Archive for 2009

PICTURES OF CUTE CHINESE KIDS!!!1!

By On December 30, 2009 In China, Latest, Personal With 3 Comments Permanent Link to PICTURES OF CUTE CHINESE KIDS!!!1!Permalink

Did that grab your attention?

Here are some photos of my first graders. Yeah, yeah, they’re cute or whatever. But we all know better — just because a kid is cute doesn’t mean he or she is an angel.

Sidenote: After my first week of teaching these demon children — 16 classes of them to be exact — my contact teacher at Luoling could see I was stressed. So she tried to relieve me. “They are very naughty, but at least they are cute,” she said.

As if that’s any consolation.

Class 8, Section 1. My favorite in this class is Bobby — he's sitting in the front. The collective amount of cuteness in this class outweighs that of all the other 15 classes.

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Boulders, bees and excessive media attention — just some things you can expect as a foreigner running a race in China

By On December 22, 2009 In China, Latest, Sports With 2 Comments Permanent Link to Boulders, bees and excessive media attention — just some things you can expect as a foreigner running a race in ChinaPermalink

The start of the half marathon — a mess. Much like most of the race.

Last month, I saw an advertisement for a 10k in the Shenzhen subway. I’d recently gotten back into running, and I needed the prospect of a competition to motivate me to run longer distances. So, I decided to sign up. Races are especially fun when you do them with friends, so I convinced 13 other people from CTLC to do the race with me.

We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into.

The competition — the “Run for Love” — took place on Sunday, and it was held on, to put it lightly, the worst course I’ve ever run.

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Today’s moment of nowism: a completely new schedule, effective tomorrow

By On November 30, 2009 In China, Personal With 5 Comments Permanent Link to Today’s moment of nowism: a completely new schedule, effective tomorrowPermalink

China is a big fan of nowism. Nothing illustrates this fact more clearly than the news I received this afternoon that my teaching schedule will completely change, starting tomorrow morning.

Yes, as of tomorrow, I will no longer be teaching 15 third and fourth grade classes. Instead, I will teach 16 first grade classes.

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How to celebrate Thanksgiving in China

By On November 29, 2009 In China, Personal With No Comments Permanent Link to How to celebrate Thanksgiving in ChinaPermalink

1. Order a pre-made turkey from Sam’s Club
 2. Make a bunch of food on a hot plate
3. Celebrate!

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感恩节快乐!

By On November 27, 2009 In China, Personal With 3 Comments Permanent Link to 感恩节快乐!Permalink

Pronounced: gǎnēnjié kuài lè! Translation: Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's a hand turkey I drew as a demo for my students!

Here's a hand turkey I drew as a demo for my students!

Today I am thankful for international phone calls from my all my relatives currently in Chicago.

Important things that have happened since Michigan last beat Ohio State

By On November 22, 2009 In Personal, Sports With 2 Comments Permanent Link to Important things that have happened since Michigan last beat Ohio StatePermalink
Michigan pwned for 6 years straight.

This is pretty much what every Michigan/Ohio State game has looked like for the past 6 years.

Ohio State extended its winning streak over Michigan in football yesterday, defeating the Wolverines 21-10. I tried my best to follow the entire game here in China, but at about 3:30 AM — when the Buckeyes got their third touchdown — I had to call it quits.

The last time Michigan defeated Ohio State was on November 22, 2003, when John Navarre was still quarterback (!) and I was just 16 years old. In the 2,192 days that have passed since then, the following newsworthy, sports and personal events have taken place… Continue Reading →

Halloween advertising campaigns still alive and thriving in Shenzhen

By On November 18, 2009 In China, design, Latest With 2 Comments Permanent Link to Halloween advertising campaigns still alive and thriving in ShenzhenPermalink

Back in the States, Christmas ads start popping up the same day Halloween decorations are taken down. I’m sure that would be the same case here in Shenzhen, that is if the decorations from Halloween are ever taken down.

Yes, you read that correctly. As of today, Wednesday, November 18, the Halloween-themed ads for Pepsi Max are still lining the sidewalks of Shenzhen:

Some strange font embellishments on the text of an ad for Pepsi Max.

Some strange font embellishments on the text of an ad for Pepsi Max.

Of course, along with Halloween ad campaigns come strange font embellishments for the copy. You may recall that I spotted a sign last month outside my school that had equally strange holiday font gimmicks.

EDIT: If I’m reading this correctly, the phrase with the Jack-O-Lantern characters should read “做鬼不做胆小鬼.” Roughly translated, that’s “Get into mischief, don’t be a coward.”

VIDEO: Shenzhen Cultural Festival 2009

By On November 14, 2009 In China, Latest, Personal With 2 Comments Permanent Link to VIDEO: Shenzhen Cultural Festival 2009Permalink

On Thursday, November 5, 2009, I had the unique opportunity to see the opening ceremony for the Guangdong Cultural Festival in Shenzhen. The event was held at Window of the World.

I captured some photos and footage from the event, and compiled them together in this short video:

(If Vimeo isn’t working, try the Youtube version)

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Who needs an iPhone when you can have … a Nokia?

By On November 11, 2009 In China, Latest, Personal With No Comments Permanent Link to Who needs an iPhone when you can have … a Nokia?Permalink

Ladies and gentlemen, my alternative to the iPhone I lost a few weeks back: The Nokia RH-105.

Check. It. Out.

Check. It. Out.

I didn’t need to indulge myself, but I mean, with these features:

  • A color(!) LCD display
  • Brick shape
  • Basic keypad texting utility
  • Snake game

who could resist?

I’m pretty sure I had the same phone my freshman year. Of High school.

Excuse me while I go cry now.

Obama’s half-brother lives in the same city as me

By On November 4, 2009 In China, Latest, Personal With 1 Comment Permanent Link to Obama’s half-brother lives in the same city as mePermalink

From the Washington Post: “Mark Okoth Obama Ndesandjo … has lived in the Southern Chinese city of Shenzhen for seven years and has just produced his autobiographical novel, ‘From Nairobi to Shenzhen.’”

Word on the street is Ndesandjo owns a restaurant here. I am determined to find it.

EDIT: Shenzhenparty.com details the book release press conference here. I have also learned that Ndesandjo owns, not one, but a chain of restaurants called Cabin BBQ (木屋烧烤 or mu wu ciao kao) in Shenzhen. He also owns WorldNexus, an Internet consulting company in the city.

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