Category Archives: China
Three Months In China
On my three-month anniversary with China, it was time to renew my visa. This was complicated enough in the US, a system that doesn’t run entirely on bribes and connections. Dealing with UMass administration for five-and-a-half years of college was … Continue reading
Qingdao Adventures
We decided to wander around Qingdao to find a good place to have dinner. Ok, that’s not exactly true. I remember saying something about finding a German place for dinner, because I remember thinking that a town that was a … Continue reading
Dear Bethie
Dear Bethie, Thank you for the scarf. It was very useful on my trip to Beijing. You can put it across your pillow if the night train to Beijing is a little dirty. You can wet it from the train’s … Continue reading
Airport Goodbyes
After our awesome Beijing adventures, we sent Jeff home. Did you catch that? I said we, because Fresca has extended her trip for another two weeks as she tries to decide whether and when to teach here! Jeff and I … Continue reading
Everybody Weifang Tonight!*
We took a ritzy bus to the Weifang Kite festival, and then went by taxi to the park in Weifang where the kites would be flown. I got off the bus a few moments before Fresca and Jeff and was … Continue reading
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
The Pride of Yantai, Shandong Province
Before I came to China, my only experience with the wordforeigner was the first few seconds of an old song and Stick shouting “The pride of Rochester, New York!” In Yantai, though, it may as well be my name. When … Continue reading
The English Channel
CCTV 9, the English channel on the Chinese television, recently covered the Ukrainian election, in which two of the candidates are named Victor, without making a single joke. Come on, that’s just bad news reporting. It’s like not saying “into … Continue reading
Chinese Etiquette
Last night was Calvin’s farewell dinner because he’s leaving to go home to Wales. We went to eat with our boss, her husband, some of their family, some parents of our students and their assorted family. Once we’re all gathered, … Continue reading
Chinese Food
I can’t even begin to describe my culture shock! There’s a market near my new home in Yantai full of stands selling fruit, noodles, vegetables, breads, dumplings, seafood and any other kind of food you can imagine. For a few … Continue reading
