I am what is called a ‘trailing spouse’! Ex South African, I spent my 30s/40s/50s in London, am spending my 60s in Beijing where I have been living for the past two years
Married, two adult kids, one son-in-law, doting grandmother , keen cook, voracious reader, cruciverbalist, love gardening, cooking, socializing, a dog-owner (my Cairn terrier and Border Terrier are spending quality time in Scotland whilst I am in China), love travelling with my husband, I pour a mean Gin & Tonic. Thats me in a nutshell.
Learning to speak Mandarin whilst I am in Beijing (and improving daily) I am really getting to know this fascinating city.
Quite by coincidence a friend found your blog and passed it on. We are South Africans living in London and prior to my husband’s recent retirement we enjoyed several postings abroad with Shell including the Far East. We are embarking on a trip to China in early October and are much enjoying your useful and amusing writings. Your title ‘Herschelian’ is what caught my eye and I wonder if you were at Herschel in Cape Town? I am an old St. Cyprian’s girl and though I must ask. Please keep writing – it’s such good stuff.
I am back from the business trip. Good to read your blog again. I will find out what topics I can participate to talk about. As I said before, I really like your blog.
Eventually… we are back, had lovely time in Paris, so can sit down write to you more, as I was rushing to Eurostar.
I am so glad that you like my blog, I take it as great encouragement, and thanks for the link.
I have been here for over ten years now, am originally from Northeast of China, Shenyang. I did my MA and PhD in Manchester, then moved to Oxford, since my husband’s job was relocated. He is spanish, so the food and culture at home is ‘mixed’, in additional, we are in England. But all very interesting. I only just started blogging in English recently, never had much confidence in writing so much in English, don’t want to remember the days i was writing up my PhD thesis. I do art, both theory (chinese culture and art, especially women artists’ work) and practice, main oil painting. Now, since the job situation hasn’t been great, I am at home, writing and painting.
It sounds so exciting — i mean your ‘life’ in beijing, oh, I wish to go back, miss that atmosphere. Let me know if there is anything I can help you with.
I also want to say that I am so touched by the posting on your father. I can only imagine how proud you are as a daughter to him and he is as a father. He achieved so much in his life, and he was a very handsome man!
I want to send you my email, dont know if you can see it here, but probably via facebook message then.
Take care, enjoy!
Oh! I am so jealous! I lived in China (Dalian) for 9 months in 2005 and am now back in SA. (Moved from Jhb to CT via China!) I LOVED living in Dalian, and I miss it terribly.
Now that I’ve found your blog, I’m going to carry on reading and making myself “homesick” for my other home.
Hi Jo!
Dan Griffin here. After being very poor at actually getting round to having a proper look at your blog, I’m pleased to say that I’ve finally had a chance to do so. Now that the summer holidays are here and we can’t afford to go anywhere (the digger is rumbled outside in the garden, creating the foundations for our extension as I type), I’m actually enjoying being forced to spend a lot of time sitting about reading books and surfing the ‘net (does anyone say that anymore?! I do!). And I’ve just spend a good hour reading your fantastic website. I’m hooked! The cleaver, the unbelievable fishes-in-bags, the hilarious signs – it’s all fascinating and may I say very well written!I’m not sure this is the best way of emailing you, but when you see this, please could you get back to me with details of your quizz, too, as I have managed to lose them!
Had Alex for lunch on Sunday – it was great to catch up. We’re off up to his in the next few weeks, hopefully. Great news re Emily too! Exciting few months ahead!
Katja and Lev are well and send their love, as do I.
Dan
Hi again Jo,
Just cursing myself for not mentioning your father in the previous message. I was very sorry to hear of his passing. I just noticed the message from Shibin and I’m now going to read your post on him. I met your father several times over the years and every memory is filled with what a kind, fun, intelligent and warm man he was.
Please send my love to your mother when you are next in Scotland.
Dan
I happened onto your blog when trolling Google images. I loved it. I teach mahjong in NYC. and I am putting together a how-to book and lucked into your image of Chinese people playing mahjong. Since I would like to include as many interesting images as I can, I would like to request permission to use it (and any other images you may have). I would be happy for any reply or suggestions.
Thank you.
Ling Maris
I like your blog , go ahead.
happy,happy, and good luck.
–alice from corner coffee
http://www.cornercoffee-bj.com/
Hi Alice – welcome to my blog – I love your cafe, the location is amazing, the perfect place for kite-watching and having a relaxed hour with a glass of wine! You’ll see me again soon…
You could certainly see your expertise in the work you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart.
I must say, youve got 1 of the finest blogs Ive noticed in a lengthy time. What I wouldnt give to have the ability to build a weblog thats as intriguing as this. I guess Ill just have to maintain reading yours and hope that one day I can write on a subject with as considerably understanding as youve got on this one!
Hello there! I found your blog via a comment you made on this blog –> http://malate.wordpress.com/2011/09/14/snack-street/ and I felt like I had to thank you for your comment which I hope will inspire lots of people! I lived in China, in BJ precisely, for a year not so long ago, and felt like home. I think lots of people have a fake idea of what China is, they believe in old myths and stereotypes, and it is not like that at all. Like you, it is the first time I have ever heard someone being mugged by a street vendor, it’s quite odd I think. And as for what you said about weird exotic food, I believe people criticize a lot but don’t actually try it… So for having tried worms and scorpions, I can say proudly that… worms were quite disgusting but scorpions were delicious!
Anyway, all in all I wish to thank you for writing this blog. It’s nice to read true things about China! I hope you enjoy every moment of your journey, China holds such wonderful places!
Best,
Cécile
Great post, I just bookmarked it on Digg.
I tried looking at your blog with my iphone and the format doesnt seem to be right. Might want to check it out on WAP as well as it seems most cellphone layouts are not really working with your website.
Hello,
I stumbled across your blog while looking for something else. I began reading it and loved it. The post I came across was regarding Chinese Names. It was interesting, witty, and revealed a nice slice of Chinese culture.
I very much like your blog. I feel like your blog is a classic TV program that I must go back and read all your previous blogs so that I feel caught up on where the program is at the moment.
You write extremely well and I would certainly read any book you wrote about your life in China.
Thank you for sharing a part of your life with others.
Came across your blog in a ping back, and wanted to thank you for your kind words on my ‘charming writing’
Living in Asia as a Westerner is definitely a daily adventure for all the senses. Enjoy the ride!