CHINA
Country Overview:
"A land of contrasts, where ancient traditions meet rapid modernization, and delectable cuisine coexists with complex political realities."
My seven-year journey in China, from May 2013 to August 2020, was a whirlwind of experiences. I taught English, pursued my Master's in Politics & Foreign Policy at the prestigious Tsinghua University, and immersed myself in the media landscape at China Today and Xinhua News Agency. Beijing was my home base, but my travels painted a vibrant tapestry of China's diverse landscapes and cultures: the bustling metropolis of Shanghai, the historic city of Xi'an, the tropical paradise of Sanya, the unique blend of East and West in Macau and Hong Kong, and countless other destinations in between. From savoring the exquisite flavors of regional cuisines to navigating the intricacies of daily life under a distinct political system, China left an indelible mark on me.
These are from my pk2 class, around age 5
Some kids don’t already have an English name so it’s up to the teacher to name them. Because of this, my school has kids named ‘Dinosaur’ 'Angry Bird’ 'Mickey’ & 'Brutus’. It’s ok for a 4 year old to be named 'Angry bird’ but when he’s 11, I’m not so sure.
This is one of my favorite buildings in China. I’ve yet to go inside, but it’s on my to do list.
I don’t know what these things are called but they are really good. First is the batter, then an egg, pepper, and it’s flipped. Then a sweet sauce, a spicy sauce, onions, scallions, choice of meat, and a crunchy won ton type thing. It gets folded into a square and voila.
It’s wicked hot on this 4th of July in Beijing, China. I ventured out looking for hot dogs, got some, and told myself that trip would be the 1st and last time leaving my air conditioned apartment today. Unfortunately, not due to lack of effort, I couldn’t find any fireworks. I’ll light a couple of candles on my roof tonight and use my imagination.
Haha they love this song and I think it’s hilarious. It’s basically just nonsense words and then “very very good!”
My fixie is finished
For now. Working on finding a white chain and saving money for a pink rear gear.
Went on a bike ride with my buddy yesterday who talked a lot of shit about my bike not having brakes and how dangerous it was compared to his Trek mountain bike. Shortly after, a Chinese lady stepped into the bike path, he slammed on his brakes, and skidded into a crash, resulting in a bent front tire and road rash. It was a nice bike ride though…
Shoutout today goes to the boys at Merida
They’ve been helping me fix up my bike and showing me around Shuangjing.
The bike shown is my buddies. Mine is a work in progress, but when it’s finished, you better believe I’ll get a pic up
This is my main man, Mickey
He’s in my PK1 class (5 years old) and loooooves to eat. And because he’s young and doesn’t know better, I’ll forgive him for wearing a Barca jersey.
At my school we do these things called ‘Outside Demos’, where we go to a public place, set up our stuff, then give 30 minute classes to whatever kids are there
Upon being asked to do this, I thought it was going to be super weird, but there were a bunch of kids and we had a good time. It’s amazing how trusting children are and how quickly you go from saying hello, to tickling them and lifting them over your head.
The smog is no joke
On a somewhat related note, Chinese people smoke like chimneys. I’d go even as far to say they smoke more than Europeans. Maybe it’s the same smoker to non-smoker ratio as anywhere else, but because there are so many people, it feels like a lot.
Oh, and finding Westernized toilets in public places is rare. Don’t worry, I’ll get a picture on here soon enough.
