August 2009

The Archives

huzhou, musings
The Chopstick Manifesto
08.29.09 | Permalink | 8 Comments
Currently the world, especially the United States, is in a state of anxiety about China. What is China? They own our debt, manufacture our goods, make up one sixth of the world’s population. Will they surpass us? Own us? Will we wake up one morning to a world ruled by the Chinese Communist party?

You [...]
chicken, headaches, huzhou, less food-related, musings
Lysol on the Soles of Her Shoes
08.21.09 | Permalink | 4 Comments
Much as I enjoy living in China, there are things that continue to ‘get to’ me. Like, say, the traffic: the blatant, widespread disregard for red means stop, green means go; the whole idea of ‘right of way,’ ‘yield to pedestrians,’ or, for that matter, ‘yield.’ There is not only a manifest ambivalence for traffic [...]
KFC, Parks, beijing, travel
Bei(jing) of Pigs Invasion, Part IV
08.16.09 | Permalink | 4 Comments
I was trying to think of a clever way to start out this post, maybe by providing an interesting piece of trivia or…I don’t know, something salient to reel you in. In Googling ‘2008 olympics interesting stories’ (I know, aren’t I the pro Googler), I came across this little excerpt from the article 2008 [...]
Gerald, dessert, huzhou, less food-related
The Laowai Menagerie
08.12.09 | Permalink | 2 Comments
[Bei(jing)of Pigs Invasion parts IV and V coming soon to a theater near you]
CURTAIN RISES

SCENE I

Haoshibao gym, late Tuesday afternoon. The workout area is busy—both elliptical machines are in use and only one or two of the treadmills are unoccupied. Loud, obnoxious, generally brain- disintegrating ‘music’ rattles from the confines of the glass-enclosed spinning room, [...]
KFC, beijing, dessert, entrees, restaurants, travel
Bei(jing) of Pigs Invasion, Part III
08.10.09 | Permalink | 2 Comments
The premise of fasting has always baffled and intimidated me. Some people dread getting those ‘Congrats you’re 50!’ colonoscopies because of discomfort—I dread the fast the day before. Celebrity fasts and cleanses? Hunger strikes? I don’t think so. While part of me admires the willpower of people who successfully starve themselves out of religion [...]
Parks, beijing, entrees, fish, mysterious ingredients, restaurants, travel
Bei(jing) of Pigs Invasion, Part II
08.07.09 | Permalink | 3 Comments
“Eat some more bread. Eat some more vegetables. Do you want milk? Eat some more meat.”

Tianqi’s mom took the raisin bread from my hands, pulled the mini-loaf apart with her hands, and stuck pork slices inside. I didn’t even know I wanted a sandwich, but what a brilliant idea.

“Haochi ma?” [Is it good?] she asked [...]
beijing, headaches, less food-related, travel
Bei(jing) Of Pigs Invasion, Part I
08.03.09 | Permalink | 3 Comments
There are few things in life that get me really stressed. Ever since I delivered a graduation speech in front of a few thousand people, public speaking has been no problem. In college I had papers done before they were due—deadlines are no sweat. Oh no, if you want to rattle me, just book me [...]