Since I moved to Beijing, my parents have told me countless times to be careful what I write about China. I wouldn’t want to get caught by some kind of authority and be kicked out of the country now, would I? But this has not been a problem, because, as much as I would love [...]
Tag: NaBloPoMo2015
Sarah Silverman’s recommendation to Lenny: Lady Parts Justice
I'm a Lenny subscriber. So I'm treated to intelligent, witty, Feminist writing at the end of every week, when I need it most. Lenny's weekly letter picks me up just as my Friday evening is setting in (I'm 13 hours ahead of NYC). On the way home on the Beijing subway after 7 hours of [...]
Is it natural to avoid conflict?
I was preparing to alight from the gaotie (high speed train) on my way to a friend's wedding one sweltering Friday afternoon this summer when I heard raised voices. At first, I thought nothing of it. People in China shout at the top of their voices all the time, it's just the normal pitch at [...]
What’s in a name? or, Who am I?
Shakespeare told us that: ‘A rose by any other name would smell as sweet’, which is true, to an extent. And yet, and yet... Some people suit their name. There are those people who are utterly, one hundred percent, an ‘Annie’ or a ‘Joe’. Perhaps they were the first person called Annie that you ever [...]
Aung San Suu Kyi wins Burma (Myanmar)’s landmark election with overwhelming majority
I can barely believe this is true!! I had hardly dared hope this would really happen, but Aung San Suu Kyi has won a huge majority in Burma's elections held last Sunday. Election commission says National League for Democracy has won staggering majority in parliament, ending decades of military dominance Announcements of the results have [...]
When was the last time you took a bath with your mother?
In April this year, my wonderful mother came to visit me in Beijing. She hadn’t taken an international trip alone for a few years. Well, she hadn’t left Europe alone for something like 30 years. (Having kids changes things like that, I would think.) So she boarded a plane from Norwich to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to [...]
Tali’s story
Not long ago, I had a particularly memorable class with a young female student I see once a week. I have been going to her house to teach Tali (13) and her younger brother, Uri (9) for over a year now, and we have become quite friendly with each other. She has quickly shed the [...]
Beijing Dance / LDTX premiere Yang Wei’s evocative Earth / Quake
Beijing Dance / LTDX premiered Earth / Quake, a contemporary dance work by well-known traditional Chinese choreographer Yang Wei at the People’s Liberation Army Theater last week to a noticeably mixed and highly enthusiastic crowd of foreigners and locals alike. This is the first time Yang has done a modern dance piece, announced good-humoured Artistic Director [...]
Burma (Myanmar) elections: The day after
At five past three (China time) today, I saw some fantastic news, via the Guardian's breaking news app: Myanmar elections: ruling party concedes defeat to Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD party This was the best news I could possibly imagine. I shared it. But I knew it was too good, or at least too fast, [...]
What if you had never
I wrote this piece today in Hong Kong. I spent the weekend here with the man I love, and I'm a little sad to leave this whirlwind city. So I got to thinking about the night we met and everything that has happened since. I had never envisaged how my life would change, but it [...]
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