Category: Culture

Halloween In China

So, “Halloween” is pretty much nonexistent here in China. Or, as a friend quickly pointed out, most Halloween products/costumes are probably made in China – but rarely are they ever used here in China. The China Daily newspaper has a shout out to the infamous American holiday with some words to use about it in […]

Mailing Address in China

UPDATED: December 2012 Many people have expressed interest in sending me mail while I’m in China, and to say I’d be more than happy to oblige is an understatement. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a letter or care package from a loved-one is worth at least a million and one. BUT, sending […]

It’s Pronounced, “Tea and Gin”

I’ve been in China for two weeks now! I figure it’s as good a time as ever to start learning the language. In fact, learning Chinese is my number one priority for this year and it’s already been going swell! My little city is a perfect place to hear the common dialect spoken through most […]

Chinese Caption Contest #431

I recognize a couple of the characters, but I have absolutely no idea what the crap this is trying to say… maybe, “Don’t try and drink your car – it might break your glass.” What do YOU think it means?

CATS in Tianjin

Be honest. What did you think this was going to be about when you read the headline “CATS in Tianjin”? Maybe the plethora of stray cats running around the city? Maybe what I had for dinner last night? Wrong on both accounts! One of the biggest Broadway musical hits of all time, CATS, is touring […]

My Chinese Cell Phone

I haven’t had a cell phone since the end of June (not counting the infamous one I used in Italy) and it’s been harder not to have one than I thought it would be, actually. The biggest downside was that my friends couldn’t get in touch with me whenever they wanted and I ended up […]

Ni Hao to you too, China

Looking down at China as my plane landed, I couldn’t help but smile. And not just because they were ironically showing “America’s Funniest Home Videos” on the flight, I was smiling because this was it – I’m landing thousands of miles away from home to live in a foreign country at last. Not some lame […]

We Plan, God Laughs (The Slow Boat To China)

It’s been a crazy few months, albeit with fun road trips, long cross-cultural adventures, and hard-to-say goodbyes… But with all of this, the reality of my fast-approaching transition has hit full-force – I’m really moving out of the country in less than a week. I think the last time I wrote, back in May, I […]

The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

These past two years, I’d like to think that I’ve perfected my chocolate chip cookie recipe. I made a batch almost every week and gave them out to various friends and family. The only negative feedback I got was from my mother, who commented, “Too many chocolate chips!” Please disregard – everyone else has loved […]