Last year, I got to teach a cross-cultural communication class for the first time. This has been one of my favorite classes to teach. We had a team of teachers teaching the class for different students, but last semester was the first time the class was compulsory, so...
The last couple of weeks have been the season of activities and competitions! Last week, I had three different activities at my school or other schools. So what are some of the activities that foreign teachers here in China might be expected to or asked to attend as...
Every year in November or December, the university where I teach has a culture festival. International students from all over the world set up booths and sell food that they make to other students and teachers in the university. The fall is usually sunny with blue...
If you know me, you probably know that I hate goodbyes. But I love to see old friends, and this week, I had one of those wonderful opportunities. A friend from Nepal has been living in the UK, and he stopped by my city for a few hours on his way back home. Even though...
A month or two ago, I heard about a Chinese speech competition. Sure, why not, I can join that! I thought to myself. I signed up by adding someone’s WeChat and learned that I had a month or two to prepare and write the speech which I would then film and submit online....
The other day, I was hanging out with some friends that I don’t get to see very often. One friend suggested that we play a game where we all write down a few questions and then we take the questions out and go around and everyone has to answer the questions. Someone...
I didn’t have any plans for this evening, so after I climbed Baiyun mountain and enjoyed some time thinking and praying and looking at green things, I went to the cafeteria for dumplings. I love the dumpling shop here on campus because you don’t have to choose just...
During the Chinese national day, I had a week-long holiday along with most Chinese people, and I decided to go to Japan to visit a friend of mine from college. I spent most of the holiday chatting with my friend and her friends, playing with her adorable kids, and...
Today, one of my students came up to the front of the classroom before class started and just wanted to chat. We ended up talking for almost the entirety of the twenty-minute break between the classes, and I really enjoyed the conversation. Part way into the...
A couple of friends and I were eating at a restaurant near campus. These lunch dates have become regular during the summer, and I’ve really enjoyed talking and laughing with this couple and their son. Today we were at a noodle shop that has a style of hand-pulled...