You know a mushroom hot pot (mó gu huǒ guō) must be good if your guide first warns you about the possible side effects.
Magic Mushroom Hot Pot
Show Me The Money
It’s the photo that every Chinese tourist takes when they travel to Guilin: their holding a 20 RMB in front of the actual scene Etched on the back of the bill. So why didn’t I take the money shot at Guiling that the rambling tour guide suggested? I couldn’t stop staring at the dead pig floating in the Yi River. […]
Filling a Father’s Shoes
It was a few days after the Oklahoma City bombings. I was behind a two way mirror in Florida eating handfuls of m&ms while listening to women discuss fiber infused yogurt when I got the call from my oldest sister. “Ginger, you better come home.” By the time American Airlines got me booked on a flight to Grand Rapids, my […]
The Rice Pilaf is always Fluffier
Asia life
stalker
Compared to Chicago where i heard gunshots out of my window on a regular basis, China is safe, that is, unless you are attempting to cross a street: the traffic is insane. The school has guards, police are everywhere and the airport has its share of soldiers. But still, I have a stalker. Relax. He’s six and eagerly wants to […]
How to Carve a Peacock
One of the perks of being a DaBiZi (big nosed American) in China is that you get to judge English Speaking Contests. But today? I didn’t even have to judge. I just had to hand out awards. And one more thing: I had to pose for pictures. Yes, English speaking competitions are a big deal. This contest was held in […]
When Spice Isn’t
After living in Kunming China for eight years, I have built up a tolerance for what’s spicy. Not just the far-side foods, either, but the spice of life. The nine-year-old selling liquor in his parent’s store? At least he can see over the counter. Old women recylcers with huge bundles strapped to their backs? Walk faster! Freshly slaughtered carcasses hanging […]
Year of the Entitled Attitude
“So Ginger, do you want to come over for game night? We’re playing Secret Hitler.” I rubbed my eyes. “I think I’ve been playing it all day.” Don’t go off the deep end. My book club friends are also into high strategy board games, the kind that require you to watch a You-Tube Video before rolling the dice. In Secret […]
Sacred Pool of Underpants
I had to get off the train. The duck intestines I had in my Chengdu hot pot a day earlier were finally catching up to mine. While the 114 local from to Chengdu to Kunming was an adventure in itself, I picked a stop by chance just to break up the journey. Emeishan. 峨眉山. Or Mt. Emei. Little did I know […]
Cheng-do!
It was not a good day for the squirts. A twenty hour train ride. In China. I know. I’ll spare the details but that’s what I endured to make it the American Consulate in Chengdu, Sichuan, to reclaim my maiden name. While I have flown over China numerous many times, this is the first time I’ve taken in the […]