“Don’t do it – or at least don’t expect anything” “There is no dating in Beijing, just casual hook ups” “Getting laid is easy, finding a boyfriend is hard” “Dating is so difficult in Beijing” “You can’t even get a one-night stand here” Those are some comments I got when … read more
Can you trust the Chinese? Before moving to China I talked to a good friend, who was already living and working in China for almost five years. One of the things he said was “you can never trust the Chinese”. That sounds very cynical, my husband and I thought. And … read more
We just had family visiting, and even though we only stayed in Beijing, we were able to give culinary insights to the greater China. From a feast at the Xinjiang provincial restaurant to an elegant dinner at a Yunnan restaurant, from noodle soup at a small place in a mall … read more
Air pollution in Beijing often reaches hazardous levels. Therefore almost everyone coming to Beijing is concerned about the smog and its impact on your health. But a very different and often overlooked danger is also lurking here – to assault the health of your relationship. General challenges for expat marriages … read more
Chabuduo差不多 – Good enough or not quite? Tony, an Italian friend and business owner, asked his Chinese employee to clean up a document, add a vertical line on the left and have all text aligned with that line. When he was handed the document back, the requested line was there, … read more
I was meeting a friend for dinner after work and we agreed to meet at the subway station close to her work in Beijing’s CBD (Central Business District). When I arrived just past 6 pm, I almost had to fight my way out of the subway station. Hordes of people … read more
Confucius was a Chinese teacher, philosopher and politician around 500 BC, whose influence is still felt in China today. You will see it in the respect given to older or higher ranking people. It is also evident in the general attitude towards hierarchy. So you can imagine how it influences … read more
I’m at the supermarket, desperately trying to find bleach. But I have no idea what it is called in Chinese, or if it even is common here. Wandering around the laundry and cleaning supplies sections, I eventually find a store clerk I can ask. Of course, she doesn’t speak English, … read more
As I made progress in learning Mandarin, the common Chinese language, I also learned more about the culture and the different way of thinking. Language is so much more than just words and grammar and phrases. Understanding the Chinese way of thinking (xiǎng fǎ 想法) makes the difference for truly … read more
Are you looking for an apartment in Beijing? Do you want a balcony to sit outside, a dishwasher so you don’t have to do the dishes, an oven to bake, a walk-in closet for your clothes, a washer and dryer for the laundry, …? Well, if you are moving to … read more