Tag Archives: Yantai
Everyday Expressions
When I first went to Yantai, I imagined I’d come home and slip effortlessly into fluent Mandarin to quote ancient Chinese wisdom. Fortunately for people who have to put up with me, that didn’t happen. A few characters have somehow … Continue reading
A Different Lens
Last night Stick and I hung pictures in our new apartment, which really means that I framed some of our China photos and artwork, arranged them artistically on the floor and told him I wanted them like that, only on … Continue reading
Without Stick
China without Stick is strangely familiar. The children hanging on the hutong’s gate, waiting to see the foreign woman, remind me of the Yantai children, watching on the steps of my apartment and shouting to their friend when they saw … Continue reading
Twentysomething
There is much more of an expat community here in Beijing than there was in Yantai, but I find myself in a weird no-man’s-land between looking for the best meet-market bar with the cheapest beer, and looking for the best … Continue reading
Alltop China
I just discovered that Simpson’s Paradox is listed on AllTop’s China blogs… along with Sinosplice, Imagethief, RConversation, Hao Hao, IfGoGo, CNReviews, OneManBandwidth and a list of other really amazing China blogs. It’s awesome to be listed with the bloggers that … Continue reading
Abrupt Change Of Plans
Stick’s new visa fell through at the last possible second. It was a dramatic disaster, but the short version is that apparently the school wasn’t quite as professional and aboveboard as we’d thought. His current visa expires tomorrow, so he … Continue reading
Taxi Rejection
Often I hop into a Beijing taxi, only to get out again when the driver refuses to take me where I want to go. I thought this was a reaction to my bad Chinese but as I understand more and … Continue reading
Frustrations
Last night, Stick predicted that I wouldn’t get paid on time, because the new shift in the state holiday calendar has led to an increase in mei you frustration. The holidays were rearranged to break up the long Golden Week … Continue reading
Hugo And Diana
Hugo and Diana are coming to Beijing next week! I’m so excited! Hugo and Diana are our college friends, we picked our Amherst apartment mostly because we’d live across the parking lot from them. And Hugo was Stick’s roommate most … Continue reading
One-Way Street
Yesterday, we went up to Wudaokou to visit Sven. Wudaokou is a cool college-town area in northwest of the city, Propaganda is down the street, and a Pizza Hut, and an English bookstore. Our favorite Indian restaurant, Ganges, is just … Continue reading
