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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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Mario is not hot-headed

Thursday, 14 Feb 2008 | Views [539] | Comments [1]

Mario is opinionated. Mario is smart. Mario gets a kick out of arguing. But he is not hot-headed. After traveling with him for about a month and learning a lot about him in the last five that we've been living together in Beijing, I realized these ... Read more >

Tags: On the Road


Fighting the landlord

Saturday, 9 Feb 2008 | Views [1134]

One of the nights we spent with You, we were debating about watching a movie or doing something with the potential of being equally unfulfilling when we discovered we had cards. There is a phenomenon in China of playing cards in the streets and leaving ... Read more >

Tags: On the Road


Spicey food and pandas

Thursday, 7 Feb 2008 | Views [725] | Comments [1]

A little more planning went into the visit to Chengdu. We were aware of the relatively large size of this city. Mario sniffed out the best couch surfer to stay with for the new year. All I wanted for the Chinese New Year was to be in China. My ... Read more >

Tags: On the Road


Welcome to Heilongjiang -- the cool province and a ski paradise

Saturday, 2 Feb 2008 | Views [962]

My trip around the China paradises began in the Russian winter. Harbin, renowned for its Ice Festival and ridiculous climate, is closer to Russia than Beijing. Closer to Russia than almost any other place in China. Basically close to the freezing ... Read more >

Tags: On the Road


Chairman Mao

Thursday, 31 Jan 2008 | Views [1065] | Comments [2]

My sister has called him the "pickled historical figure". Some people worship him. Others liken him to Hitler and Stalin. And still others wait in line to see his corpse. In the middle of Tian'anmen Square there is a shrine to Mao Zedong.... Read more >

Tags: Culture


Pop, bang, boom

Wednesday, 30 Jan 2008 | Views [579] | Comments [2]

I don't think there is any way to express the way in which Chinese people appreciate fireworks. Rarely a night goes by during which I cannot hear the wonderful pop, BANG, B-O-O-M!!! of the gunpower covered in colorful...stuff outside my window. ... Read more >

Tags: Culture


Locked and loaded?

Wednesday, 30 Jan 2008 | Views [637]

I've been preparing, in a very leisurely fashion, for my trip all week long. I packed a long time ago. I've since repacked, adjusted, and packed again. I have my eight shirts and five pairs of pants picked out for Harbin. I have my warm, but less ... Read more >

Tags: Packing & gadgets


Vitamins

Monday, 28 Jan 2008 | Views [860] | Comments [2]

The first article I ever wrote for publication was about vitamins. It appeared in a special section of The Daily Reveille when I was a junior in college. The gist of the article was that most vitamins are worthless because of their composition. ... Read more >

Tags: Misadventures


Outside a huge department store...

Sunday, 27 Jan 2008 | Views [649]

...I had another conversation about the failings of Communism. I sat in the freezing cold weather anticipating Mario and Ilan's arrival and reading Wild Swans (a book that has been banned in China because it tells the story of a grandmother, mother, ... Read more >

Tags: Friends


Has anyone heard of Confucius?

Friday, 25 Jan 2008 | Views [609]

No seriously. Confucius? Anyone? He was pretty bad ass. I mean, we've all heard of him. We all know he was pretty cool. But I don't really think many people look past that. But he was amazing! I vistied the Confucius Temple in Beijing recently.... Read more >

Tags: Sightseeing


Gallery: Snow, Kari, Lauren, Confucius

Friday, 25 Jan 2008 | Photo Gallery

More adventures in BJ
See all 26 photos >>
 


Evaluation of Frank Sun and F & S Education

Thursday, 24 Jan 2008 | Views [3807] | Comments [7]

To whom it may concern: I would like to express formally my feelings toward F & S Education, the China Internship Program, and Frank Sun. Firstly, I want to state that my overall experience in China has been wonderful ... Read more >

Tags: Work


Driver's Ed: Beijing Style

Thursday, 24 Jan 2008 | Views [678]

We have this stereotype...in America...about Asian drivers.  It's that they're BAD at it.  I don't know if stereotypes are ever justified.  But this one, it seems, has been bred into them from their roots in the Motherland. Quite of few of my students ... Read more >

Tags: Culture


Gallery: Datong

Wednesday, 23 Jan 2008 | Photo Gallery

about 500,000 people. all of whom were enthralled by us. famous? you bet!
See all 20 photos >>
 


Beer and skittles

Monday, 21 Jan 2008 | Views [712]

Six hours out of Beijing, more enveloped by pollution, varying abilities of English (the sign outside a local bar had a huge sign screaming "BEER AND SKITTLES"; we laughed uncontrollably), and a whole new cultural experience. I've been ... Read more >

Tags: On the Road


Tis the season...

Wednesday, 16 Jan 2008 | Views [756] | Comments [3]

for breaking up. I ran into Kevin in the subway today. I'll unabashedly admit that he is my favorite student. I started excitedly chatting, "Hi! How are you?" He mumbled and bumbled his way through a conversation. Weirdly answering ... Read more >

Tags: Friends


DVDs, coffee, passports and nail clippings

Tuesday, 15 Jan 2008 | Views [575]

Life in China is evolving into something like Christmas break. I spend all my time watching movies (I've bought 70 DVDs; I counted), drinking coffee, worrying about when I will get my passport back and cleaning the Beijing funk from beneath my nails.... Read more >

Tags: Relaxation


Yarn and needles

Friday, 11 Jan 2008 | Views [747]

Yet another Christmas passed with all my gifts being scarves that I crocheted myself. I decided to make four scarves for four special friends. The scarves are all identical (same stitch, same length, same fringe) except for the colors. With the ... Read more >

Tags: Shopping


Remanded and redacted

Thursday, 10 Jan 2008 | Views [1549] | Comments [2]

Yesterday I was all grim because I didn't get a report card this semester. Today, my cheeks are sore from smiling about my role as a teacher. This, as it turns out, must be what it's all about. An email from a student whose English name is Wundt:... Read more >

Tags: Work


Gallery: The Visit :)

Wednesday, 9 Jan 2008 | Photo Gallery

When Lauren and Big Gretch came
See all 181 photos >>
 


ok ok ok

Wednesday, 9 Jan 2008 | Views [1566]

Ok. I know I've been a slacker as far as this bit of literary enjoyment is concerned. But if you'll indulge, I'll explain. Lauren and Big Gretch visited and that time was consumed with classes, rearranging classes, and many many touristy things.... Read more >

Tags: Family


San Witkowski

Wednesday, 26 Dec 2007 | Views [1466] | Comments [1]

In less than a 24-hours, there will be three (3, tres, san, THREE) Witkowskis wandering around the Asian continent.   Looking past the gigantic need to wash dishes, finish buying/wrappying gifts, and wash clothes, I could not be more excited about the ... Read more >

Tags: Adventures


Another day completed

Tuesday, 18 Dec 2007 | Views [702] | Comments [1]

There was another young Chinese girl crying today, and this one was my fault. I gave back the presentation grades.  She's an excellent student, but she didn't do that well on the presentation.  She screwed up the group work portion and lost lots of ... Read more >

Tags: Work


Snow daze

Wednesday, 12 Dec 2007 | Views [530]

I woke up Monday morning to snow. I was late to class, sore from climbing a mountain, and slipping all over the place in ice and snow. I wasn't even wearing a scarf because I was so late... My hair was wet with snowflakes by the time I made it to ... Read more >

Tags: Snow


I've never been this high in my life!

Monday, 10 Dec 2007 | Views [637]

No, I haven't acquired an addition to opium -- although, every street vendor in China has opium pipes. This past weekend I climbed to the highest point I have ever encountered outside of an airplane! Case, Mario, and I decided that an escape from ... Read more >

Tags: The Great Outdoors


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