Destination: China

The beginning...

Wed, 8 Aug 2007 | By tristan | Views [492]

 Actually, this isn't the beginning at all. My story goes waaay back many years, too far and far too much to actually get into here. Suffice to say that I'll start this chapter here and now, at the point where I joined this site, bought this travel insurance ... Read more >

Tags: Work

DVDs

Mon, 6 Aug 2007 | By carol | Views [934] | Comments [4]

these are so inexpensive! and when my student bargained for me, the price went even lower--from cheap to dirt cheap in a 15 second exchange of words. I bought American TV shows. I can easily rent dvds in Rome but not the TV shows, just movies.... Read more >

Tags: Shopping

Ants in your pants??

Mon, 6 Aug 2007 | By carol | Views [1294] | Comments [5]

No, not in your pants but for your foot massage . . . My weekly treat is a pedicure/foot massage along with a neck, shoulder and back massage. This 90 minute event is wonderful. It is so relaxing and relieves all the neck and shoulder stress after ... Read more >

Tags: Relaxation

Hutong Cooking

Sun, 5 Aug 2007 | By celinexiaolin | Views [896] | Comments [1]

In the hutong alleys behind the Drum and Bell towers north of the Forbidden City, lives this tiny and bubbly Cantonese woman, a self styled “only woman chef” of Beijing. She has had the brilliant idea of giving Chinese cooking lessons literally from ... Read more >

Tags: Food & eating

Sleeping student

Sun, 5 Aug 2007 | By carol | Views [565] | Comments [2]

One afternoon last week a male student stretched out during the 10 minute break and fell asleep.  I didn't bother to wake him up when the lesson resumed.  I was so impressed. Imagine a row of airline seats with arm rests that don't lift up and the tray ... Read more >

Tags: Teaching and the students

speaking english?

Sun, 5 Aug 2007 | By carol | Views [1184] | Comments [1]

By the time I leave here next Friday, I will have taught roughly 200 students about American higher education. We are working on a rotating basis. Each teacher spends 8 or 9 hours with each group before meeting a new group and teaching them the same thing.... Read more >

Tags: Teaching and the students

Gallery: Hutong Cooking

Sun, 5 Aug 2007 | By celinexiaolin | Photo Gallery

A Nation of Grasshoppers

Sat, 4 Aug 2007 | By celinexiaolin | Views [588]

The world looks at the Chinese as a nation of workers. We imagine them sweating it out day in and day out like little busy and unstoppable ants. They do. But, more often then not, the ants also turn into some spectacular grasshoppers. Along Beijing’s ... Read more >

Tags: Relaxation

Gallery: Houhai lake - Beijing

Sat, 4 Aug 2007 | By celinexiaolin | Photo Gallery

Gallery: China

Thu, 2 Aug 2007 | By jmbworldpilgrimage | Photo Gallery

Gallery: Factory 798

Wed, 1 Aug 2007 | By celinexiaolin | Photo Gallery

Let them eat cake!

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 | By carol | Views [947] | Comments [1]

I wrote that Chinese sweets don't tempt me. I should re-state that. The cakes do---but just because of the designs, color, and the look. There have been 2 birthdays and a going away party. Each time there was an elaborately decorated cake. They are ... Read more >

Tags: Food & eating

Let's eat

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 | By carol | Views [756] | Comments [4]

It's good even if most the time I am not sure what it is I am eating. Ok, the fact that I don't have to go the store, haul groceries home, cook dinner and then wash dishes afterwards does not change the fact that the food is tasty. These aspects only ... Read more >

Tags: Food & eating

Factory 798

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 | By celinexiaolin | Views [757] | Comments [2]

Factory 798 is a superb idea both mine for going there on Sunday and Beijing’s for having it. It’s a kind of artist’s ghetto in the North Eastern side of town. A creative community living in an old factory complex that has been remodelled to contain ... Read more >

Tags: Culture

The Great Wall experience!!

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 | By katie_rose | Views [3987]

Hey everybody.  Sorry about my last post, I should have put a language warning with the page.  I was caught up in the moment, being very angry with what had happened in Shanghai and some less than desirable words slipped out on to the page, so my apologies.... Read more >

Tags: Sightseeing