China Expat Life

Crisis In Suzhou: Update

Alright folks, just a quick update. After bouncing back and forth between work and the hospital a number of times today, here are some things: Maggie's in a better bed, if not better company. They've moved her from the "temporary" bed set up in an already full room to a much cooler (as in I …

November 11, 2006
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My Baobei Is Broken

Today, quite possibly, was the longest day I've ever had to endure in my life. Ok, there were probably a few heavily-hangovered, full-days-of-work back in my younger-years that compete on an endurance level, but on an emotional level – this one wins hands down. I've often complained about my fears of the Chinese medical system …

November 10, 2006
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Rant In Peace TTC

Well, it's happened. TalkTalkChina's reign as the #1 stop for China Expats to go and bitch has come to an end. It's been a good ride, but all good things, as they say. For a year and a half TTC has provided the English language China blogsphere with loads of poignant posts that led to …

November 9, 2006
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A Bit About The Weather

One of the big reasons that, after a year and a half there, I moved south from Dalian was I feared battling through another northeastern winter. But, but, I'm Canadian… there's three things we Canucks all know: hockey, winter and how to make love in a canoe. Well folks, sorry to break the stereotype, but …

November 6, 2006
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We All Look The Same To Them

Considering "How To Spot A Jap" is my second most popular post with 1056 views as of this writing (snuggly between "Who Wants The Display Model" and "Chairman Mee-ow!"), it should come as no surprise to me that the whole nationality-blurring aspect goes both ways. I always thought it was an insult to Asian people …

November 1, 2006
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Happy Halloween

Well, not much in the way of Halloween here in China, but that doesn't mean I can't get in the spirit. I'm considering buying one of the pumpkin-esque squashes at my local market and seeing if I couldn't put the knife to it creatively… they're a bit small, and I've no idea that their insides …

October 31, 2006
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Salmonella Is Not A Sushi Complement

Right, bit of an apology for being MIA this week. Between work, running to the bathroom and praying someone would just put an end to it all with something blunt and heavy… writing has not been high on the priority list. That stuff about flu and stomach flu got washed away when I realized that …

October 22, 2006
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Zero to Sicky in 2.5 Hours

I was at work yesterday in a morning long meeting when I noticed I was abnormally tired. I hadn’t had a poor night’s sleep, and was feeling pretty good when I was heading to work, so I was at a loss for what was wrong. By the time I got home around 2 p.m. I …

October 18, 2006
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Debt Free

You know that feeling you get after you finish paying off a decade-old collection of debt and you enter the club of People Who Don’t Own Anyone Anything? I have that feeling. Today. Alright, so I’m not much for metaphors, but damnit – I’m elated. I just went to my online banking account and submitted …

October 15, 2006
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Someone Thinks I’m Funny

Hey, I was trolling around the blogs of a few fellow China bloggers the other day, catching up on stuff that I’ve let slide since coming back to China in August. I stumbled upon some surprising news… I was nominated for a Best China Blog: Humor award. Now, I get the sense – mostly from …

October 4, 2006
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Bring Me Chocolate, Call Me Son

I’m not sure if future mother-in-laws go to a special day-camp for training on how to impress their future son-in-laws, but I wouldn’t be surprised. Maggie mom just arrived from Dalian on a 23+ hour train ride. Rather than bring things she may need to make her stay more comfortable, she instead brought me chocolate …

October 2, 2006
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Cheques My Ass Can’t Cash

I can’t win. I really can’t. I finally get my first pay cheque in like three months and decide I want to take the missus out to celebrate her recently landing of a yoga instructor job. I’ve been dying to check out this Spanish restaurant, El Meson de Carmen, that is not too far away …

September 30, 2006
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