It’s uncommon to see a photo from Beijing that isn’t covered in a layer of smog. This cleverly cropped capture from relatively new photographer Alex@China makes me long to wander down 银杏大道, kicking leaves as I went. My imagination is likewise cropped.
Photo: Autumn in Beijing
Paying Taxes
I’m trying to be a good citizen or resident or businesswoman or whatever you want to call me.
I figure I use the things that tax money buys. I use the roads and the street lights at night. I use the parks and the heavily subsidized public transportation.
So I figure it’s only right that I ought to pay taxes.
My tax rate really isn’t all that high.
In fact, my accountant’s monthly fee to file my taxes is more than my taxes are most months. And that’s before the accountant plays around with numbers on forms so that I can be billed less.
Point of fact, however, avoiding paying my taxes is significantly easier than paying my taxes.
Ballad of a Chinese Power Outlet
When last I looked upon her face,
A smile did greet me.
But gazing up towards her eyes,
A sadness I could see.
This hard cover, a keen disguise,
Protects us from her qi.
But with abundant aperture,
She accommodates me.
While Australasia sits down low,
And joins her on her knee
Euros, Yanks and Japs on top; she shows,
Sun’s thoughts on enemy.
The Huntsman Fluency Imbroglio
Are you fluent in Chinese? This is a question that laowai often field from curious friends and relatives back home, the vast majority of whom being unable to judge for themselves. The question also arises when would-be job seekers formulate their resumes- while showing fluency in Chinese will look impressive, what happens when an interviewer [...]
Review: Yes China! An English Teacher’s Love-Hate Relationship with a Foreign Country
So I’m very acquisitive regarding books. I borrow them from friends, and have been lucky to have generous friends who love books just as much as me. I buy suitcase-fuls every time we leave Hainan. Ever since I got my HTC Android phone, I’ve been ecstatic about my ability to just download books anytime I want to. So when Ryan asked me if I wanted to read and review a new book on China for Lost Laowai, I was thrilled. I love books! I love China! Sign me up.
Clark Nielsen, author of “Yes China!
I read the book fairly quickly, but ever since then, I’ve been struggling with what to write in this review.
让我 rap
Courtesy of Study More Chinese:
Travis published in Independent Ink Magazine
Just a quick little note to mention that Lost Laowai contributor Travis Lee recently had his short story, The Journey Through Nanking, published in Independent Ink Magazine
About the short story:
During the Nanking Massacre, a young girl becomes separated from her family. With help from her spirit-guide, she must cross the warzone and overcome her fear to find them.
You can see all of Travis’ contributions on Lost Laowai here. Be sure to check out his 8-part series, The 7-Year Laowai.
Interview with Charles Custer, director of ‘Living With Dead Hearts’
Nearly a year ago I posted about a documentary film being made by ChinaGeek‘s founder (and one-time Lost Laowai contributor), Charlie Custer.
The film, now titled Living With Dead Hearts, explores the issue of kidnapped children in China and how it affects the parents, the children and the whole community. And it needs your help to finish being made.
Earlier this week on his blog Imagethief, Will Moss wrote a poignant and humorous post that couldn’t have summed up better why, as a new father, this issue touches me deeply. So rather than rehash that point here with half the quality of Will’s post, please go read it.
After you’ve done that, please take a moment to watch the following trailer for the film, read my interview below with Charlie and consider giving what you can to help this film be made.
Laowai to the rescue
I’ve shared more than one bone-head foreigner story on here, so it’s a nice change to read a story of the opposite happening.
Thursday afternoon, upon seeing a woman drowning (allegedly an attempted suicide) in Hangzhou’s West Lake, a 30-something American tourist wasted little time jumping into the famous lake and swimming to the rescue.
Prostitutes and Full Immersion Learning
The best thing about learning the language of a country you are living in is full immersion learning. Everyone is a potential teacher, and everything around you is your learning materials.
I really learned this lesson during a recent trip to Beijing. It was a weekend, and all the hostels were sold out so we were stuck staying at a low-end business hotel. You know, a sketchy place with smoke scented rugs; scuffed, cheap wood side tables; and a pile of prostitute cards at the door. Yes, that’s right, prostitute cards.
