When you live abroad, you want to be able to tell people what your adopted home is like…what it's really like. You want to be able to speak with authority and authenticity. You want to make the most of the time you have in your adopted home because you know your time is finite but,… Continue reading The Real China
Tag: Shanghai
People are People
When you live abroad, you are reminded, daily, of how different one place can be from another. Lately however, I've been having the opposite feeling. Places may be different - they smell different and look different - but I'm starting to realize people, are mostly the same.Nolan and I ventured to my least favorite grocery… Continue reading People are People
Beautiful Bali
What is it about vacation that makes you think you could actually throw away your "real life," move to a tropical locale and live like a local? I mean, it's totally impractical and yet…sitting in your beach chair, under an umbrella with the ocean breeze gently tickling your forehead, frozen drink sweating beside you, listening… Continue reading Beautiful Bali
#Expatproblems
All you hipsters out there are familiar with #whitepeopleproblems.* Those who are arguably less hip...essentially, white people problems are non-problems. From Urban Dictionary: a. Events or situations which are deemed overly taxing to only white people.b. non-issues and scenarios which are deemed dire enough by white people to vent about via facebook, twitter, therapy sessions,… Continue reading #Expatproblems
Lessons from Chinese TV
As you also know, we don't speak Mandarin. If you are a regular reader, you also know, we have cable television (when we decide to pay our bills). Why does a family, who doesn't speak Chinese, need cable television while living in China? Well, for a number of reasons. 1. There are 3 English speaking… Continue reading Lessons from Chinese TV
Educating the Youth
Since we arrived in September, I've been searching for things to do with my kids. Now that I have the opportunity to be at home with them full time, I was looking for all of those fun things stay-at-home moms get to do - swim lessons and music class, arts and crafts and story time… Continue reading Educating the Youth
Welcoming the snake with a bang
So I left you, on the edge of your seat, wondering, waiting, wishing I would return to tell you how the Chinese like to celebrate their new year. Well friends, the wait is over. You want to know how they celebrate Chinese New Year in China? Fireworks. Fireworks! FIREWORKS!!! Wow! Sounds fun! Who doesn't love… Continue reading Welcoming the snake with a bang
Happy Chinese New Year
The actual Chinese New Year isn't until February 10, but while we're still a few days away, there is definitely a holiday buzz in the air. It sort of feels like Christmas is coming again. Decorations are up everywhere. Lots of gold and yellow fish and red and gold ball lantern looking things are hanging… Continue reading Happy Chinese New Year
How many Chinese people does it take to change a light bulb? Change a lock? Pay a cable bill?
This is not the first line of a joke. Or maybe the joke is on me. But the answer is four. It takes four Chinese people. Maybe you are asking yourself, "isn't the better question: why can't you just change the light bulb yourself?" To you I say, there are no simple answers even regarding… Continue reading How many Chinese people does it take to change a light bulb? Change a lock? Pay a cable bill?
Shanghai is not loving us back.
I've tried writing this post almost 5 times now. At first, it was just boring. Then I got preachy, then I just got stuck - I think the professionals call it "writer's block." But I think what has really been stifling me here is Shanghai. Literally. The smog is choking our lungs and clogging our… Continue reading Shanghai is not loving us back.
Kathleen Siddell 