Disclaimer: I meant to publish this more than three weeks ago, but thanks to shoddy Internet, it reaches you now.   “Isn’t it a pleasure to study and practice what you have learned? Isn’t it also great when friends visit from distant places? If one remains not annoyed when he is not understood by people around […]

We are in our final week here in Jinan. The weather has turned blustery and the air pollution has reached all time highs. On Sunday I returned from our final group trip to Beijing, which was so incredible. The city is bursting with history, politics, and a distinct international feel to it as well. Today […]

Last week our little group of seven, accompanied by Professor Zhang and our Chinese language instructor/program coordinator travelled to Qingdao. Home to many avid sailors, delicious seafood, and beer lovers, the city of roughly eight million sits on the beautiful coast of the Yellow Sea. Qingdao was occupied by the German Navy for around thirty […]