Last week Tang Hui finally had her day in court in her lawsuit against government officials who imprisoned her and sent her to a labor camp without trial. The court, unsurprisingly, did not find in her favor. On Tuesday, Tang filed an appeal. Hopefully, the more she appeals and the higher up the court system Read More
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How to Help Those in Need in China
I was raised doing charity work. From bible ministry, to reading to the blind, collecting toys for tots, doing walks for lupus and MS, charity has always been an important part of my life. Doing charity work is something I really miss doing living in China. While there are some volunteer organizations in China, there Read More
Stay Healthy in the Face of Avian Flu
While there is no reason to panic (yet), it is important to at least be aware that there is a new strain of bird flu spreading through the country. While it’s not exactly time to lock ourselves in our apartments and break out the face masks, there are practical steps you can take to protect Read More
Tang Hui's Day in Court Nears
I’m posting this update because I love giving Tang Hui all the press I can. Back in January, Tang filed a petition against officials in Yangzhuo, Hunan for abuses she suffered at their hands when she protested for justice for her under-aged daughter. Next Friday, Tang will get her day in court. Here’s hoping that Tang gets Read More
It Doesn't Get Much Uglier Than This
On Saturday afternoon, drivers in Shanghai got quite an eye-full from 6 Danish tourists who were peeing on the side of a road. I know that when you gotta go, you gotta go, but they apparently even grabbed the driver’s steering wheel, forcing the driver to stop in the middle of a busy road instead Read More
China's Dead Pig Epidemic Hits Changsha
Over the last two weeks, a lot of our friends were sent to Shanghai. It’s been really tough, but we took solace in the fact that at least we weren’t sent to the place that has over 16,000 dead pigs being pulled from the waterways. Just in case you don’t know what I’m talking about, Read More
Hunan Forest Botanical Garden and Sakura Blooms
The Hunan Forest Botanical Garden is one of the few tourist attractions here in the ‘sha. I’ve lived here a while, but had never been because 1) it’s kind of way out there, 2) kind of expensive, and 3) kind of boring to anyone who doesn’t love plants. But this week the cherry blossoms (sakura trees) are Read More
Happy International Woman's Day
Today is Woman’s Day (March 8th). Actually, International Woman’s Day. But until I moved to China, I had never heard of it. Apparently the day is usually only celebrated in countries with socialist or communist backgrounds. As a bit of an aside, though, in China, it is a bit of a joke that Woman’s Day is on Read More
Easy Dumpling Recipe
I know I’ve been a bit quiet over here lately, but I’ve actually been really busy on a new project. I have talked for years about making a cookbook for expats. I had to basically re-learn how to cook when I moved to China and I know many other expats have gone through the same Read More
Unbound Feet
On Monday, I was privileged enough to visit a kindly old woman who lives across the street from Zoe’s grandmother in rural Hunan. This is her story. I was born in 1924. I don’t remember how old I was when my mother first bound my feet, all I remember was the pain. My mother would force me Read More