Author Archives: Meg
My friends are here! / Step 2 of 10,000
This morning as I was drinking coffee and watching Travel In Chinese on CCTV9, a sleepy Jeff came into the living room. “I’m up, I’m up.” He said. “You don’t have to set off fireworks to wake me.” I turned … Continue reading
This is Jeff and me having a calm, rational discussion about the definitive pronounciation of xie xie.
My friends are coming! / Step 1 of 10,000
In anticipation of Fresca and Jeff’s visit, my students gave me KFC and McDonald’s coupons. (They didn’t want me to pay a ludicrous $2 for a “western” meal!) I thanked them, but I giggled because I can’t think of 2 … Continue reading
My New Superpower
The other day in class, one of my middle-school boys tripped, knocked over some desks and got a bloody nose. I figure since it wasn’t actually inflicted by another student, I’m still a good teacher, right? When he got hurt, … Continue reading
Dragonsocks
My school just acquired two more books for our English library. One is a second copy of Harry Potter 6. Even assuming that whoever bought these books doesn’t read English and only picked the book based on color, what are … Continue reading
The Laowei Secret Handshake
Today is China and my two-month anniversary! Last night, I got a phone call from Cora, another foreign teacher at a nearby school. When I was in England and I met other Americans, we’d laugh about how many potatoes and … Continue reading
You Want Me to What?
When I was preparing to come to China, I tried to learn important phrases in Chinese, like “Thank you”, “How much?” and “Where is the bathroom?” I did not learn “And now your foreign teacher is going to sing Edelweiss,” … Continue reading
Pictures For My Dad
The Great Chinese Scallop Shell Stockpile: The Final Resting Place Of Scuffy The Tugboat:
Look, I can read!
I’m not sure if identifying the words rain water on a gutter really count as literacy.
Grave – Sweeping Day
Today is Grave-Sweeping Day in Yantai. I can’t possibly express how pleased I am to find out Chinese holiday that doesn’t involve lighting any late-night fireworks under my window. On Grave-Sweeping Day, residents of Yantai don’t actually sweep graves. They … Continue reading
