Author Archives: Meg
Pandora’s Box
Today when I was coming in to work, the postman stopped me in the hallway and shoved a box at me. (It had to be mine because it was addressed in English!) I just stood there for a moment, looking … Continue reading
Things that should be simple, but aren’t.
Part 1 of 10,000 What’s the first thing you learn in a new language? That’s right, numbers. Beijing-bound flights usually have at least one Westerner practicing yi, er, san, si, and so forth. We usually also working on the accompanying … Continue reading
Back In Ironforge
I got World of Warcraft loaded on one of the computers in the lab downstairs from my office and I logged on for a couple hours of bandit-slaying and emote flirting with Stick. I’ve already said how much I love … Continue reading
Dragon Boat Day
(Written on 6/1 but Dragon Boat Day is 5/31 so I’m backdating this) Once there was a Chinese poet called Qu Yuan (??). Depending on who you ask, Qu Yuan either jumped or fell into a river and drowned, and … Continue reading
Asking for it
Yesterday, I got the worst haircut ever. Really. I’ve cut my hair myself and it came out better than this. I dyed my hair purple and no stage, as it faded back to brown, was as bad as this. I … Continue reading
China Blogs
John at Sinosplice brilliantly explains one of the fundamental differences between Chinese and lao wei, and gets himself punched. John first won my love with reasons why life in China is like an RPG. TalkTalkChina, the home of bitter ex-pats … Continue reading
Chinese Harry Potter Again
Living in China is making me more and more sympathetic to Harry Potter. He’s just trying to live a normal life and everyone at Hogwarts keeps pointing and shouting “The Choosen One!” or “The Boy Who Lived!” Except Cho Chang, … Continue reading
Regarding Franz Ferdinand:
Would someone please tell me if “Austro-Hungarian Empire”, “Bosnian assassins”, and “the beginning of World War One” are also bands before my students get any more impromptu history lessons?
Our Foreigner
So the other day I was at the little streetmarket in the alley near my apartment, and I saw crazy little melons I couldn’t recognize. I asked the seller what they are, but my language skills are at a weird … Continue reading
Long-Distance Call
Last night I realized that pictures of my kids are crowding out my pictures from home. It seemed symbolic and sad that class photos and favorite students are starting to cover my pictures of Stick. Actually, most of my bad-China … Continue reading
