Category: culture

Stereotypical China

We think in stereotypes. Whether or not we admit we think in stereotypes perhaps depends on how politically correct we are attempting to be at the moment. But the simple fact is that our brains are constantly lumping, associating and… Read More

Turning the corner

It was the scent that drew me there. I was leaving the teaching building this afternoon and for once was halted by a pleasant smell. I glanced over at the bushes next to the building, and somewhat surprised… Read More

There’s a first time for everything (part two)

Read the first part of the tale here and don’t forget to vote for your favorite flag–you have two more days to vote! We clambered quickly (quickly, but not gracefully, remember our voluminous shopping bags) out of the taxi… Read More

There’s a first time for everything (part one)

Almost six full years in China and I have never missed a train. Run wildly through a train station? Yes. Sprint down a train platform to the last possible car carrying a twenty pound frozen turkey? Yes {that was… Read More

Get your vote on {Flags}

Recently, my sophomore spoken English students were tasked with creating a new flag for China. We studied various flags of the world to learn about characteristics many flags share, and the students were then asked to create a… Read More

Sunday snapshot: The Shoe Shop

When I leave China, one of the things I’ll miss the most is the local shoe-key-zipper-random-repair-fix-it shack. I realize that’s a whole lot of words to describe a tiny building on wheels, but I assure you all words are… Read More

Sunday Snapshot: Adventures in Dining

Last night, a group of students came over to cook for me. Having students cook is always a bit frightening, as there’s no telling what might appear on the table. There is also no telling what state my… Read More

Communication

I’ve lived in China for six years. I’m almost finished with an entire master’s degree about communicating across cultures. I should be pretty good at cross-cultural communication by now, right? If anything, the only thing this experience and… Read More

Home.

This week I went from playing with baby elephants in shorts and a tank topto long underwear and crusty old gray snow. And yet, it is so good to be home. The seven weeks of travel were absolutely delightful… Read More

Sunday Snapshot: Lookin’ like Christmas

Living in China, there aren’t nearly as many daily reminders of the Christmas season. While Christmas trees and Santas are now quite common in China, you’re just as likely to see such things in July as in December…. Read More