Avocado Lady in Shanghai
December 19, 2012
Recently, I moved into my own flat in Shanghai and had to go grocery shopping. No big deal. Except, I walked into Carrefour, and started to panic somewhat. I was faced with the harsh realization just how western I am. This was the first time I ever had to grocery shop in Asia. I went through my usual staples in my…
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“Why do Americans have guns?”
December 15, 2012
This morning, I woke up and saw the NYT alerts on my phone. “27 Deaths in Connecticut Elementary School Includes 20 Children.” I was immediately horrified and had a heavy heart, but I was in a hurry to get to a tutoring session and didn’t get a chance to read up on the story. I arrived at the girl’s house…
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Lost in Translation: Why You Shouldn’t Trust Google Translate
December 7, 2012
I remember in one of my first French classes in college, the professor made a serious point about not trusting Google Translate when writing our essays. Back then, I remember thinking, but surely, it knows more than I do! Well, here, I have a story that should teach all language learners a very good lesson! I am fortunate to have…
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Don’t ask me to lie China
November 26, 2012
When living in a foreign country, there is a fine line between integrating into a culture, and forgoing one’s integrity. In Cameroon, my rule was to never to pay a bribe, no matter what. After just one month in China, my rule is definitely going to be – never lying to a client, or helping them lie, no matter what.…
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Bookworm in Shanghai
November 23, 2012
I love books. In my childhood in Taiwan, I loved going to bookstores, libraries, etc. and spending hours reading books without paying for them. So far in Shanghai, I’ve been surprised at the lack of bookstores. In Taiwan, they are kind of like Starbucks – all over the place. I suppose the whole culture revolution might have something to do…
Read MoreYet Another Turkey Day Abroad
November 22, 2012
Happy Turkey Day from Shanghai! Somehow, I thought Thanksgiving is NEXT week. As it turns out, the rule is the 4th Thursday in November, and not the last Thursday. When I realize this a few days ago, I discovered I had booked my day solid full of non-America and non-turkey related activities. Thankfully, knowing this is my favorite meal, my…
Read MoreExtreme Efficiency
November 20, 2012
Right before I arrived to Shanghai, I asked a friend who had moved to Beijing just a month before me how things were going. She had just arrived for a few weeks at that point, and she responded, “China in unreal.” Now that I’ve been to Shanghai for a few weeks, I can absolutely concur. China, or at least Shanghai,…
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Getting Lost in Jing’an
November 13, 2012
One of my favorite ways to travel is to walk around aimlessly in a city, alone, without a map, without a destination. But simply being in that place in time and soaking in what the city has to offer. No stress of finding the next monument or restaurant. Just going with the flow. When I get tired, I sit down…
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Proud to be an American
November 12, 2012
Last week, I witnessed Barack Obama’s second victory from a sports bar in Shanghai. Four years ago, I did it from a black and white TV in Cameroon. Obama’s presidency means a lot to me. I didn’t become a US citizen until 2005, and thus 2008 was the first presidential election that I could vote. And I voted, absentee all…
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Beijing: A Chinese Metropolis
November 11, 2012
Last week, I ventured up to Beijing. My sister has told me that Beijing is much less “livable” than Shanghai, and I was thus eager to find out for myself. Five days later, I was very much glad to be back in Shanghai. Beijing is gigantic, and not for the faint-hearted. I never thought I’d find a city “too big”…
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