rainiersales Mar 30, 2015 Comments(2)
I took the bus a while ago to go to the office, I always take the bus to the office. There were lots of people and it was raining, but I got a seat at the back because I get on it near where the bus starts so at that time there were not much people yet. I got a seat near the aisle 2 rows at the back near the door. In the middle of the trip near ... Read More>>
saren1 Jan 09, 2015 Comments(2)
Why more and more people learn Chinese? (written by Saren) The increasing importance of Mandarin Chinese is closely connected with China becoming an economic superpower in the world. Additionally, China has a huge population, and many of those people go abroad taking with them language and culture. According to the latest statistics China is the ... Read More>>
easyrider Jun 24, 2013 Comments(2)
I know some of you are probably much better at this teaching ordeal than I am, though I can safely say that I enjoy my job a hell of a lot and would just like to take the time to share a few fun teaching games that I love to use in my classes. They’re more focused on young learners, and lean towards TPR (total physical response), so ... Read More>>
Angela.Color Jun 05, 2013 Comments(2)
All online and software-based Chinese language program makers claim that their products are best. The fact is, however, that none of them are necessarily the best. Certain programs work better for certain people. And different programs are better suited for accomplishing different learning goals. To get the best program for you, you need to be ... Read More>>
darkstar1 May 20, 2013 Comments(2)
As an on and off teacher in China for several years, I’ve met a fair share of different students, been treated and scammed equally by different schools, and have of course come across a varied selection of teachers; with some leaving me inspired and some leaving me grateful that I haven’t (yet) gone down the path of a ... Read More>>
DaqingDevil May 17, 2013 Comments(2)
Last Monday I took two of my fellow teachers, 2 sisters from Georgia, USA, and my Chinese assistant to a nice restaurant for lunch. And the name of the restaurant? Australia!! Ever since I moved to Longfeng I have been intrigued by the name seeing as I come from 0Z. The first time I saw it I popped in and asked to see the menu. The place is ... Read More>>
Hylith May 12, 2013 Comments(2)
If you are an expat in China, then we probably share a lot in common. Perhaps like you, I first came to China because I was tired with life back home in Canada. Things were predictable, systematic and at most times... boring. I wanted something new, and seven years ago... teaching English in China seemed like the best decision to change my life. ... Read More>>
darkstar1 Apr 11, 2013 Comments(2)
China can very easily get you down. Read the news, cross the road, open your window, look outside, teach a bunch a spoilt brats, and we can all feel the pressure at times and the screaming in our conscious which says “what the hell are you still doing here!” And up until recently, my daily frustrations in Beijing made me wonder what ... Read More>>
ruby311 Apr 08, 2013 Comments(2)
yummy! Read More>>
darkstar1 Apr 02, 2013 Comments(2)
I must say that in general, China has a pretty generous amount of public holidays. In my mind, we’ve only just come out of Chinese New Year and are already about to enter another one with the morbidly named Tomb Sweeping Festival. After that, it’s the May Day Festival, then the Dragon Boat Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival and the ... Read More>>
darkstar1 Feb 27, 2013 Comments(2)
Whenever some lays mention to C-pop, Mando-pop, or even J-pop and K-pop for that matter, images of sickly sweet bubblegum vocals and soppy ballads immediately spring to mind. We need only to look at the stars famous here: Wang Leehom, Jay Chow, Li Yuchun…they’re all different masks singing the same voice. That’s not to say ... Read More>>
easyrider Feb 25, 2013 Comments(2)
Granted, it’s more than easy to dismiss the quality and taste of Chinese beer given that most of us are used to sharp-tasting, thick and thirst quenching European brews, but given the fact that China’s summers are relentlessly hot and that sometimes that stereotype about Asian men not being able to hold their drink comes into play, I think the... Read More>>
darkstar1 Feb 18, 2013 Comments(2)
On a flight back to Beijing from visiting a friend in Guangzhou, I really wasn’t looking forward to returning to the world of smog.Guangzhou was warm, greener, and to me, a lot cleaner than the rest of the country. Of course, you can always say that the grass is greener, and perhaps after being in Beijing for such a long time it has taught me ... Read More>>
darkstar1 Feb 01, 2013 Comments(2)
We’ve all heard of the many food scares in China. MSG,gutter oil, rat meat disguised as beef, beef disguised as rat meat and so on. I had a heads up from all my friends and family about all these food safety issues, concerns which were reinforced upon my arrival here by Chinese friends and colleagues.Although I was desperate to delve into the ... Read More>>
darkstar1 Jan 21, 2013 Comments(2)
I consider myself a very calm, collected guy. Well, most of the time. I’m actually pretty proud that out of many of my expat friends, I’m the one who complains the least about the apparent frustrations that China can present us. I thought I had it covered; the crowds, the pollution, the spitting, I had mentally trained myself not to get riled ... Read More>>
darkstar1 Jan 09, 2013 Comments(2)
Unforeseeable Frolics in the Gym Well it’s winter, and yes it’s damn well freezing. I’ve even heard reports that this is China’s coldest winter for a long time…as a Californian this makes no difference to me as it’s all cold in my eyes. Anyway,despite the fact of China being cold for a reasonably long time, it only recently came to my ... Read More>>
dutchmariupol May 11, 2017 Comments(1)
1. Save money. You can't do anything without some cash first. But you don't need to save forever. A few grand can last a very long time if you budget, and will at least get you started. 2. Give away or sell most of what you own. If you have things you cannot part with, rent a storage unit. They're much cheaper out in small towns than in big ... Read More>>
jasonc87 May 25, 2016 Comments(1)
Although in this very competitive country - China, people do everything it takes to break through in business, I am very strongly against malpractices like bribery, dishonesty, discrimination, etc. 1. It is wrong to think that an English teacher MUST be a native English speaker. (Being a native speaker of a language doesn't qualify one enough to ... Read More>>
jasonc87 May 13, 2016 Comments(1)
Job Scams in China: Visa scamRecently I was approached for a job in Beijing. I won’t say who it was from because quite frankly it isn’t worth my time to get into details. At first it looked like a good position. A good salary for Beijing, job description matches everything I want to get experience in and so far no bad English which is usually a... Read More>>
thabet_sava Feb 19, 2016 Comments(1)
As the Year of the Goat came to an end along with the arrival of the Year of the Monkey, I sat down to contemplate about the highlights of the passing year and my hopes and aspirations for the new one. One of the highlights of the year of the goat was my discovery of the mesmerizing beauty of Guilin. After residing in China for more than 12 ... Read More>>
JulieChow151202 Dec 12, 2015 Comments(1)
Gerda, a two-month-old Ziroomer, came afar from the Northern European country Estonia to Shenzhen. As a huge fan of Chinese culture, when asked to describe China's newly rising city Shenzhen, she chooses the word CONTRAST. Gerda grew up in Estonia, once studied in Denmark and Norway and now live in China. If she is to determine where to live in ... Read More>>
passionmaker Nov 26, 2015 Comments(1)
Almost midnight in Beijing, no even December but there is snow everywhere. Just came back from outside. My house is very warm, even so I feel it is colder inside me than outside.People coming, people leaving. Just me here still waiting for you. I have a big window in my home, I can see half o Beijing through it. But I cannot see you.I know you ... Read More>>
miss_smith Aug 24, 2015 Comments(1)
I've heard so many stereotypes about Russians, that I have to explain some things to you.1. VodkaWe are not alcoholics. I've been to China and trust me, they drink MUCH MORE. The difference is that we KNOW HOW to drink and most of other nations don't. That's why we can drink more and don't fall asleep or vomit. 2. Russian girls.Yes, we are ... Read More>>
wandering_dao Aug 06, 2015 Comments(1)
Visit the fashionable neighbourhoods of New York, London or Paris and you are sure to see the obvious hotspots… a quirky coffee shop, a farmers market, a spinning club. But the last few years have seen a new health trend emerge in cities all over the world. Meditation is hip, and there are studios popping up everywhere, offering respite from ... Read More>>
thabet_sava Jun 20, 2015 Comments(1)
As my 65th birthday approaches, I have begun to contemplate my life after retirement. The following questions were persistently imposed upon my train of thought.Is 65 the end of the road for my teaching career? Am I ready to stop teaching, bearing in mind the fact that it is the passion of my life? Did I share all my knowledge and wisdom with my ... Read More>>