Category: cultural incidents
Updated on August 4, 2011
My alter ego: Ivanka
I am daily mistaken as a Russian. I could perhaps, without too much exaggeration, even change that to hourly mistaken. When I first came to China, I had no idea this false labeling was happening because I had… Read More
Updated on August 4, 2011
Swinging on sinks
Last night, I was hanging out with a good friend eating dinner and watching a movie when the building night-watchman/fix-it man/light bulb replacer/man of many hats stopped by my apartment. I hadn’t reported any problems with my place,… Read More
Updated on August 4, 2011
Sunday snapshot: Special visitors
This past Wednesday, we had a special group of visitors roll into town for the afternoon. Our company has a language school in a nearby big city, and there just so happens to be a lot of families… Read More
Updated on August 4, 2011
Heliophobia
Heliophobia = fear of the sun In China, white is beautiful. Store shelves are stocked to the brim with whitening creams. You’ll see more umbrellas on a sunny day than on a rainy day. Women bike through town in… Read More
Updated on August 4, 2011
Just when I’m ready to pack my bags
My feet were sopping wet, I had spent the last forty-five minutes packed into a roasting train station waiting room, people had been and were staring, nearby gawkers had had their fair share of conversations about me, I… Read More
Updated on August 4, 2011
Redeeming Moments
There are moments when I have a strong dislike of China. Moments where I find myself wishing I was in America. I had one such moment this afternoon at the train station. Of all places in China, except perhaps… Read More
Updated on August 4, 2011
The Zoo Animal Experience
Sometimes, living as a foreigner in China feels like you are a zoo animal on display. People stare, point, take pictures, laugh at your actions, discuss your every move with other onlookers, try to touch your hair (seriously), and… Read More
Updated on August 4, 2011
Chinese hospitality
If I had to name one thing that the Chinese excel at, hospitality would be awfully close to the top of the list. I hate to make generalizations, but on the whole, the Chinese know how to take care of… Read More
Updated on May 31, 2011
Overcoming fear
This is my fourth year living in China. Today was the first time I got my hair cut here. In a land where one of the most popular hair styles is what I affectionately term “the lion’s mane”,… Read More
Updated on May 31, 2011
Happy Birthday JLNU!
This week the school celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. The remarkable thing is that my company has had teachers here for half of that history. In recognition of that fact, our company’s president was in town to commemorate the occasion…. Read More
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