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.
Skinny jeans
This is what shopping for pants in China looks like. Asking for a "regular" fit is like asking for a size 14 shoe in America
Logo Evolution
Had my logo redesigned, again. 3rd times the charm! I'm happy with how it turned out and many thanks to the freelancers over at Upwork.com for putting up with my abstract remarks about what I wanted.
Blog Update
So I spent the good part of 6 hours yesterday tinkering with my site, trying to 'update' it and just make it, essentially, look better. I've changed the map colors, added a home page, and a resume page. With my student visa expiring in July, I need all the help I can get trying to find a job. So please, share your insights, comments, or suggestions for the site and I'll continually work to improve it. If there's anything you'd like to see added, removed, or find an issue with usability, please let me know! Thanks to everyone who reads this and shares in my adventures here in Beijing.
Firespinning - Koh Tao
This should have been posted a few months ago, but you know, life. So here is a collection of videos that were taken of these Thai guys on a beach in Koh Tao. They did it every night and were always enthusiastic and friendly. If you ever get a chance, I highly recommend it.
一直播
Livestreaming from the gym by yourself is a lot more difficult than it looks. Trying to speak Chinese, get the right camera angle, come up with useful content, and attempting to lift, all while sweating and dealing with the crowds of a gym at 6pm. It was fun, but challenging
Livestreaming for foreigners was actually banned a few weeks ago. Some popular foreigner accounts had a gay guy and some religious people talking about those topics which China deemed "no bueno" for the public. So now, in order to not say "foreigners banned from live streaming", on all platforms, a Chinese ID card is required to register. Clever move CCP. However, I'm able to do the actually streaming from someone else's account. Let's keep this our little secret.
Tsinghua Clubs & Orgs
Since I'm graduating in a few months, I didn't sign up for any clubs, but did get to interview people since I'm a writer for Tsinghua's WeChat account. It's interesting to see what people from around the world are interested in. French girl into Buddhism, Dutch guy signed up for debate, and a Danish dude joined the mountaineering club. Tsinghua is a pretty diverse place if you take the time to explore it a bit.
