From Grits to Chopsticks

We just returned to China after a two-month visit in the USA.  As we drove up and down the east coast to spend time with family and friends, the road was a common sight: We drove 7650 miles, quite a change from zero driving in China.  One of the highlights of our trip was to spend Christmas in the […]

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Here are some more random snapshots of life in China.  Last week, we mentioned that it can get pretty cold in “The Spring City.”  Here we are eating a hotpot dinner in our local village on Sunday night: It’s good to eat from a boiling pot of broth this time of year, especially since it allows […]

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Even though we’ve been in China for over a year and a half, some things still catch our attention or seem a bit unusual.  When we returned from Taiwan last weekend, we enjoyed the wording of this sign next to the escalator at our international airport: While walking by a local business, it was interesting […]

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Last week, we had the wonderful opportunity to spend Thanksgiving in Taiwan.  We’ve had a very busy semester and were thankful for the chance to get away together for a time of rest and refreshment.  This was our first trip to Taiwan, and it was a real treat to enjoy some of the interesting places and wonderful scenery.  We started by going […]

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During this time of year, we stop to give thanks for our many blessings.  Among other things, we are blessed with many wonderful students.  Here is a photo of our Thanksgiving English Corner: We discussed the origins of American Thanksgiving and shared apple, pumpkin, and pecan pies.  This next photo is from a recent movie night: We […]

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When you ask Susan about her favorite food, she will quickly say that it is the humble fried egg, her staple lunch fare for decades.  If she were stranded on a desert island (or in China) and could only have one thing to eat, this would be it: You can select individual eggs in the market or choose […]

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There is no shortage of copycats in China, including copycat stores (like the one that we call “Fakea“).  In case you didn’t get enough copycat products in my last post, here are a few more from recent trips to markets nearby our apartment.  If you go to Wal-Mart, you’ll find a nice display of genuine Tide detergent: […]

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In order to provide the senior-class students with more time to look for a job, our school requires that we double-teach their fall semester classes.  To prepare them for exams, I combined both sections of my International Business Law class last week.  After working with these students for 3 semesters, we’re really grown to love them: A couple […]

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While biking is a recreational activity in the States, it represents a major mode of transportation in China.  There are dozens of bicycle brands available for purchase in our city, ranging from Great to Bester to Best: The strongest brand name is “Giant.”  Although I haven’t taken photos of all the copycats I’ve seen, here are a few.  […]

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Some sharp-eyed people were able to pick Susan out of the crowd in our downtown square.  Her’s your next test – click to expand the photo below and try to find Mark crossing the street with a group of local people:

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