Author Archives: Meg
This Is Our Destiny
I had a hard time getting Marcus’ latest book here in Yangzhou. Hahaha! Can you believe that’s a sentence I just wrote? Such subversive poems are banned in Middle Kingdom, I guess. What I really want to do is take this back to when … Continue reading
In A Different Time
Another late summer evening in Yangzhou, and Ian and I have landed at Ronnie’s bar again. I could write an epic on the expat bar in Yangzhou, how I’ve come in with different friends or met up with different friends, sat at the bar … Continue reading
More Similar Than You Know
Shortly before I started dating my now-husband, I was seeing a writer in Los Angeles. He’s a really great guy, handsome, funny, talented… Uh. Yeah. This is relevant! I’m going somewhere with this! The other day, one of my students told me … Continue reading
Seeing Measure Words in Bamboo
The other day, I went to eat with a coworker at the secret upstairs noodle shop. Some expat friends are friends of convenience, the other English speakers in a foreign country, and after so many rounds of Hello, I am … Continue reading
Book Review: Tapped
Tapped by AJ Maguire tells the story of a family of veteran space smugglers, who pick up three passengers with even more to hide. This story has a lot of the themes and characters we all loved in Firefly. Space drama has … Continue reading
More of My Mandarin Superpowers
Student: Do you eat Chinese food? Meg: Yes, I eat it everyday, I’m in China. Student: But how do you order it? Meg: 请给我青椒肉丝* Student: You can speak Chinese?!?! Meg: We’re having this conversation in China. *This is kind … Continue reading
Essential Chinese: Fruit Infusions
My room doesn’t have a refrigerator or a watercooler, which is pretty rough in such a hot summer. My school has both, so I fill my water bottle there with drinking water and slices of orange or lemon, and stick it in the … Continue reading
One of The Lesser Known Pokemon
In China, I feel so brilliant and successful when I do daily things like catch the bus to the mall. I planned to settle down with an ludicrously expensive frappuccino, and do my math homework in the Living Mall’s Starbucks. This … Continue reading
Book Review: Whispers From The East
Amie Ali’s Whispers from the East tells the story of a traditional marriage and two modern marriages in this family saga. I was interested in joining this book tour because I recently read and enjoyed two modern Muslim romances, Veil of Roses, … Continue reading
Persephone in Yangzhou
Fall is here in Yangzhou, with the end of the desperate humidity and a change in the air that signals sweaters and breezes. My initial working contract will be up in a few weeks. My school has offered me a one-year or six-month … Continue reading
