Archive by Author
Chinese Opposite Words Posted by sasha on Sep 14, 2015
When I teach English to students in China, I always encourage them to learn opposite words together. That way they double their vocabulary and come to associate the words with each other. The same works when you study Chinese, or any language for that matter – it’s good to memorize opposite words to build your…
Calling All Readers! Posted by sasha on Sep 10, 2015
Hello everyone! (大家好 – dà jiā hǎo) The last post here was all about my journey in China and how I’ve decided to leave (for now at least) to study in Indonesia. I already received a few great comments from you, our dedicated readers, and I just wanted to let everyone know that while I…
So Long, and Thanks for All the Rice Posted by sasha on Sep 7, 2015
Way back in the spring of 2008, I was gearing up to graduate from Michigan State and busy juggling classes, a few internships, and an independent study. In the downtime at work, I crafted my resume and scoured job postings online. I attended a handful of job fairs and even volunteered at a few of them…
A Short Trip in Shanghai (Part One) Posted by sasha on Sep 2, 2015
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China, the country’s financial capital, a place where fashion trends are set, and a metropolis with a long, rich history. Here’s an introduction to Shanghai, with sights from the financial center, The Bund, Nanjing Road, Old Shanghai, and more.
The Old Town of Lijiang Posted by sasha on Aug 30, 2015
One of the most popular places to visit in Yunnan province (and China in general) is the old town of Lijiang (丽江 – lì jiāng). Famed for its snowy mountain peaks, vibrant ethnic minority culture, and relaxed pace of life, this Song Dynasty-era town attracts throngs of tourists, both domestic and international. The town was even…
20 Reasons to Visit Yunnan Posted by sasha on Aug 26, 2015
There’s been a lot of talk about Yunnan province here on the blog lately, and for good reason – I recently finished up a year of living, working, and traveling there. I’ve been a lot of great places across China in my half a decade here, but none has captured my imagination and inspired me…
Chinese Color Vocabulary Posted by sasha on Aug 25, 2015
One of the first things you learn when picking up a new language are the colors. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve taught Chinese youngsters all of the colors in English – it’s right up there with the words for the days of the week, fruit, and other essentials. Now, I won’t make our…