It was a Japan-filled day. I went to the Xidan Muji today to check out their housewares. It was a little pricey for things I wasn’t even looking for, but I thought I’d buy a notebook and fun pen. Still, it wasn’t a total loss of a day. Look what I found on the sixth […]
I read Gawker. It’s kind of my guilty pleasure. Today it reminded me of two Christmas phenomenons that are right up my alley: Christmas as the tie that binds the Jews and the Chinese. Because of this holiday, and only because of this holiday, people are able to identify all these similarities between Jews and […]
Pictures are powerful. Besides having high artistic value, a good photo will say a lot about a particular event, time or place. In other words, it will tell a story. But news photos are always accompanied by cutlines. Why? From the Poynter Institute: Photos tend to communicate in an impressionistic way; they are rarely as […]
This year, I get to celebrate Christmas a whole 13 hours earlier! But all that excitement was negated by the perils of the Beijing work commute. 1) It’s 12 degrees outside, with a very brutal wind blowing, which makes it feel like -7 degrees. 2) I ended up having to wait in this -7-degree wind […]
A Christmas Eve conversation over instant messaging: Daddy (9:44:51 PM) god idea Daddy (9:44:56 PM) good Daddy (9:45:24 PM) god is good also Me (9:45:38 PM) it’s his son’s birthday tomorrow Daddy (9:45:38 PM) either one good Daddy (9:45:55 PM no Daddy (9:46:52 PM) I don’t know when, but sure not is tomorrow Daddy (9:47:06 PM) 12-25 is man made Daddy (9:48:08 PM) Jew […]
Forget white Christmas! The Beijing smog is back after a week and half of clear blue sunny skies. (It may have been longer, but I wouldn’t know because I wasn’t here.) Looks like I’m in for a dirty grey Christmas instead. Cheery!
Edited this graf today: Salmon’s cultural awareness and passion make poignant contrast to the indifference of Hainan residents. To protect local culture in Hainan requires enhancing local people’s recognition of the importance of culture and raising their humane quality. Then the international traveling island of Hainan can be founded successfully. Besides sounding editorial, there was […]
Finally found a decent apartment for a decent price with decent roommates in a decent location. My bedroom is pretty small, my mattress a bit firm (but not plywood), and my window nook/balcony nonexistent, but I am satisfied. And moved in! It feels good to be organized again and not living out of three suitcases. […]
…back home. Here’s some evidence that God hates me: It snowed in North Carolina today, a week after I left. According to my father, they got seven inches, which is more than anything we got in the past few years. I swear, this is a sign that I made the wrong decision.
Baby, it’s cold outside. I’m parading around Beijing in negative temperatures. It hasn’t been above freezing (or anywhere near) in days. The lakes and canals are all frozen. Although, weather.com says it will be getting a little warmer over the next week. Signs of Christmas are scattered throughout the city. I’ve seen stickers on random […]