In Sanya – Final Thoughts

Alright, I could pretend like the week and a half since we returned from Sanya was used to properly reflect on the vacation before I post final thoughts about China’s only tropical destination. But that would be a lie. Every time I go on vacation I think to myself, “Hey, why the hell am I …

Hi, I’m China and I like to blow shit up

As a foreigner, it’s impossible to live in China for any length of time and not develop some sort of Chinese New Year strategy. Most, the rich and clever ones at least, leave the country. Getting the frack out well before the world’s largest human migration takes place and starts blowing shit up is ideal, …

Happy Niu Year To All

Well, once again it is Chinese New Year’s Eve (this’ll be my forth – and I’ve still yet to find a good pair of earplugs). We should be celebrating tonight with some newcommers to China, and that’s always fun. Maggie’s got pots a bubblin’, cooking up some good dongbei food and we’ll be heading downtown …

Mac’in it up with a fruity new computer

I’ve officially joined the club. You know, that pretentious group that hangs out in cafes with their white Apple-logo lit, doing little other than subliminally pointing to the branding and winking. Those that are quick to tell you how amazing a Mac is, and how super better it compares to a PC, while barely having …

Addie’s First Birthday

Alright, I never wanted to become one of those people that have a dog and they go on and on about their dog like it was their child. I never did. But I also never expected that such a connection could be formed between myself and a dog. I’ve had lots of pets, including a …

So far away

It’s rare that I feel much in the way of homesickness. The ties that pulled at me when I first left Canada slowly loosened and then let go at some indeterminate moment of my expatdome. But today, today they drew tight and pulled hard. I love you grandma, and I’ll never forget the infinite ways …

China Two Point Oh Yeah!

As anyone following me on Twitter no doubt knows, I hit up the Shanghai leg of the China 2.0 tour this past Thursday and Friday. I’m a bit behind in posting about it, as it took me a few days to process the massive amount of brain-feed I crammed into those 48 hours. Though I’m …

Love will keep us together

Today marks Maggie’s and my 18 month anniversary. I didn’t think it was a thing to be celebrated – Maggie set me straight. Though it’s a lot more just a quirk that my wife like’s to celebrate things, I found it interesting that 18 (yāobā) is considered lucky by Chinese superstitious mumbo jumbo. In addition …

#080808 – Everybody Ba Ba Ba

So the day is upon us. 08/08/08 is here – the Olympics have arrived. And in good Web meme fashion, the China Twitterati have come up with the #080808 campaign. I first read about it from David Feng over at CNReviews after having seen everyone on my Twitter list 080808’ing their avatars. It was started …

Canada Day BBQ in Suzhou

Ok, I’m a couple days late in posting it – but Happy Canada Day! This year’s Canada Day marked the fourth I’ve been in China for, but the first I’ve celebrated – and what’s better, we did it properly with a BBQ and beer! I had tossed around the idea of doing a Canada Day …