Many countries have things they are widely recognized for, such as tulips in the Netherlands, the Eiffel Tower in France, and Carnival in Brazil. But there are also cultural intangibles that might not be as obvious but can be equally interesting. By way of greetings, Americans exchange hugs while Europeans prefer to kiss on the […]
Funny Observations
Say What? The Best Chinglish from Two Years in China
One of the simple pleasures I enjoyed during my time in China was coming across delightfully confusing or inappropriate English translations, or Chinglish. Written Chinese can be very poetic and the intricate characters often convey more meaning than a direct English translation will allow. The garbled results and cultural miscues are guaranteed to make you […]
Snapshot: Pajamas as Shanghai Streetwear
As I have previously shared, the Chinese have a penchant for making bold fashion choices. Ladies teeter around in stilettos and bedazzled from top to bottom while men mix plaids and stripes with aplomb. But they are not slaves to fashion either. In Shanghai, people young and old will wear their pajamas anywhere. I’ve seen […]
Snapshot: Shanghai’s Perilous Carts
The sight of carts, bikes and trucks piled to overflowing with precarious cargo loads is relatively common in China, even in modern Shanghai. Capturing footage these gravity-defying feats of packing can be a bit of a challenge as you often don’t see them until they are already passing. Several times I found myself standing open-mouthed […]
Snapshot: Nap Time in Shanghai
As someone who often has trouble sleeping, I’ve always admired people who can nod off with ease. In my daily wanderings around Shanghai, I find folks napping in the most incongruous of circumstances, content to catch some shut-eye wherever and whenever possible. The city’s recyclers will park their carts next to the curb and lie […]