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.


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Dinner

Tomato and beef noodles with fried dough  

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Boxfish

Got my friend a job at Boxfish and he's been writing scripts and "directing" the commercials

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Guac

Been on a bit of an avocado binge lately. Complimented the charcuterie plate nicely

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Sky

Finally cloudy and not smoggy. Not excited for winter when all the central heating (run on coal) kicks on  

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Boxfish

Had my buddy direct some more ads for Boxfish. Went about as well as one would expect it to  

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Bao it up!

It was all fun and games until the actually "bao" ing of the jiaozi started. Incredibly challenging to get it just right  

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Risk

Friendships were broken  

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Squats

Found a new gym that has a squat rack. Long time old friend. I also couldn't handle the fact that Tsinghua gym is closed 4-5 hours a day for a workout class. Unacceptable. So I decided to look elsewhere and found a new 24 hour gym; although I could do without the purple and yellow color scheme. Can't win 'em all. 

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Huairou

Got a free trip to Huairou (a suburb outside Beijing) plus some cash to teach Chinese kids how to play outside games. We ran through all the classics. Duck duck goose, red light green light, red rover, Simon says - good times. 

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B.F.D

My Chinese roommate couldn't understand why I wanted to cook breakfast for dinner.  

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Guess who?

Buddy got his hands on some "Mao" glasses. Everyone who tried them on looked creepy

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Burritos

Made burritos the other night with guac and pico de gallo. Finding avocados that weren't hard as a rock proved challenging  

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