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.
Soup & Chow Mein which in Chinese is pronounced ‘me-in’. Blew my mind when I first heard it.
Only me and my buddy in the Cow costume have tomorrow off
Day before Halloween + cheers / awkward glances = let’s do this. I’m sure yelling ‘Moo Moo, where you at?’ Across the bar doesn’t help
Ladies & Gentlemen, Mr. Tom Ripley
So no, none of the Chinese teachers nor parents got the costume, but my American coworkers gave me props. Of course, I’m sure the name tag helped
A girl at school told me she was a good artist
I jokingly said, ‘I’ll give you 4 yuan for a picture’. 2 weeks later a fully framed and signed piece of art is on my desk, courtesy of 7 year old Angela
Halloween day 2 at our center
Had students try and make balloon towers using only tape. They didn’t get too far with a ‘tape as fast as possible’ game plan. Also did a 'mummy-wrapping’ race that they thought was hilarious. Round 3 mañana
Fixie Life
I had so many extra parts from changing my original fixed fear (pink&white) that I ended up building a new bike, sans seat. (pink&yellow)
The other bike is my buddies’, who, for 2 beers, gladly put my spare parts together
Halloween at school today
I wore my Muay Thai gear, which was a clear indicator that all my kids should punch me. I have the next 5 days of Halloween at school, which is super cool. Besides organizing new games for them to play everyday, I’ve also gotta figure out new costumes. Leggo China!
Carved pumpkins today at work for Halloween
This was the first time the majority of the Chinese teachers had ever done this. So funny to listen to them giggle as they scooped out the guts
Met Dean Lister last night at a club
Super cool guy, chatted about training, his time in the UFC and China. He wasn’t alone, but besides me and my Australian buddy, I’m pretty sure no one else in the club knew who he was.
Close but not quite...
Student 1: I am happy!
Student 2: I am angry!
Me: What am I?
Student 3: You are Chinese boy!
Didn't see that one coming
On the way to the Russian district I passed the embassies of Finland, Albania, Colombia, Vietnam, and England
Funny how the buildings resembled their countries. Unfortunately, the security guards said no pictures, so here are a couple of other buildings along Embassy Row.
Went to the Silk Market in ‘Yong Anli’ on line 1 today to get some stuff for my Halloween costume
Realized that I got a good deal after haggling with the vendors for 15 minutes and having them get angry while saying 'You are so tough American!“
Also stumbled upon a Russian district around that area which was super cool. Just as I had imagined; bigger than it needs to be, lots of vacant marble buildings, and Russians everywhere.
