Do As I Say, Not As I Do: On Learning Chinese/ Teaching English
August 29, 2010

Do As I Say, Not As I Do: On Learning Chinese/ Teaching English

I’ve been told I’m a good teacher. I’ve been teaching English for nearly a decade now and know how to nurture a reluctant super-low beginner out of their speechless shell and into proud conversations in English. I’ve taught study skills using write synonym sheets and …

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On Language Burnout After a few too Many Countries
August 26, 2010

On Language Burnout After a few too Many Countries

It’s a funny thing starting an expat/travel blog sixteen years after you started travelling/living elsewhere and failed to do anything else with your adult life except, well, travel and be an expat. For one, you’re not as freshly enthusiastic as those who are venturing out …

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(101 Things about Shanghai) Work/Learn/Chocolate
August 17, 2010

(101 Things about Shanghai) Work/Learn/Chocolate

  Things have been somewhat unsettled here on the Eastern Front since getting back from Myanmar. Aside from the unnervingly deafening death rattle of the cicadas everywhere above you in the trees, the heat has been hovering in the late 30s with a bazillion percent …

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What I Do
July 3, 2010

What I Do

I haven’t spoken much about my job here. I have another site for that; if you want to subject yourself to much rending of garments and gnashing of teeth you can go there for the finer details. On a much broader level, I thought I’d …

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Decoding the Putonghua Parallel Universe
June 25, 2010

Decoding the Putonghua Parallel Universe

A few months ago I was in the middle of a speaking exam with a very capable university student who was explaining at great length to me the plot of his favourite novel. The plot sounded familiar to me, though I didn’t recognize the name …

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Rose Petals and Orange Peel
April 24, 2010

Rose Petals and Orange Peel

Sometimes a girl just needs a jam jam jar filled with steeping, fragrant blossoms

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