14 June, 2012

A Spring Festival Story

In my previous post, I explained, “a student has invited me to celebrate the Chinese New Year (known as Spring Festival) with her and her family. This is an opportunity I’m really excited to have. I really want to experience the holiday first-hand, as Chinese people celebrate, instead of from a voyeuristic perspective as a traveller or tourist.

What follows is what I wrote following Spring Festival. Enjoy!


11 June, 2012

Running Through Xi'an


Also, it should please you
to know that I am treating
myself
.

I did it. I ran a half-marathon. 

I've been reading a lot of "what to do after the marathon" blogs, and many of them talk about developing runner's depression after a race. They recommend that you wait a week before really reflecting on the race and what happened, so that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to wait a week before I try and write about it. 


Sorry if you came here today to read all about it... Stay tuned. In the meantime, enjoy another old post from before my VPN. This (hopefully) fascinating read is about my four-day, three-night trip to beautiful Xi'an over the winter holiday. 




06 June, 2012

Marathon Saga...

I don't like to be negative. I've tried my hardest to leave my negative feelings off of this blog. I worry that one negative sentiment could erode peoples' views of China and my experience, even if the other 99% of my time is as awesome as a chimpanzee wearing two tuxedoes.

However, there are some things that do frustrate me from time to time. Life in China can be stressful.

04 June, 2012

Folkin' Around


Folk music is something I never adequately enjoyed until recently. I am not too proud to admit that the sudden popularity of Mumford and Sons helped. (Actually, it was a dear friend’s insistence that I should listen to them, because they were not just some one-hit radio wonder.)

My budding appreciation for folk music has officially blossomed, and I can thank China and the Peace Corps for that…