I've only been in China for two months now and I've seen so much. Between actually working as a 10-year-old teacher and exploring Shekou, I have managed to see as many as seven other very different Chinese cities. I've hardly had time to scratch down my experiences as words. But I've wanted to do this blog for a while, so here it is.
Pea and corn flavored popsicles! I've never been one to mix healthy food with dessert but who is? I first encountered this oddity during my trip to the beach about a month back. My Ukrainian friend, Natalie, purchased the pea-flavored treat and we all tried some. What can I say, it tasted like peas.
I have since seen these popsicles all over the country. It seems quite popular. I know people keep corn and peas in their freezers, maybe one day they decided they weren't going to wait for the vegetables to thaw and then they thought they were on to something.
That's all I've got for now, but there is more coming as I just spent a weekend in glorious Hong Kong.
When I joined thirty of my fellow teachers for a three-day beach vacation, I didn’t quite know what to expect. In Wisconsin our beaches are all on lakes and in Kazakhstan… well, let’s just say it is, literally, the furthest geographical location from any ocean. So when I stepped off the bus and found a long sandy coastline with giant waves and blue water, I was a little culture-shocked. Did I really live near the ocean? The real ocean? I guess so.
The sun was out, the tide was out, and there were giant islands and monoliths jutting out of the water. My first inclination was to explore, so without any supplies (or sunblock) I ran off with my wife, my friend Matt, and an art teacher named Brittan.
We were hiking towards an inlet -or is it an outlet- at any rate my friend Matt had the need to climb a giant cliff face at the end of the beach. He figured it was about a ten-minute hike, but I could already tell that the part of his brain that estimates distance wasn’t functioning properly. To me it looked like a half-day hike.
Eventually the beach turned from sand to rock and we stopped at a little store for some beer. I also bought some sandals because I had been hiking barefoot and I somehow knew that I was in for some crazy adventure.After we threw a few back and set out, one of the store workers (who we later named Gollum) followed along.
When hiking with my friend Matt I am often reminded of a ADD teenage boy who sets out for something big without planning ahead. Though the other three of us had at least brought a shirt and a pocket full of money, Matt had left behind even these essentials. He did bring a Frisbee, but since he didn’t want to carry it he kept pawning it off on the rest of us.
When we reached the rock we had been hiking towards, Matt again showed his caution-to-the-wind attitude. “You guys climb the stairs. I’m climbing the rock face”
I was getting thirsty and my neck was starting to burn, so I wasn’t in the mood to argue. Cathy and I pushed ahead, while Matt and Brittan took the long-way-round.
At the top of the cliff Cathy and I found some stairs leading up to an observatory. I figured we came all this way, why not a few more steps. Cathy followed because she thought that there might be water and a magical doorway home at the top of the mountain.
For-hundred or so stairs later Cathy was feeling really dehydrated. I asked her if she wanted to turn around, but she insisted that we push on. “There will be water and a fast trail home at the top”, said she. The advice of a dehydrated woman going into panic mode, I thought.
We reached the observatory and found a lone guard inside. Cathy immediately, and without shame, banged on the door and begged for “Schway, Schway” (Water, Water). The guard came back with a nice cold bottle of water, free-of-charge, and pointed us to a magical road that would take us back to the beach. I hate being wrong, but sometimes its a good thing.
Before we got to the road, Matt and Brittan caught up with us. Our quasi-guide (slash stalker), Gollum had pointed them up the staircase so that they would not lose us. We all drank some more of the magical water that Cathy had conjured for us and then walked down the “Deus Ex Machina” path that so brilliantly saved our butts.
That night, under the harvest moon, it was all barbeques and fireworks. We sat on the beach and conversed with the locals. They wanted to hear American songs and all I could think of was “American Pie”. They reciprocated with some Rick Astlley song that had somehow made it big in China- but they thought the lyrics were “Take me to your house” instead of “Take me to your heart”.
As the night grew longer and we grew more intoxicated, I thought back to my time in Kazakhstan. I had only been in China for a week now, and already had more positive experiences with the locals than my entire two years in Kazakhstan. People in China are very friendly and approachable. They aren’t around you because they want something from you, they just want to talk, laugh, and get you to sing Rick Astley with them.
There’s something about beaches that put people on an equal playing level. Whether you are a teacher or you make LED light blubs or you are the Prince of Wales, on the beach you are just a schmo with a Hawaiian shirt and swim trunks. Maybe that’s why Kazakhs are so unrelateable- they have no beaches, just fancy sports cars and high-heeled shoes.
As the fire shrinks into coals and the Chinese begin to retreat to their tents, I gaze at the Autumn moon. I’ve gazed at that moon from many places, but never from China. I realize that there is probably no better place to be right now than under this moon on this beach. Here’s to you China- “Take me to your House”.
Hello all. After a long summer of traveling, partying, and getting married, I have landed safely in China (and have been living two crazy weeks). There are so many experiences that I have not yet been able to capture on camera or in words, but please know that Cathy and I are very joy-filled and satisfied with our new lives.
In the next few months I have a lot to blog about as I explore this strange world called China- but when contemplating where to begin I can think of nothing better than Mooncakes.
I first discovered mooncakes when one of my little Chinese students brought a plastic-wrapped pastry to my desk and said "For you, teacher," she said.
I took the pastry, cautiously, and asked "What is it?"
She smiled and said, "Mooncake".
Often when I encounter new foods in China I pick up my chopsticks and dig-in without asking too many questions, but this Mooncake looked to me like a pandora's box - anything could be inside. I carefully took a nibble and was surprised to find that I did not despise it. It tasted, if nothing else, a little bit like Pecan Pie. Now don't get me wrong, i'd rather eat a pecan pie any day, but this little Mooncake wasn't too bad.
I took a bigger bite and ventured in further. There were seeds and nuts and some cubes of geletin-like substance. It was almost good! I kept chomping when I happened upon a small surprise: a round orange thing about the size of an egg-yolk. I didn't quite know what to do with this globular-treasure. I know that Chinese love to mix up textures as you partake (bubble tea is one example of this), but I wasn't sure about this orange ball stuck in my pecan-pie.
I scraped the orange thing with my teeth. Salty- an interesting flavor to find in a pie. I decided not to finish the ball and ate around it. I proceeded to find first one, then two more of the orange-mysteries and ate around them as well. When I took my last bite, all I had left were three salty spheres (later research would reveal these to be salted duck eggs)
Later, when my student saw me she asked if I had enjoyed the mooncake. I rubbed my tummy and smiled (although I wasn't quite sure if I enjoyed the experience or not). Never-the-less eight new mooncakes had arrived on my desk by the next morning. "For you," she explained.
And now I am a mooncake connoisseur. Those of you Angry-Bird players may have even spent time searching for them in the new Angry-Bird-Seasons update: "Mooncake Festival". Indeed, Mooncakes are the traditional gift given away during the Mid-Autumn festival for lunar-worship coming up next weekend- though, connoisseurs should be warned, the average mooncake packs in 800 - 1200 calories and are not friendly to those looking to drop a few pounds.
Once upon a time in China there was a race. The Jade Emperor called the twelve animals of the kingdom to him. He had wanted to assign each of the animals a position in the Chinese Zodiac and had decided that the order in which they arrived to meet him would determine their order on the calendar.
The most difficult leg of the journey was the river. The Ox being strong and mighty was able to ford the water and thought he would surely win- but the Rat, the most clever animal, managed to stowaway on his back and jump to the other side just before the Ox was able to win.
The nimble Rabbit was able to cross the river by jumping from stone to stone and when he was about to fall in –bless his luck- he was able to grab hold of a floating log. The Rabbit managed to reach the emperor fourth, right behind the strong Tiger.
The winged-Dragon came in 5th because he was busy helping all the creatures of the Earth (Which pleased the emperor). The Horse was about to take 6th place but a sneaky little Snake had been hiding in his hoof. The Horse was scared and the Snake took 6th instead.
The Goat, Monkey and Rooster were next to arrive. They had worked together and crossed the river on a raft. The Dog arrived 11th because it was too busy playing and the Pig last because it was too busy eating and sleeping.
And so, for the last five-thousand years, the twelve-year cycle has repeated: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.
While most of the world considers January 1st the beginning of the New Year, it is celebrated in China in late January or early February. For a teacher, however, I am on a different calendar all together- that of the school year and my year is about to come to a close.
This year, my second year of teaching, was a big one. I proposed to my girlfriend, I received a transfer to a new country, I travelled to ten different countries and in a few months I will be legally married in the great province of Ontario.
In August my new year will start. I will have brand new friends. A brand new job. I will be far away from Kazakhstan (and Wisconsin) living in a place where it hasn’t snowed since wooly mammoths roamed the earth. Yet, I have no fears for the future. I have friends where I go and a brand new wife to travel with me and- even more- I am a Rat and I always win the race.
You are winding your way up a mountainous road in the California dessert. Suddenly one of the cars swerves off of the shoulder. You stop. Other cars stop. You and several strangers run down the hill and see if the driver is still alive. He is, but badly injured. Blood and dirt cover his face and he is only able to get a few words out. “Three-Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars,” he says “Buried in Santa Rosita State Park…under a Big W,”
Then, the injured man kicks the bucket (literally) and you wander back to your cars. You all agree to slowly drive down to the Mexican Border to Santa Rosita. You sit back in the driver’s seat. At first, the line of five cars make their way slowly down the pass, but suddenly someone takes off. The race is on.
This is the plot of “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” (1963). The concept is simple, but genius. Several groups of pedestrians are racing through the world, seeking fortune. They must use planes, trains, cars, boats, and whatever other means to find it. They are out in the world, interacting with people who don’t know what they know.
The concept has been copied several times: From the American Films “Million Dollar Mystery” (1987) and “Rat Race” (2001) to Bollywood’s “Dhamaal” (2007). There is the short-lived Fox drama “Drive” and the long-running reality show “Amazing Race”. I even plotted out a version of this story when I was a kid… and again in college I wrote a similar story about my dorm friends.
Of all these versions (including my own), it is the “Amazing Race” who really turns this concept into something epic and exciting. I have to admit that I have only recently discovered the show, but it has quickly turned into my favorite reality television series. The series has run eighteen seasons, has seen seventy-six different countries, and won the first seven Emmys in Outstanding Reality Series.
Eleven teams of two people must race in the world’s biggest scavenger hunt. They must compete in challenges, solve puzzles, eat yucky things and the winners receive one million dollars. The race typically visits twelve countries in a season and has visited China in nine of its eighteen seasons, making China the number one raced-through country, other than the States.
And what’s not to love about China? It’s big and grand and there are so many climates, cultures, and cities that you can choose from. You can explore the Great Wall or wash windows in Shanghai. You can eat fish-eyes in Beijing or dodge Kung-Fu fighters in Hong Kong. Take a dive off the world’s highest sky-jump in Macau or light sky-lanterns in Taipei.
This past year, China even launched its own version of the “The Amazing Race” called “The Amazing Race: China Rush” in which teams of expatriates living in China raced around eleven Chinese cities. The show has been renewed for a second season and upon discovering this I thought, “Hey, I’m an expatriate who will be living in China, why don’t I apply?”
Of course this is just a dream, isn’t it? I mean, I have a job, I can’t stop teaching to race around China. But then I think QSI offers a year sabbatical after six years of teaching, which means I only have four years left. I could race around China or, maybe, even around the world. I could win a million dollars!
Or I could not win a million dollars. There are endless possibilities, really. My life is an amazing race. China might be but a pit-stop in that race, or it may be an extended stay, I don’t know yet. What is it that Doc Brown said? “Your future hasn’t been written yet. No one’s has. Your future is whatever you make it. So make it a good one.”
When trains were invented in the 1800’s, 18mph was an unheard of speed- but steam engines could do it. Americans marveled at the fact that this steel machine could (with the power of boiled water) move faster than a horse.
Even two-hundred years later, trains continue to fascinate us in a way we can’t truly understand. Think of trains in Hollywood films such as: Mission Impossible, Transsiberian, The Darjeeling Limited, Harry Potter, Murder on the Orient Express, Throw Mama Off the Train, The Great Train Robbery, Strangers on a Train- the list goes on.
And what better way to start a story: Someone sits on a train reading a newspaper. It’s like the train itself is a symbol for the plot speeding along and there isn’t anything anyone can do to stop it- the films Unbreakable, Gandhi, and The Tourist spring to mind. There are also those stories where the climax of the story takes place on a train – Broken Arrow, Back to the Future III, and The Wastelands by Stephen King.
In King’s “The Wastelands” the book ends in a cliffhanger where the characters are trapped on a futuristic super-train that can travel faster than the speed of sound (Blaine the train runs mainly on the plains). Now it’s been over twenty years since King’s book was written and, though no train can even come close to making a sonic boom, we have come a long way from 18mph.
China happens to have the world’s fastest passenger trains and, also, the world’s longest high-speed train system. Most high-speed trains in China cruise at about 220mph (twice as fast as high-speed railways in Europe) and the Maglev Line in Shanghai clocks-in at 268mph and that’s one fast train.
*Now, it’s true, that Japan’s JR–Maglev can reach speeds of 361mph, but this is an experimental vehicle that does not yet, carry passengers- so if you want to move faster on land than you ever have before, China is the way to go*
At this point in my classroom one of my student’s would probably say something like “But, Mr. Raabe, trains are outdated. We have planes now. Planes are faster,” – at which point I would respond “Wrong! High-Speed trains are a much better means of travel when you consider: price, security checks, boarding time, layovers, luggage check, inclement weather, space and comfort.
Indeed, studies have concluded that when traveling distances of 150-550 miles, High Speed Trains are the most economical, environmental, comfortable, fastest, and cheapest way to travel and this is especially true for Chinese Trains.
It’s no surprise that China leads the world in transporting passengers per year. It’s also no surprise that for railway usage the United States ranks one of the lowest in transporting passengers (I mean who uses Amtrak). The US takes passengers fewer miles than most European and Asian Nations and it only slightly beats Kazakhstan (a country where I have never actually seen a train).
I can only conclude by these statistics that a majority of the readers of my blog have never, in their lives, been on a train- which is crazy considering this is the same country that is so obsessed with locomotives in literature and film and the song "Locomotion".
The train was invented in Great Britain, glorified in the United States, but now it is China that has perfected the train. You can buy your tickets here: http://www.chinatraintickets.net/
My dad was the kind of father who would go off to faraway places and bring back a suitcase load of presents. Looking back in my mind’s eye, it is amazing how many little toys my normally frugal-father would bring back for his friends and family. I realize now that this image of my father probably inspired me to travel the world.
I remember from Russia he brought back several sets of Matryoshka Dolls and a bunch of old soviet pins. From Vietnam he had silverwear made from shrapnel of crashed US aircraft and a Ho Chi Minh T-shirt. The clearest memory of my father’s gifts however is from China: he brought me a panda thimble, a terra-cotta warrior statue, a piece of the great wall, a set of small Chinese Buddhas and a pair of Baoding balls.
I’m not sure what happened to the Baoding balls but I remember they were luminescent, blue, and had pandas on them. It is obvious to me now that I may not, at the time, realized what the purpose of the balls were, but I do remember the chiming noise they made when they moved.
Baoding balls, like massages, are a form of medicine in China. They are used, not only to improve dexterity and strength, but to assist in recovery from injuries. When the Baoding balls were first invented five centuries ago, they were made of solid iron. Today most are hollow and feature a chime inside which creates a singing sound when the balls move.
Baoding, like juggling, is an art form. The object is to rotate the spheres in your hands as fast as possible without them touching. Experts can rotate the balls at phenomenal speeds and some can even rotate three or four in each hand. Olympic body-builders sometimes use large shot-put balls in this manner in order to develop muscles and improve grip.
I don’t know if this is a skill I have the patience to harness but I think I will be buying a few sets of these because, if nothing else, they look nice and sound nice. Now that I am a world traveler, like my father before me, I enjoy bringing home bags of souvenirs to my friends and family, so if you would like a nice shiny set of Baoding balls respond to this post and I’ll try to bring some back for you.
Check out the following videos and see how many you can juggle:
A long time ago the world was a mysterious place. When you travelled to strange lands you would find strange animals, foods, and people that you never knew could possibly exist. Today, in the age of Wikipedia, we think we know everything there is to know. Why leave your home when the world is at your fingertips?
As a traveler I can tell you that the world is still a mysterious place filled with surprises. The internet is a wonderful thing but even when you spend hours blogging about a country that you have never been to, you’ll never quite get the feel of that place until you are there.
China is full of weird and wonderful things and my blog showcases only a few of them. Today, I bring you some weird and wonderful fruits that you probably can’t get in your local grocery store.
Let’s start with Durian, the king of all fruits. This spiky food is the subject of much debate in many Asian countries and has been banned from many public places in the world. Some people say this fruit tastes like heaven, but most people agree that this fruit smells like the rank-demons of hell. This is a very popular fruit in many, many Asian countries, but the smell (to some) is unbearable and has been compared to rotten onions, vomit, gym socks, skunk spray, sewage and surgical swabs. It can be smelled from yards away and for this reason has been banned from airports and subways.
Next up is Dragonfruit. I think I have seen this in the States but the fruit still fascinates me. Technically known as Pitaya this fruit is very mild and fresh tasting. It is best served chilled. The health benefits of dragon fruit are many and include weight reduction, blood-pressure control, and cancer prevention.
We all love watermelons, but they are big, bulky, and they roll. For merchants this means that they don’t ship efficiently and many break during the shipping process. Solution? Square watermelons! This idea may sound like something out of science fiction, but it is incredibly genius and simple. To grow a square watermelon simply place it in a square container while it grows. You can use this same process to grow a square anything! You can even use other shaped-containers to grow a variety of shaped-things. Square watermelons are common in Japan and can be found in China also.
This little pink fruit is related to the lychee but is a little pinker and a little spikier. The rambutan fruit can be found inside its vibrant shell and looks like a ping-pong ball. This fruit tastes sweet (like perfume) and is used to make chilled desserts or in tropical salads.
These are just a few of the wonderful strange fruits of Asia. We live in a strange and tasty world and new things are out there, waiting to be eaten. So do yourself a favor, go down to your local Walmart and try something new this week.
Who owns Taiwan? This subject has been in debate throughout the history of man. It has been colonized by the Dutch, the Chinese, the Spanish, and the Japanese. Control over Taiwan has changed so many times that the first inhabitants died out over ten-thousand years ago. Even today, people aren’t sure who rules the island.
Taiwan’s government is officially known as the “Republic of China” which differs from the “People’s Republic of China” on the mainland. The People’s Republic of China insists that the “Republic of China” does not exist, which is a bit like if the US claimed that the Canadian government did not exist and that the US owned Canada.
When touring Taiwan you have a couple of options: You can visit the west (the cities) or you can visit the east (the aboriginal communities). I could probably write a couple of boring paragraphs about the cities including Taipei and the second tallest building in the world (indeed my first draft of this blog included these things) but let’s move on to the aboriginals, because it’s more interesting.
Taiwan has nineteen aboriginal tribes (or abo-diginals for you Derek Zoolander fans). These make up about 2% of the population with 98% of the population being Han Chinese. It is thought that the southern tribes migrated from Malaysia and Polynesia. No one knows where the northern tribes came from but guesses include Vietnam, Mongolia, and Japan.
Our first stop on this virtual tour is Sun Moon Lake, home of the Thao. The lake is famous for its striking blue water and mountainous backdrop. Many Chinese couples choose to spend their honeymoon here. Lalu Island, in the middle of the lake, is holy ground for the Thao people. The Thao people offer tours of the lake in special canoes made from hollowing out tree trunks. Being Taiwan’s smallest tribe- the Lalu consists of only five-hundred individuals.
Our next stop is WangXiang Village, home to the Bunun Tribe. The village lies right under Yushan, the Island highest mountain and one of the highest in the world. The tribe use to consist of fierce headhunting warriors, which explains why they have survived so many invading governments. Today the tribe hunts and traps food in the mountains. The Bunun people are also known for their stylish vocal music.
Next we head over to Orchid Island, a small volcanic rock that is home to the Tao (or the Yami). The Island is famed for crystal clear water and stunning coral reefs and rock formations. Here the Tao carve giant wooden canoes and practice spearfishing.
These are just a few of the ancient cultures of Taiwan. They have lived through many ruling governments and are still living in their ancient ways. They are the survivors and no matter what government has control of Taiwan they will continue to survive.
Alright, let’s paint a picture. It’s a bright sunny day and you are on your way home from work with a dozen friends. Your kids are with the nanny, so there is no rush. Your house cleaner is coming on Thursday, so there are no chores to be done. So you stop at a local pub for some food and drink. After you are stuffed it’s still light out so you all decide to head to the wellness clinic for some massages.
Alright, maybe this sounds like a dream, but this is what people do when they live overseas. Things like nannys, drivers, house cleaners, and personal masseuses are realistic and are affordable. Studies have shown that expats living abroad are happier and healthier in their new-found life. Even teachers can partake in these types of luxuries.
My friend Kyle described one night where he and his friends went out drinking after school, then went up for massages, then went back down for drinking, and then went back up for more massages. This may seem extravagant, but think of massages as a sort of preventative medicine- Like flossing or taking your vitamins. Your joints are relaxed; the pressure released; your stress will disappear.
In China massages are not only for the wealthy. They are seen as an important external medicine and are, traditionally, given to babies, elderly, and the sick.
I don’t think I’ve ever had a professional massage before (other than from a chair), but I have to admit I am excited by the idea. Maybe while I’m at it I can get some acupuncture too. Always remember: it’s not too late to drop what you’re doing in life and move with me to China (I have guest rooms)
Pods are in right now. I mean look at the iPod: You have all your music, movies, games, and pictures on one small little device. This is the way of the future, ladies and gents: one small device for all your stuff. Digital is in and actual is out, so who needs space?
Certainly not Dai Haifei, the 24-year-old Chinese architect who built a little pod-shaped house for himself. Dai was sick of high rent prices and was able to solve his problem with a little under a thousand dollars. Now he sleeps on the street corner, tucked in his away in his little pod-home. Not only is the pod low-on-rent but it also is high on efficiency. It runs entirely on solar power and is complete with a water tank and an electric lamp.
Another pod designed for big Asian populations is the capsule hotel. These frugal little rooms start at about five-bucks a night and can be a cost effective way to travel or live in Asia. Though, capsule hotels are found mostly in Japan right now (as Chinese authorities deem them a fire hazard), they are sure to spread around the globe as the world population continues to climb.
But pods aren’t limited to the financially-struggling. They are great for the business world too! Exhausted Hong Kong business persons are also now turning to pods for rest. A Hong Kong work day is long and stressful and the streets are bright and noisy at night. There is no time or place where anybody can get any shut-eye.
The solution? The Sleeping Pod. These are devices custom-designed for employees of big Chinese businesses who need to get a well deserved nap. Shopping Malls are installing them everywhere and busy employees are flocking down like sheep. Inside the pod the sounds of the city vanish and is replaced with some good old fashion Whale-songs.
With a growing world population, humans are going to have to learn to live with less space (and less stuff). Trust me, as an overseas teacher, I can’t afford to have very many things because every time I move somewhere it costs money to ship my stuff. Yet in a world of Kindles, and iPads, and digital-photo-frames people can get by with less material items and still be happy.
If some of you out there are claustrophobic: Get over it! Remember, our ancestors slept in caves and our predecessors will sleep in pods. In the overpopulated world of the future it will be the only way to get some privacy.
The sky grows dark. A whistling sound whips through the air. People shield their eyes and seek cover. This is the eleventh or twelfth time this year that the city of Beijing has been under attack. The capital of China has seen many wars in its history, but never one as harsh as this. The enemy? Sand.
Sandstorms (yes, like the ones in Star Wars and Dune) use to be very uncommon in China, but the deserts of Central Asia are growing and the future looks dim. The Gobi Desert is already the fifth largest desert in the world and each year a Delaware-sized chunk is added onto it. Every second, this desert edges closer and closer to Beijing.
Though some may think this a natural disaster, there isn’t much natural about it. The current desertification of China is attributed to the lack of precipitation which is attributed to the gargantuan amount of pollution that China is spewing out of its factories each year. There is so much pollution in China that ninety-nine percent of its population breathes air that is deemed not-safe by the European Union.
So as China’s skies grow smoggy, less rain falls, and China’s deserts grow bigger. It seems that in a decade’s time China will be as sandy as Tatooine. But wait! There is hope yet! The Chinese are not so quick to surrender. They have a war plan and that plan is called “The Great Green Wall of China”.
Yes, the Chinese are planting trees at alarming rate. The sixty-year tactic to combat the encroaching Gobi, includes an aerial-bombing of the enemy with seeds. A great forest now covers a half-million square kilometer area in northern China. It has quickly grown to be the largest artificial forest in the world!
But the battle is not over. Many of the planted trees have already perished due to disease, winter storms, and lack of water. As fast as trees are being planted, the desert is killing them off again. Many scientists think the tree planting is doing more harm than good. China is criticized for planting quantity, but not quality. Thus, the battle rages on.
So how will the war end? Will China be able to find a way to plant super-lab-grown-Ent-like-trees and save its lands? Will the desert overtake Beijing and turn its people into desert-dwellers? Will giant sandworms come out of the ground and eat all of the spice miners?
Personally, I have no predictions as to the outcome of all this sandblasting. I am going to be safe from the storms in Southern China. But I do have a battle plan of my own. I want to see Beijing, in all its glory, before it turns into the Mos Eisley Space Port (a wretched hive of scum and villainy) And if the deserts take it before I get there? Well that's OK, I've always wanted to live through a sandstorm.
The world is in an economic crisis. People are jobless, in debt, declaring bankruptcy; but that isn’t going to stop them from getting married. So in this economic crisis, why not save a few bucks and get married at McDonalds!
That’s right! It’s McWeddings! What better to way to celebrate the joining of two people than at the world’s largest fast food chain with Ronald and the gang.
Now this may sound a little low-class, but watch as your favorite McDonald’s is transformed into a classy banquet hall. The employees (acne-faced teens by day) are magically changed into waiters in black suits. They serve you a lavish meal of Big Macs and fries. There is a signature book and balloons; food and gifts for fifty guests. There is even a cake made out of stacked apple pies! Trust me, this is a bride’s dream!
Alright, you think this is crazy, but weddings are crazy! In the U.S. most people spend half or all of their yearly salary on one wedding day. In Hong Kong, weddings are an even bigger affair! There is an average of 500 guests and it will cost you 30 to 40 thousand dollars, (which is a lot of money in China). McWedding prices start at just over a thousand-dollars; A very-affordable way to spend the most important day of your life.
I know, I know, the word “tacky” is still in your head. In the States the upper and middle class look down on McDonalds. It’s seen as a low-class joint that you only eat at when you're on a road-trip. This isn’t true in Asia. McDonalds, to them, is a nice sit-down place. It’s way classier than street food or a tea house.
A young Hong-Kong couple that recently couch-surfed at my apartment talked about how their wedding was way too big: over six-hundred people. Most guests were business associates of their parents. They barely knew anyone there!
In China McWeddings are the cool thing to do right now. It’s fun! Not-so-traditional! You can hang out with your friends!
Unfortunately for you Americans, McWeddings is only available in Hong Kong branches right now. Luckily, I’m moving to Hong Kong and a McWedding sounds quite appealing. All I need to do now is convince the bride…
Also known as the hundred-year egg, the thousand year-egg, the millennium egg, or the horse-urine-egg.
When you first look at a century egg your initial question may be: “WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO MY EGG!” That’s fair. It smells like sulfur and looks like something formed in the deepest, darkest pits of Mordor by the Dark Lord himself; But relax! It’s just been preserved.
According to legend, a farmer discovered eggs that a duck had laid in some building-mortar near his house, so he ate them. Maybe not the smartest thing to do, but hey, that’s a farmer for you. Anyway, he liked the taste and then shared the recipe with his friends.
It makes sense if you think about it. Some of the best foods were invented while trying to preserve things: Pickles, Beer, Jelly. Chinese people will eat anything and this is probably one of the tamer things on a Chinese menu.
Unlike the name suggests, century eggs are not preserved for an entire century. The Chinese usually preserve these eggs for weeks or months at a time in a mixture of clay & ash (basically mud) and salt & lime. The finish product looks like a nest from the film “Where the Wild Things Are”.
Next, you stick it on a shelf for a while and wait. Over time, the yolk will turn to dark green and the PH levels will slowly rise. The egg-white turns translucent and looks like the amber stone in Jurassic Park.
Once they are done they may look like sin, but they are apparently taste not-so-bad. The good news is that you don’t even have to cook them! You just plug your nose and down they go! Century Eggs are served at special occasions including weddings. You can also make tofu out of them… that’s fun.
So there you go. I’m putting this on my list of things to eat in China and if its good… expect Century Egg to be the first course at my wedding reception.
One of the greatest benefits of working for the company that I work for is that they have schools in dozens of countries, meaning any time I get bored of where I am living I can just transfer somewhere else. With all the things that are not-so-great about Kazakhstan, it is reassuring to know that you can simply fill out a transfer request and high-tail out of the country if the transfer is granted.
I have been in Kazakhstan for two years only and after two years I am ready to leave, but for my fiancée the road has been a bit longer. Cathy has been working in Almaty for five years and China has been on her radar for a long time.
I sit in front of her now, this girl I met only a year and a half ago. I have been to over a dozen countries with her, on many adventures. It seems odd to talk to her in a formal setting. Our intonations are totally familiar, yet we have never spoke quite like this before.
I have a bunch of loose-leaf paper ready to scribble down notes. She also is scribbling on a little yellow post-it (though what she is writing, I do not know)
Brock: You have been offered a teaching position in China many times before. Could you explain that processand tell us why you are still in Kazakhstan?
Cathy: Every year (after my second year)I considered changing schools. My second year I was just getting comfortable in the country and I was teaching eight-year olds for the first time. I wanted to try teaching the same grade twice in a row.
My third year I was close with a tight-knit group of friends (that fell apart shortly after). I didn’t want to move to a country where I didn’t know anybody.
Then, last year, I was falling in love with an awesome guy named Brock Raabe and I wanted to see how it turned out and it turned out very well. I chose people over cities. Now that I have people coming with me and I know people in China, I choose the cities first.
Choosing people over cities was a concept that was hard for me to understand last year. I had just left everyone I had ever known to move to a country where I knew no one. Then, all the sudden, this girl was making a decision to stay in Kazakhstan for me and I almost started freaking out. The freak-out didn’t last long and before I knew: this this was the girl I would spend the rest of my life with.
Though Cathy was dead-set on the 2010-2011 school year being her last year in Kazakhstan, it almost didn’t work out that way. Our employers have a few rules that can be seen as “Old Fashion” . In October, Cathy and I were in a serious relationship but not yet married. This fall, our employer told us that they would not grant us a transfer together unless we were married- and that if we wanted to transfer, they would purposely transfer us to separate countries.
Cathy was heartbroken. Her choices now included staying in Almaty a sixth year, leaving the school system and applying for a new job, or leaving me (not really an option).With deadlines looming on international job fairs and commitment contracts that needed to be signed for our employer we had little time to decide. Fortunately, I had one last secret weapon that had been hiding in our closet for the past few months: you guessed it, an engagement ring.
I asked my boss if we could transfer to China if we were “engaged” and he told me “Yes, as long as you are married by the end of the summer”. I asked him how long I had to decide and he told me “by Friday”. We were engaged by that Wednesday.
Now that we are engaged China is on the forefront of our minds, but Cathy probably has a better idea of what things will be like there than I do.
Brock: Unlike me, you have actually been to China. Describe your experience there.
Cathy: I found it intriguing to be there- things all around catching your eyes all over the place. The culture was fascinating, so much tradition. The people were friendly and helpful. They were curious about foreigners but open to them. Their sense of artistic style is also beautiful to me.
Brock: What is the biggest difference between China and the western world?
Cathy: I think it’s the expectations of how people should behave. They have more responsibility to their family and societal rules. There is a focus on the individual in the western world and a focus on family in the eastern world.
Though Cathy has been planning to move to China for years, she did not have that kind of mental preparation before moving to Kazakhstan. She was hired only two weeks before she got on a plane and moved to Almaty.
Brock: When you first moved to Kazakhstan what were your expectations and how did they change when you got here?
Cathy: (She laughs) Woefully unprepared. I had done next-to-no research. I thought Almaty was a village. I knew there were mountains and I had heard the name of the country on a documentary.
When I got here it was a real city. When you are in a totally different culture you feel totally adrift and unsettled. When I came back the second year I knew where things were. I came back the third year because I started to feel the community here.
Brock: What are the biggest things you will or won’t miss about Kazakhstan?
Cathy: I will miss friends and the routines we have. We have a pretty well established routine of fun things.
I won’t miss the traffic and driving- and I’m really excited to take a break from winter (though I might miss the change in seasons). I will not miss the dearth of vegetables in the winter.
Brock: What are the things you are most excited about in China?
Cathy: Being able to get almost any food I imagine. It’s all about food to me. Also, being able to walk outside without a jacket. There will be a newness of exploring a new place.
Brock: Any final thoughts?
Cathy: I can’t wait to move to China with you.
The interview is over. She has to get back to class. I put away my notes and sit back down at my desk. There, I find the little pack of post-it notes that she had been scribbling on. This was the message that she left behind:
In King’s “The Wastelands” the book ends in a cliffhanger where the characters are trapped on a futuristic super-train that can travel faster than the speed of sound (Blaine the train runs mainly on the plains). Now it’s been over twenty years since King’s book was written and, though no train can even come close to making a sonic boom, we have come a long way from 18mph.
Indeed, studies have concluded that when traveling distances of 150-550 miles, High Speed Trains are the most economical, environmental, comfortable, fastest, and cheapest way to travel and this is especially true for Chinese Trains.
The Century Egg: 
Unlike the name suggests, century eggs are not preserved for an entire century. The Chinese usually preserve these eggs for weeks or months at a time in a mixture of clay & ash (basically mud) and salt & lime. The finish product looks like a nest from the film “Where the Wild Things Are”.
