Farrago

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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Give the Gift of Love – Give Chicken

Anyone that’s been in China for more than six minutes has been hounded by a plethora of bowl weilding beggars looking for your chinky bits (and no, that’s not a racial slur). Rumours abound about these unfortunate, often elderly or massively under-abled, people. I’ve heard tales that they are pimped out by the local triads, …

September 30, 2006
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I Walk The Online

So I'm back! Just when my Chinese studies were starting to improve, I'm back online! But where my Chinese text may feel a little abandon, you no longer need to. I'm back amongst you and couldn't be happier for it. Buddy from the telecom company showed up yesterday and sorted me out by doing what …

September 13, 2006
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Let’s All Go To The Wang Ba

Right, so I hate netbars. I mean, despite that I’m typing this in air-conditioning while sitting in a nice comfy armchair… the obnoxious pair sitting beside me ignoring netbar etiquette and listing to music without headphones is a pain in the ass. Still, it is neat to take glances at what everyone else is doing. …

September 7, 2006
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Funeral Funnery

It would seem we’ve a lot to learn in the West from Chinese funeral planners. I just stumbled on the following AFP article via The Hao Hao Report (thanks Steve). Those that plan to handle my remains, take note: China cracks down on striptease funerals Thu Aug 24, 10:13 AM ET China may be giving …

August 27, 2006
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Hot As…

This is going to be quick, as I’m in the time-ticking local net bar, and as un-eager as I am to go outside and face the heat of Suzhou, I’ve a meeting with my boss in 15 minutes. So, yeah, we’ve arrived and man is it hot. It’s so hot that chili peppers are drinking …

August 26, 2006
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AIDS: Safety First

“Chinese AIDS Vaccine Safe, Possibly Effective” I caught this headline on CCTV 9 yesterday at Maggie’s parents’ house (FINALLY, after a year and a half in this country, learned how to make dumplings). It’s also gracing the top of a Xinhua article announcing the same thing. I’m not sure what about it just made me …

August 19, 2006
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Da Pubu, Xiao Pubu

I’ve been doing my best this last week to get out and see this place where I live with fresh eyes. It started with me looking at things and going, “What would Maggie think of that?” and now has me giddy in the hopes that next year, as my wife, I’ll be able to bring …

August 11, 2006
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Cheeky 403

With recent world events, I’m getting a bit apprehensive about travel home in four days. Not so much because I think someone might get a bottle of shampoo through security and put it in my eye (man, that stings!). What I’m worried about are those damn security checks and the delays they may bring. I …

August 11, 2006
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Pack It Up, Pack It In

Well, here it is. The one week mark. Only seven days until I head back to China and life as (un)usual. It’s been an experience being back in Canada and has really given me some perspective about life in general. Yeah, yeah, I know. No need to get all metaphysical and crap, but to be …

August 8, 2006
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The Slayer Of The Dog That Bit You

After two weeks of whizzin’ around Southern Ontario (and bits of the US) visiting friends and family, I’ve finally returned to the poolside of my mother’s house. Though I’ve little plans to do much but smother myself in UV rays and chlorinated water for the rest of my time in Canada – I’ve been doing …

August 4, 2006
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