Good books about China

I haven’t read a lot of books about China, but these are the three China books I really, really like – and highly recommend to anyone who wants to understand more about China: River Town, Dreaming In Chinese, and China Road.

China’s migrants and the hukou system

The modern hukou system started in 1958 to register citizens and control migration between rural and urban areas. The government has started changes to these restrictions, but many Beijingers are prejudiced against rural citizens.

Conversing with House Plants

Imagine you are at a party at someone’s house when suddenly a house plant starts talking to you. Perhaps you would ignore it, ask if the person next to you heard it, or try talking back while laughing at the situation. I am that house plant.

Spring Awakening

Spring is more than new life – it is hope. Knowing that new life waits under bare surfaces is the hope that sustains through Winter. Life is the same. The knowledge that things will not always be this way keeps us going through hard times.

The Chinese staff I worked with in Langfang taught me a lot about Good China Days :)

7 ways to cultivate more Good China Days

A large part of cultivating Good China Days is changing assumptions and expectations. Here are a bunch of things that help me adjust my attitude toward China – and create space for days that make me love this country, and its people.

Bad China Days and Good China Days

Bad China Days happen when people do not live up to my expectations for them; Good China Days happen when people surpass my expectations for them. Good China Days have the ability to change me, and change how I experience China.

There's a great little post about these "alternative" forms of transport at My Beijing Expat Life.

Transport and Technology

I was surprised by how many people were intently staring at hand held touch screens of personal electronics. 75% of the people in our full subway car were looking at a screen – most playing games or watching TV dramas.

Chinaversary reflections: heroes of my first year

The heroes of my first year helped me not only survive, but thrive as I started my time in Beijing. So many names. So many faces. So many nationalities! So many stories. I would not have survived that first year without them.

My class at BLCU on my 22nd birthday – June 1st, 2004

My 10 year Chinaversary

Ten years ago today I arrived in Beijing. I was 21 and it was my first time living alone so it was a BIG move. I didn’t realise how big until after I’d done it and had no idea how to do anything. I had no idea what would happen next.

Red and White – decorations and snow during Spring Festival

Decorations are one of my favourite “Spring Festival” customs. You can’t walk around China at this time of year without seeing them everywhere – at homes and shops, in the subway, even on cars or trucks. It’s very fun and festive!

Empty streets of Chunjie

It can be a little hard to get things done during the Chinese new year holiday week. Many people leave town, and many businesses close. A normally full bike lane had a grand total of three bikes. It looked strange, almost eerie.

Legislating Fireworks

Think about it this way. The government bans your favourite holiday tradition. 13 years later you have children who have never experienced it, so you pour a lot of cash into preparing. Now, mutliply that scenario by about 5 million.