Category Archives: New York City
Yes, I speak English.
My school often hires secretaries who don’t speak English. I understand that I’m in China and I understand that the vast majority of people I meet will not speak English. But it seems to me that speaking English would be … Continue reading
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
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
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
Still Not Over The Staring Thing
As Jeff and Fresca both said, mere words cannot describe the constant staring in Kafaqu, but I’m going to try anyway. (Sorry to bore the old China hands.) I can understand it on some level, a foriegn girl playing games … Continue reading
Space Chase
Stephen Follows, the producer of The War On Terror: The Musical has a new movie called Space Chase which is up for some kind short film of the year award at this Cannes thing which is important to people who … Continue reading
The Price of Tea in China
One of the most useful Chinese phrases is pronounced “can ee can”. It means “just looking” or in my case “Quit picking up merchandise and banging it against my glasses. I can be trusted to find any items in plain … Continue reading
