Good question! As I mentioned in my previous post, after 2 years in Yunnan Province my wife and I returned from China sooner than we had planned. There are so many ways to approach the question: “What’s Next?” For me, there are 3 key areas that are top-of-mind: Collaboration Innovation Mentoring One of the things I missed most while in China was the opportunity to collaborate with others. Yes, it’s…
Read MoreWhat happened? Why return?
Well, it’s been a while since I’ve written (that’s putting it mildly!). Here’s why: To recap: my wife, Gienah, and I went to Yunnan Province, China in August of 2014 to spend 2 years studying Mandarin language and Chinese culture full-time. That part of the plan went well and our 2 years ended in late June 2016. The next part of the plan was to buy, start or join a…
Read MoreTop 10 Things I will Miss
As you may have noticed from my previous blog posting, we will be returning to the U.S. following our 2 year language and culture studies in China. In fact, our departure date is today! While it would be foolish to believe I can anticipate exactly how reverse culture-shock will impact me, there are several things I “think” will be true. Here’s my best estimate for a Top 10 List of…
Read MoreStuff – How More can be Less
After almost 2 years in China, I’ve observed among several local friends that those with less stuff often appear to enjoy strong relationships with others. Why might that be? It is said “time” is the currency of friendship (or relationships). Perhaps those with more stuff simply have less time. One thing is for sure, many of our friends in this part of China seem to have a lot more time…
Read MoreSan Yue Jie
Each year, our local town, Dali, hosts an event called 三月节 (or “San Yue Jie” which literally means “3rd full moon festival”). Because it is based on the lunar calendar, this festival is usually held in late April or early May. For over 1,000 years, people from across China and neighboring countries like Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Vietnam and Tibet* have made the trek to Dali for this annual event! Today,…
Read MoreSpringtime in Dali!
After a long, cold winter, there really is nothing quite like the explosion of vivid cherry blossoms and the beautiful scenery that unfolds here each spring. Please enjoy these photos – gathered over the last couple of weeks from our University, our neighborhood, and Dali’s Old Town. No explanation required! Copyright © Kevin Beaty, YUNEV and “Feet on the Ground…”, 2016. All rights reserved.
Read MoreWhy “some” Chinese adult children don’t go home for Spring Festival
Perhaps you’ve read that more and more young adults in China are choosing not to go home for the most important holiday of the year: Chinese New Year (also known as Spring Festival). This is the largest annual human migration in world history, and there seems to be more than a negligible cultural shift underway. Just as many newcomers to the U.S. are often unable to be with family…
Read MoreVillage New Year Preparation
Ever wonder what life is like in a remote Chinese village? We had the privilege of visiting a village in the mountains last week. It was just a few days before the Chinese New Year and the day when most families in the village kill a pig in preparation for the new year. Our host (George) is from this village and we were invited (along with several other friends) to…
Read MoreWhat is it like living in China? – Part 2
Remember that line “Life is just a bowl of cherries”? Well, I beg to differ. Living in China has taught me that “Life is really a bowl of Noodles”! This is the second blog in what may become a mini-series that shares a few thoughts re: the question “What is it like living in China?” This time, I thought I’d share a few Things I Really Like and a few Things I Find Different.…
Read MoreWhy Learning Chinese is 3x Harder than English
Think about how long it took you to learn English. Or, think about how long it typically takes an adult to learn English as a second language. Now, triple that amount of time and you’ll have a good idea of how long it takes to learn Chinese…minimum. Why so long?! 1. Vocabulary and Grammar – and all the various rules, exceptions, measure words, and other language usage guidelines require a…
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