Life in China and Other Expat Tales
From the category archives:
Wide open window without screen
You’ve seen this window before. Everyday this past winter I would find this window in this position and I would dutifully shut it. Everyday. Everyday when it was -5°C. (It just didn’t seem efficient to leave all the windows open.) Leaving windows wide open in winter for the perceived “ventilation benefit” [...]
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After four and a half years in China’s hinterland, surrounded by factories and cornfields, it is still shocking to come across what are for me apparent mismatches, like the surprising numbers of Porsche Cayenne SUVs and high-end BMWs rolling down the street next to pony carts. One forgets that those very factories in these small [...]
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Happy Cinco de Mayo! You know that holiday, right? Yes, the one celebrated by all the Texans, strangely, and barely noticed by the Mexicans.
I celebrated by dragging the DH to KFC to eat a Mexican wrap sandwich, the only thing on the KFC menu I will eat (other than their mashed potato side.) The Mexican [...]
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The DH tells me I posted my “BIG” news banner a little early. I guess I did. We’ve still got BIG news coming, but I can’t spill the beans publicly, yet. I’ll give you a hint, though. Whatever it is, it will require boxes. And I’m really happy about it. Can you sense that yet? [...]
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Linyi Chinese Medicine Hospital
Who: The DH
What: Three days of IV antibiotic drips
When: Third and final drip
Where: Linyi Chinese Medicine Hospital
Why: A pesky little respiratory infection
How Much: 180RMB for the antibiotics (2) and 250ml bag of 0.9%NS (1); 32RMB for the nursing treatment/ER visit = 212RMB or ~ $31
Chinese hospitals can be a little chaotic, a [...]
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I love my gypsy cab lady!
Everyday she waits outside of my apartment complex for potential customers. She drives a little red four door Chevy Spark, which in my opinion says a lot about her personality. Every time she sees me, she starts waving and laughing and I can’t help but accept her offer of a [...]
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Wordless Wednesday #35
Market Day sellers in front of our apartment complex
Every five days a moving market sets up in the street in front of our apartment complex. You can buy books, shoes, toys, clothes, small tools, fruit, plants and household items such as brooms, dustpans, dishes, etc. I snapped this quick pic as I waited [...]
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China Reflections
I’m back in Linyi and to be perfectly honest, I am suffering from some serious post-vacation blahs. I am not at all sure how I feel about being back in China. Or more specifically, Linyi. This little city is feeling just a little bit too little these days.
September 1st was the fourth year anniversary [...]
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I'm an American expat living on the fringe of Chinese society. This blog explores life in China, the occasional aviation topic, expat issues, random travel experiences and interesting things I see, read and hear. 
L: Yours is one of my favorite blogs, and I’m glad you’re...
naomi: I have the opposite issue … I was a post writing FOOL over...
Michael P: Glad to see you’re back… I know what it’s... Tyler: Glad your back. I know how temps everyday in the 40s have made...
Crystal: What you wrote is so true! Many girls change their mind after...