Tag Archives: china
Music Festivals in China (中国音乐节) Posted by sasha on Aug 11, 2010
Back home in 美国, one of my favorite things to do every summer is going to a music festival (音乐节 – yīn yuè jié) with a group of friends. In fact, between 2003 and 2009, I attended over 30 such events, from Camp Bisco in upstate New York, to Langerado in southern Florida, to Bonnaroo…
House Hunting (找住房） Posted by Stephen on Jul 12, 2010
No matter where you are, whether you are in your hometown (家乡 jiā xiāng) or halfway around the globe, house hunting or 找住房 (zhǎozhùfáng) is a stressful endeavor. In China, the difficulty of finding a place to live as a 老外 is amplified by language barriers, Chinese laws, shady dealings and lack of information. Even if…
Cheers: Drinking Culture in China (干杯) Posted by Stephen on Jun 25, 2010
I once found myself amidst an extravagant Chinese wedding in northwest Beijing, as one of only three guest 老外s in a sea of Chinese family members and friends. Upon entering the banquet hall, and much to my confusion, we were seated at the central table with the parents of the newly weds. Within seconds of…
Importing the World Cup Posted by Stephen on Jun 14, 2010
While there is no doubt that basketball is the most popular sport in China, football/soccer 足球, zú qiú (literally foot + ball) is a distant second, especially among younger audiences. While played less frequently than basketball among amateurs, football is a massive spectator sport in China. Like basketball, football is a basic sport requiring only…
Honda Strikes and Social Discourse Posted by Stephen on Jun 13, 2010
The Honda automobile corporations, 本田 (Běn tián)，has made the headlines in Asian news as a rash of protests 抗议(kàng yì) have threatened to halt production in the mainland. The protesters, which have organized, and are bordering on unionizing, are fighting for an increase in basic wages, living stipends and more bargaining power against the majority…
NBA in China (美国篮球联赛) Posted by Stephen on Jun 7, 2010
Move over pingpong and say so long to soccer because China has turned into a nation obsessed with the sport of basketball. Flip through the CCTV channels and you’re almost sure to find a replay or live match of the NBA finals with Chinese announcers calling the game. Walk outside to various parks and sports…
The Earthquake Posted by Transparent Language on May 13, 2008
Letter Home, May 12, 6:44pm Just wanted to let you know all is well here in Beijing. Of course, why wouldn’t it be? Well, I was sitting here this afternoon on my couch on the 18th floor when I started to feel like maybe I was a little drunk. Or dizzy. Or dreaming. You see…