Today I have a book recommendation. “Chinese Lessons” by John Pomfret. Pomfret first came to China as a foreign student in the early 80s. Later, he returned as a journalist. “Chinese Lessons” presents the stories of his fellow classmates, among the first students to return to university post-Cultural Revolution. Through Pomfret’s writing, these classmates share [...]
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The last few days here in Linyi have been rainy and gray. This is the kind of weather I expect in winter, so it is not altogether unwelcome. I’m just glad that our trip to Mt. Tai coincided with blue skies. Anyway, although the skies are overcast today, our students were able to fly. Flying [...]
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While you are tucked safely into your beds this evening, I shall be climbing a 5,000 ft mountain. Tai Shan 泰山, or Mount Tai, is one of the five famous mountains of China. It has been recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site. It is located a few hours northwest of Linyi in Shandong [...]
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I should’ve known something was up when all the bread disappeared from the supermarket and was replaced by mooncakes. It’s that time again: Mid-Autumn Festival! This is the day that the Chinese traditionally celebrate the end of the harvest and admire the full moon. It also means that it is time to eat mooncakes. Mooncakes [...]
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Excuse me, I’m about to have a huge nerd moment. Have you ever felt like spending your free time doing some independent university study? Really!? Me too! The wait is over! Check out MIT’s open courseware. MIT is offering courses for free. Of course, you have to do all the work, but they offer the [...]
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I often talk about how I have a love-hate relationship with China. Some days I love it and some days I hate it. Today I am feeling particularly positive, probably because last night we had a delicious dinner with our friends D. & L. and relaxed at a newly opened bar. So, even though I’m [...]
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The June issue of National Geographic features a story on one booming industrial town on China’s Southeast coast. Be sure to read the field notes and look at the photos – it is all so true and familiar to me. I especially like the part where the two bosses of the featured company decide to [...]
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I wanted to share an interesting website. Saudi Aramco World Saudi Aramco World is a magazine devoted to sharing the culture, history and geography of Arab and Muslim lands, through articles and photography. It is available online, as a downloadable PDF and, free, as a print subscription. It is of great interest to anyone who [...]
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And one more post, before I get washed away with yet more rain… It has been raining here in Linyi for weeks now! Thunderstorms every other day! I’d like to share a blog post that I think is fascinating, although it has nothing to do with China, or Asia, or travel, or any of the [...]
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No doubt you’ve heard that China is exporting all sorts of exciting chemicals in normal household products and foods, in order to liven things up a bit. I mean, who wants regular old toothpaste when you can have toothpaste that shares ingredients with anti-freeze?! You can even get it in your cough syrup! Why feed [...]
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I'm an American expat living on the fringe of Chinese society. Thanks to a lifetime spent moving around, I often feel like an outsider. This blog explores life in Beijing, China, the occasional aviation topic, expat issues, random travel experiences and interesting things I see, read and hear. If you want to know more about my latest hobby, visit Sewing on the Fringe, where I blog about learning to sew in Beijing. And for daily documentation of Beijing's ever changing air quality, visit My Beijing Window. And, yes, I do wear my santa hat year-round. ;)
