We get this question periodically and I thought it might be fun to share just a few (Top 10) items that have been on my mind the last few weeks. It’s been just over 6 months since my last blog posting, so it seems about time to post an entry. Language learning has been my primary focus for the past several months (in addition to soaking up culture) so things have…
Read MoreLanguage “Study” vs. Language “Learning”
Is there a difference between language “study” and language “learning”? That’s the question I’ve been asking myself more and more over the past few months. Unfortunately, we have not had easy access to good objective measures of language learning, making it difficult to assess our learning progress (i.e., “where” are we on this journey of learning?). As a result, I’ve become very interested in the standardized Chinese fluency exam called…
Read MoreAncient Chinese Secret – Part 3
Third in a short series of posts on visiting my traditional Chinese doctor and his medicine shop!
Read MoreAncient Chinese Secret – Part 2
Chinese medicine requires much more personal interaction than modern medicines. It’s not simply a matter of taking a pill after a meal, or just before bedtime. First, there is a strong visual and aromatic interaction with the medicine! Then, there is the whole cooking process which involves waiting 30 minutes after each meal then adding water and boiling/simmering the concoction for 30 minutes before drinking. This process must be repeated (consistently)…
Read MoreAncient Chinese Secret
No, I haven’t gone “native”…but this experience puts me one step closer! I’ve been experiencing a very strange nerve-related pain in my leg for the past several months. Basically, it’s like a burning, numb sensation along the outer surface of my lower left leg. Oddly enough, very strong electrical pulses can be triggered in this same location by simply touching the inside surface of the left leg, just below the knee. While…
Read MoreMighty Ducks!
No, I’m not referring to Oregon’s football team or Anaheim’s hockey team! I’m talking about real ducks! I recently traveled to Tengchong, the last real Chinese city before reaching Myanmar on the Old Burma Road. Tengchong’s ancient town is less commercial than Dali or Lijiang and it’s a great place to visit. To get a feel for how simple and quiet this ancient town is, check out the video (above) of…
Read MoreSpring has Sprung!
Wow, the beauty of spring in Dali is just spectacular! These photos were all taken within the last week and they speak for themselves…enjoy! BTW, all of these photos are untouched (raw files “as shot”, with no enhancements)…except one. Can you guess which photo is enhanced?! There is a poll at the end of this blog – be sure to vote on which photo you think is enhanced! Remember, there is only…
Read MoreWinter – South of the “Border”
Where do you typically set your thermostat in the winter? Having just survived our first winter in Yunnan Province, we now have a much greater appreciation for the luxury of simply having a thermostat to set! Turns out that China can be grouped into the “North” and “South” in several respects. One way of grouping China is related to whether central heat is available for buildings. There are differing opinions re: whether…
Read MoreHigh Maintenance Horticulture
Have you “wrapped” your Ficus today? Ficus trees are very popular here. Not just as indoor plants, but also as outdoor trees along boulevards and in parks. It’s interesting for me to see the effort and attention to detail that goes into caring for these trees. As these photos illustrate, these trees are wrapped in an elaborate and carefully applied organic fabric at the beginning of the “winter” season here.…
Read MoreBy the Numbers:
How far is it to your nearest Starbucks? What do you typically pay for your favorite drink at Starbucks? Here’s a breakdown on my Starbucks stats: The Journey: 15 minutes – Walk from apartment to bus 15 minutes – Wait for bus 30-40 minutes – Bus ride to train station 60 minutes – Wait for train 5 hours – Train ride from Dali (Xiaguan) to Kunming There is an 8-9…
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