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avant-garde_chauvintist wandering through the garden of ideals

China

There are [966] photos and [159] stories about China


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Saturday

Saturday, 3 May 2008 | Views [518]

I spent the day recovering. Even though I didn't get much sleep, I "woke up" slightly hung over from the festivities of Hagen's last night. I put on a movie and slept nearly all day. Around dinner time, the phone calls started coming.... Read more >


Holidaze

Thursday, 1 May 2008 | Views [525]

New day. New holiday. The Chinese flags are back up outside every building in China. And the nationalism continues to seeth during this national holiday. Yesterday, I was walking across the obscure footbridge near my apartment to catch the bus.... Read more >


France

Tuesday, 29 Apr 2008 | Views [593]

China officially (it has the Olympic rings on it and everything) hate France.   I'm not quite sure why the hate is just restricted to the country that serves amazing wine and cheese. Today, the assignment in class went something like this: "... Read more >


Gallery: Summer Palace

Monday, 28 Apr 2008 | Photo Gallery

Yiheyuan with Case and Hagen
See all 7 photos >>
 


Yihe Yuan

Monday, 28 Apr 2008 | Views [427]

Summer Palace. Today. Another tourist attraction. Another relatively small area of space crammed with photograph seeking tourists. Almost more white people than Chinese. It was kind of a disappointment. Overcast and polluted, the vista was not ... Read more >


I have a ghost

Friday, 25 Apr 2008 | Views [431]

I'm sure he or she is Chinese speaking leaving little room for me to investigate why they are roaming an alternate reality between the living and dead.   I'm sure he or she is from the 15th century or something equally as untouchable. I'm sure he ... Read more >


Wikipedia

Thursday, 24 Apr 2008 | Views [607]

is not blocked! Apparently, a major influx of English speakers and the absolute absurity of blocking the entire site finally hit the Commies.  Because I can now search for nationalism or chickens or Eugene Delacroix freely.  Of courese, only the ... Read more >

Tags: culture


Chaos theory

Wednesday, 23 Apr 2008 | Views [638]

My classes are generally a random conglomeration of my students' reactions to things I say or do. I plan, but things often don't go exactly as I plan. And any teacher will tell you that there is a LOT of improvisation that goes on in a classroom.... Read more >

Tags: work


Trying not to laugh out loud

Tuesday, 22 Apr 2008 | Views [649]

Midterms basically suck for me. I'm stuck in a classroom having mini-conversations with nearly 40 students for an hour and a half. They get to leave after two minutes, but I'm there the entire time trying to deal with the bull shit they're trying ... Read more >

Tags: work


Three fourths done

Monday, 21 Apr 2008 | Views [574]

I'm giving my second round of midterms this week. Most of my students...wildly impressive. But there, of course, are a few outliers. One student didn't understand the question so he just talked about what was on his mind. I don't take off for ... Read more >

Tags: work


Threatened

Sunday, 20 Apr 2008 | Views [677]

Today was a beautiful day. The rain never stopped. All the streets had the rainbow sheen of the separation of oil and water. The vines lining my windows dripped continuously. I made hamburgers for lunch and dinner. I drank cups of coffee. I planned ... Read more >

Tags: olympics, weather


Exercise

Thursday, 17 Apr 2008 | Views [492]

I completely loathe the idea of exercise.  I rather enjoy my time with art, culture, books, movies, or friends.  Exercise...I often find it a complete waste of time. While living in Beijing, my excuse doesn't have to be my utter dislike of physical ... Read more >


In the air

Wednesday, 16 Apr 2008 | Views [655]

It's official. Spring is here. And it's floating on the air along with some weird pollen/dandelion things. There are vines that run along the outside of my window. When I first moved in they were covered in green leaves, framing the view of the ... Read more >


What is American food?

Monday, 14 Apr 2008 | Views [526] | Comments [1]

Very few people in the United States grew up eating like I did. Firstly, I lived in Louisiana, so Cajun food was a staple. Secondly, my dad's is from New York, so Italian food, pizza, and Chinese food were never to be missed. Thirdly, my dad's side ... Read more >


Mesmerizing memorizing

Friday, 11 Apr 2008 | Views [497] | Comments [1]

It's a difference in culture. It's a difference in teaching methods. It's a difference in learning styles. And it's no surprise. In school, I was actually discouraged from memorizing. Learning, as opposed to cramming, it was said, is a better ... Read more >


Smokin'

Thursday, 10 Apr 2008 | Views [585]

Chinese men smoke.  From the age of about 15, Chinese men smoke.  It's like a rite of passage.  Learning to ride a bike, getting braces, smoking. There's nothing abnormal about it in China, especially in the countryside.  Women, who rarely smoke, ... Read more >


Flip flops

Wednesday, 9 Apr 2008 | Views [404]

It's nearly time to pack away those winter clothes.  Today was so pleasant that I actually wore flip flops -- the first time since about October that such a delight has graced my feet.   It's no longer too cold to put my clothes in the drying room.  ... Read more >


Don't they have machines for that?

Tuesday, 8 Apr 2008 | Views [579]

Since arriving in China, it's become far too obvious that most of the work done by most of the people is just so they can have a job. There are A LOT of people in this country. A lot of people that need rice to eat. A lot of people that need money ... Read more >


Gallery: Just some stuff around China

Monday, 7 Apr 2008 | Photo Gallery

random photos from the East
See all 21 photos >>
 


Fa piao

Monday, 7 Apr 2008 | Views [777] | Comments [2]

With the fear that my four year old camera has been gracing the shelf of some antique market, I broke down and got a new one. My old camera was perfect for what it was, but it was starting to get on my nerves that the batteries died almost instantly, ... Read more >


Cheng De

Sunday, 6 Apr 2008 | Views [656]

The Tomb Sweeping Festival is the traditional time for Chinese people to visit the graves of their ancestors, clean them, plant new flowers, lament over their losses, and have a big dinner. Like most traditional things in China, this isn't really ... Read more >


Gallery: Tomb Sweeping Festival

Friday, 4 Apr 2008 | Photo Gallery

Cheng De, He Bei
See all 59 photos >>
 


I tried really hard

Thursday, 3 Apr 2008 | Views [457]

I did.  I wanted it to happen.  But the fates were against me today. No matter what I did, I couldn't get out of class early.  I just kept talking and explaining.  I just kept asking questions and getting blanks stares and occasional laughs.  I just ... Read more >


This is China

Wednesday, 2 Apr 2008 | Views [566] | Comments [1]

That's kind of the mantra of expats living in this country. When something seems ridiculous or doesn't go as you expect it, the only reason that ever crosses anyone's mind is "This is China." Friends have actually shortened it to T.I.C.... Read more >

Tags: culture


Plotting

Monday, 31 Mar 2008 | Views [490]

I found out today that I have Friday off (one of the national holidays)! So I'm plotting, not planning a voyage out of the city. Where to go? What to see? Maybe a warmer climate? Maybe new delicacies to delight my palate? Maybe a coastal area ... Read more >

Tags: planning


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