterns, answer some riddles written on lanterns and eat a special food
National Day Holiday
I haven’t written much about my social life here. Of course, coming to a new place with no friends did put a damper on things for a few weeks. I was busy meeting people, and getting to know them, and
Winter Holiday
For the past 3 weeks it’s been winter holiday. Time for my yearly conundrum: what to do for spring festival?China during Spring Festival (aka Chinese New Years) is hell. Known as humans largest migration all 1.3 billion Chinese people take
When Staying Home is the Wise Choice
This week is National week, the only major week-long holiday of the entire school year. I’m flush with cash from my paycheck and airfare reimbursement, and dying to get out and travel, but I’m staying put this week and locking
Summer's Officially Over
School starts on monday and I can’t say I’m totally psyched about it. Summer seemed to be gearing up instead of winding down when I had to leave my temporary home in the city of Hangzhou and come back to
I'm Ba-a-a-a-a-a-a-ack!
Hello everyone. It’s been a little more than a month since I was last here. I’m worn out, broke and have a cold, but I still have a wide smile on my face because of all the fun I’ve had