Adventures in Flip Flops

Wordless Wednesday: More Tianjin

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren {Adventures in Flip Flops}) — Wed, 01 May 2013 10:00:00 +0000

From my Classroom

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren {Adventures in Flip Flops}) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

One thing I love about small children is their ongoing narratives about life. It is even more hilarious in Chinese. A perfect illustration of this: one day I was waiting with my students at the bathroom and one of my kids starts excitedly pointing to her shoes and chatting to me in Chinese. I nodded and pointed and said, "Oh, you got new shoes!" A Chinese teacher looked at me and said, "wow, that's exactly what she said! Do you speak Chinese?" "No," I said, "I speak child." Anyone who has or has worked with kids knows what I mean and knows that this is true.

Here, from my classroom, are some favorite moments.

*This happens multiple times per day:

"Teacher, here is a booger from my nose. Seeeee?!"

*I have one student who drives a race car in the back of the classroom. He also flies airplanes and plays musical chairs by himself. Needless to say, he doesn't speak much English.

*One of my favorite students has SO MUCH energy that we have to have a 5 minute jumping session when the rest of the class is in the bathroom. That sort of brings the energy down to manageable levels. Sort of. He's super smart, though, and actually understands a fair bit of what I say, so as long as he's not endangering himself or others he has a bit of freedom to move. The kid has ants in his pants. The other day he was disturbing everyone so I told him to sit down {I make sure my kids learn those words right away!}. He looks at me, shakes his head frantically and says "Bu yao, sit down!" Bu yao is Chinese for "I don't want." It was a seriously cute moment.

*I have a new class that just started a few weeks ago. We were playing a game called "Who stole the Monkey?" to help the kids say "my name is ______." Basically, I put a stuffed monkey in the middle of the room and walked outside the classroom. My co-teacher then helped someone "steal the monkey." I came back inside and asked, "who stole the monkey?" That person would stand up and say "my name is _______." One learner got SO excited that when it was his turn he stood up and shouted "I stole Bob*!" To set an example, I said, "My name...." Usually that kicks them back on track, but he was still excited and said "My name is stole monkey Bob!" Adorable.

*While waiting outside for my students to finish at the bathrooms, one of my chattier learners started spritzing water on her face {she hadn't dried her hands} and said, "teacher look! It's just like its raining!"

Any good stories from your classroom or house?

*To protect my students' privacy, I changed his name.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: Ancient Culture Street

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren {Adventures in Flip Flops}) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

This is one of my favorite spots in Tianjin. A tourist trap to be sure {though, mostly domestic Chinese tourists}, but I love walking around and looking at all the different shops. I've gotten many presents for family here, and the snacks are pretty delicious too.

Recipe: Thai Green Curry

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren {Adventures in Flip Flops}) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

My favorite thing I did in Thailand was to take a cooking class. It has encouraged me to do the same in China over the summer, and to really explore the flavors over here. It's also shown me that, really, it's not hard to cook authentic asian food. What you need, more than anything, is a little bit of knowledge.

This recipe is very easy, if not completely authentic. In Thailand I made this with a few different types of eggplant, chicken, kafir limes and fresh basil. Of course I can't find most of that here and nobody is eating chicken much these days.

The key is to find good coconut milk, and good curry paste. You can make the curry paste on your own {I'm going to try when I find a blender} but I have found that the pre-packaged paste is fairly serviceable.

Ingredients:

1-2 tablespoons of green curry paste

Approximately 1.5 - 2 cups of coconut milk

meat and vegetables {I used shrimp because I had it, peas, and red and yellow bell peppers}

1 teaspoon of sugar

1 tablespoon oil

1-2 teaspoons of Thai fish sauce {this is different from Chinese fish sauce}

Directions:

Heat a wok or skillet with oil inside.

When the pan is hot add the curry paste {if you make your own curry paste, it will have oil in it. No need to add extra} and saute for a few minutes until you can really smell the curry.

Add 1/4 of the coconut milk and stir the curry paste into it.

Bring to a bubble for about 1 minute.

Add another 1/4 of the milk and repeat.

Add the remaining milk and repeat again.

Add your meat and let simmer in the curry paste until cooked.

Add your vegetables and cook until desired tenderness {I reversed this a bit, as shrimp cooks super fast and I like my vegetables pretty tender}.

Add fish sauce and sugar.

Taste. If it's super spicy, you can add a bit more sugar.

Here are both pictures from the cooking class and from my own kitchen in Tianjin.

Enjoy!

Book Review: The Joy Luck Club

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren {Adventures in Flip Flops}) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

I know everyone and her mother has read this book. It seems to just be one of those books that everyone reads in high school or college or whenever. I never did. Now, I'm sad I waited so long. Like Lisa See, Amy Tan is a master story teller and I find myself looking for more and more of her stories.

{Source: Goodreads}

From Goodreads:

In 1949 four Chinese women-drawn together by the shadow of their past-begin meeting in San Francisco to play mah jong, invest in stocks, eat dim sum, and "say" stories. They call their gathering the Joy Luck Club. Nearly 40 years later, one of the members had died, and her daughter has come to take her place, only to learn of her mother's lifelong wish-and the tragic way in which it has come true. The revelation of this secret unleashes an urgent need among the women to reach back and remember.

We follow four families, or more accurately four mother-daughter pairs on their journeys through emigration to the United States, marrying, having daughters, and generally living life. This novel gives a shared experience and shows inter-generational conflict that is often common among new American families. Through the Woo, Hsu, Jong, and Huang families we learn that life is not always what it seems and that our parents often have more insight into life than we give them credit four.

What I love about this novel is the way Tan weaves so many different perspectives into a narrative that culminates during the time of the novel. We follow four mothers, the members of the Joy Luck Club. We see them leave their family homes, sometimes forcibly, escape from Japanese forces during WWII, lose children and face heartache. We remember the childhoods of their daughters who want nothing more than to be like every other American teenager. We see the balance {and sometimes, the failure to balance} of these two perspectives, and we end the story with Jing-mei Woo in Shanghai.

If you are a fan of Lisa See or similar authors, you will enjoy this novel.

What have you been reading lately?

Pizza in China

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren {Adventures in Flip Flops}) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 04:15:00 +0000

If you live in China {really, Asia} for any length of time, you'll find that their idea of western food and yours don't exactly match. You might go to an Italian restaurant and get olive oil soaked pasta with canned peas and bacon if you order carbonara. Or you might order mashed potatoes only to get a potato salad concoction with celery and carrots.

But, by far, I find the weirdest stuff to be the pizza. There is some weird stuff on pizza here. Fish {not sardines}. Chips. Apricots. Whatever.

The other day we went to a Korean chain, Mr. Pizza to say goodbye to one of our teachers. The Chinese staff went gaga over this pizza:

Not seen but listed on the menu: meat mix {we think sausage and bacon}, peppers, mushrooms, and sweet potato mousse in the crust.

This was definitely not my favorite pizza.

What strange foods have you encountered abroad?

Recipe: Ground Beef Curry with Peas

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren {Adventures in Flip Flops}) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 05:07:00 +0000

Let me preface this post by saying that the next few recipe posts won't have pictures. I got lazy. I really did. However, the next few recipes are pretty basic ones, and adapted from any number of similar ones I found on the internet. Onward, then....

I love Indian food. Really, I love all food, but there is a special place in my heart for Indian-style cuisine. Certainly, this is NOT authentic. I live in China, know no-one from India, and am only just learning my way around Chinese spices and vegetables.

However, this recipe does use some spices common in Indo-China, and is adaptable to your own tastes {and of course your knowledge!}. The original recipe was posted by Beth at Budget Bytes. She added potatoes, broth, etc. and served over rice or in naan. I have made it that way, and it is delicious. However, I like the idea of sort of making an Indian-style shepherd's pie and so I serve mine with standard mashed potatoes. If I were in the U.S. and had an oven, I would layer the peas, meat, and mashed potatoes in a Pyrex and then bake it to give the potatoes a crusty top.

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 yellow onion, chopped finely
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
2 inches fresh ginger, grated
1.5 tablespoons curry powder
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 pinch crushed read pepper or cayenne
1 lb ground beef
frozen peas {eyeball is}
salt + pepper to taste

Directions:
Heat olive oil in pan and saute onion with salt and pepper until soft.
Add ginger and garlic, saute for 2-3 minutes or until soft.
Add curry powder, turmeric, and red pepper flakes
Stir & cook 1-2 minutes more.
Add beef and cook until fully browned.
Stir in frozen peas and heat through.
Serve over mashed potatoes!

Getting a Hair Cut in China

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren {Adventures in Flip Flops}) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Getting my hair cut has always been nerve-wracking at the best of times. When I was younger we cut it straight across and couldn't figure out why I looked like a walking, bushy, triangle. Turns out my hair is dry-ish, curly/wavy, and thick and MUST be cut in long layers. After a number of bad haircuts I have learned a few things that are *key* to a good hair cut. The one thing I must have? A stylist who is experienced with curly hair.

Except, about 1 month ago I needed a hair cut. And, I live in China. There is NO curly hair here. When we were all teaching our kids the target language "curly" hair and "straight" hair, I had to run around to everyone's classroom and show everyone's students what curly hair was. It was hilarious.

Until, of course, I'm sitting in a very nice salon, with a very nice stylist who knows 2-3 useful English words and has just cut my hair straight across the bottom, despite my showing a few pictures of myself with layered curly hair. He seemed extremely confused as he was trying to tame the frizzy mess and style it. Why wouldn't it calm down? For my part, I was almost in tears which distressed the poor guy even more.

Eventually we straightened it out after a lot of sign language and zooming in on a few pictures I needed layers and shaping. The layers had to be long. Once we got over that hurdle, I was extremely pleased with the outcome. Before he dried and styled my hair, I could tell it was a good cut. This stylist knew exactly what he was doing, he just wasn't super familiar with non-Asian hair textures and misunderstood what I wanted at the beginning.

This is the final result:

It looks very good when I style it curly as well, I just have not had the chance to grab a picture of it that way.

Life is definitely an adventure over here.

Book Review: As Always, Julia

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren {Adventures in Flip Flops}) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

I love Julia Child. I love that in a time where women got married, had babies and lived in suburbi she got married, traveled the world, had no kids, and wrote an amazing cookbook. Reading My Life in France inspired me to seriously think of living abroad {of course, I envisioned myself living in Europe or somewhere equally romantic, but, I digress}.

This book is a compilation of the letters written between Julia Child and Avis DeVoto, Julia's pen-pal and longtime friend. We follow Julia as she travels the world with her husband who works abroad for the U.S. State Department. These letters detail not only the development of her famous work, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, but also her experiences with McCarthyism, writing for an American audience obsessed with 'being modern' and taking the work out of every household chore. Through Julia and Avis, we have a glimpse in an America on the verge of political, social, and gastronomic change.

I will be honest: I took me awhile to finish this one. It is long, detailed and doesn't really have chapter divisions. However, the picture these letters paint is worth the time and effort. Julia and Avis discuss fascinating cooking methods, and it is wonderfully interesting to read of the inner-political workings of the 50's. With McCarthyism at full force, Julia and Avis show us the climate, and also the little heard about opposition to him. Of course, we also follow Julia through he journey to write and publish her book first with Houghton Mifflin and then through Knopf publishing. That in itself would be enough for one book.

I most appreciate that this book has brought Julia Child to life. Of course, her own memoir did a remarkable job of this, but that was unavoidably planned, outlined and edited. This book gives you the sense of being a fly on the wall and hearing all that Julia and Avis shared with each other. In effect, that is what you are doing. You read the happiness, frustration, elation, melancholy, and all the raw emotion in-between.

This book is a treasure that I cannot wait to finish devouring. If only I didn't have to work, write articles, and generally have a life outside of books!

P.S. I'm not a huge fan of this new Pinterest embedding system. I'll work on a new way to post pictures of book covers for books I read.

Custom Dresses

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren {Adventures in Flip Flops}) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

There are a lot of misconceptions about China in the U.S. Most people assume that I can get fortune cookies and lo mein {negative} and that everything is cheaper here {depends. I'll write another post on this soon}. I am happy to report that some things are true: inexpensive, custom-made clothing.

I have been looking for a few months for a clothing market at which to have a dress made for an upcoming wedding. I wanted somewhere with fair prices {I am not very good at bargaining} and that wasn't part of the "tourist track" {these places are hit and miss}. I also wanted the option of getting a western-style dress made with Chinese-style fabric.

Then, a few weeks ago a friend reported that she found a fabric market and that she had a high-quality suit made. I knew I had to go. Four of us piled into a taxi and found our way to a typical Chinese fabric market: dark, winding and by all Western standards a bit dodgy. However, I found a gorgeous green Chinese-style satin, and had a nice man copy a current dress of mine.

The result? I'll let you decide:

I think I'll go back.

Street Food

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren {Adventures in Flip Flops}) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

When you travel to a place like China, people tell you all sorts of things. They warn you away from places because they're convinced that you'll catch something. In particular, everyone said "don't eat the street food."

You know what? I've never been good at listening to advice like that. Why would you when it's delicious {and you've been vaccinated against typhoid and hepatitis}?

Delicious flatbread with chicken/bacon/hot dog, fried egg, and a magic yummy sauce?! OK!

Steamed bread dumplings stuffed full of seasoned pork or garlic greens? Yes, please!

Skewers of spicy meat sizzling on it's way to your mouth? Mmmm hmmm!

And, to my delight, freshly popped kettle corn. Yum-O!

Rice noodle soup? To. die. for.

It's cheap, delicious, and filling. I can eat a meal for the equivalent of $1.50. Um, how is this not a good thing?

My advice: stick to the street. Sure, there is some great food to be eaten in other places {yes, I've had Peking duck, and yes, it's delicious! You can also get the dumplings in restaurants.}, but in a hurry, or late at night? I look for street food.

The Chinese Obsession with Water

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren {Adventures in Flip Flops}) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 10:00:00 +0000

As someone who spent seven summers at summer camp on the Gulf Coast {read: HOT!} I am obsessed with making sure I, and everyone around me drinks enough water. It is the cure for EVERYTHING at camp. A camper comes to you with a headache? Drink water! A stomachache? Drink water! Her arm fell off? Drink water!

{Bangkok}

But let me tell you: I have NOTHING on Chinese folks. EVERY ailment, every single one, can be fixed by drinking hot water. Pharmacists will tell you that. Doctors will tell you that. Your students' parents will tell you that. I'm constantly getting looks for requesting cold water, and often get gentle reminders from my co-workers that hot is better. Your stomach will feel better, they say, if you drink less cold water. That is why it probably hurts in the first place!

{Phuket}

A few anecdotes:

1. I went to the doctor a few weeks ago to finish a vaccine series. In the U.S. you get a little hand out telling you all about your vaccine. Not in China. I got some advice: drink extra water today. Right.

2. Lately my lips have been CHAPPED. I carry Chapstick everywhere I go. Everyone, from my wonderful dry-cleaning lady to parents to my co-teacher urge me to drink water. My lips are chapped, friends, not because of the dry air, the cold, or the strong wind. No. They are chapped because I don't drink enough water.

Lesson learned. Drink more water.

What I read: Winter 2012 Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren {Adventures in Flip Flops}) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Well, I'm late {reeeaaallly late} getting this post up. The end of the year was...hectic and emotional, and everything in between. That isn't an excuse, perhaps, but it is a reason.

But, this is better late than never, I hope!

Here is how I finished off my Book Year of 2012:

72. Lady Sophia's Lover; Lisa Kleypas: Let's be honest. I read this a few months ago and don't remember a whole lot about it. I can honestly say, though, that I love Lisa Kleypas, her novels are always well-written with some pretty fiery scenes. You can't go wrong with any of her novels.

73. Worth Any Price; Lisa Kleypas: I remember this one a bit more than Lady Sophia's Lover. A gentleman is hired to find a noblewoman who has run away. Nick, the main character of the novel, begins this job as he does any other-without any care for the young woman he is being paid to seek. Of course, because this is a romance novel, he learns that there is more to the situation, they marry, fall in love, the usual. In all, a good romance novel, a good diversion, a solid choice.

74. Reflected in You; Sylvia Day: I did not like this novel. I did not like the way she portrayed her characters. I did not like it at all. You can read my review here.

75.-78. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows; J.K. Rowling: Obviously these were a re-read {for the who knows which time!}. I still love these novels as much as I did when I first read them.

79. Naked; Raine Miller: I love Raine Miller. She is my new romance author love. She's like Sylvia Day, but I like her characters better. This novel is predictable but enjoyable: the heroine who is independent, the hero who is handsome, rich, and powerful and sweeps the heroine off her feet {though, the heroine does put up a considerable fight}. A solid choice.

80. Traitors of the Tower; Allison Weir: It's no secret that one of my favorite eras of history to read about is the reign of King Henry VIII and Elizabethan England. I love books about Anne Boleyn and Bloody Mary and everyone of this time. This book gives an in-depth analysis of the seven people, three of whom had been queens of England, who were sent to the tower and beheaded. This was a quick read {I read it in an hour or so at a Starbucks} and gripping. It is an essential read if, like me, you cannot get enough of this era.

81. Remarkable Creatures; Tracy Chevalier: This was a rather enjoyable novel. You can read my in-depth review here.

82. Sacred Treason; James Forrester: I loved this novel. Set in 16th century England, we follow Clarenceaux, a Catholic in fear of persecution. One night, a friend knocks on his door begging him to hide a manuscript for him. What results is an intense story of intrigue, secret societies and a life and death chase. I could not put down this novel. I love spy/secret society/intrigue novels, and this one was wonderful. It was fast-paced, the characters were fairly realistic, and I just really enjoyed it. If you like The Da Vinci Code style novels, you'll like this one.

83. All In; Raine Miller: This is the sequel to Naked. Everything I said about that novel is true for this one.

84. The Maze Runner; James Dashner: I definitely jumped on the Young Adult dystopian band wagon after The Hunger Games. This novel was a good addition to that category. There was definitely a cliff-hanger at the end of it. One of these days I'll get around to reading the other two in this series, but to be honest I don't feel as if I have to read them right this second. It's a good novel, but not a rush-to-the-bookstore-and-buy-the-next-novel kind of book.

85. Stardust; Neil Gaimman: I found this one in my favorite foreign languages bookstore in Beijing. I was craving a fun fairytale style novel and this one did not disappoint. It's as magical as the movie, a gentle story that is perfect to read in bed or in a coffee shop with a cup of hot cocoa. As usual, Neil Gaiman has provided us with a wonderful story!

As always, you can follow my current reading schedule on Goodreads and my book board on Pinterest {icons on the right hand bar}. What have you been reading lately?

Wordless Wednesday: Tianjin

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren {Adventures in Flip Flops}) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Recipe: Ground Pork and Red Lentil Soup

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren {Adventures in Flip Flops}) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 03:16:00 +0000

It's been awhile since I shared a good recipe, or any recipe at all. I've been eating outside of my apartment quite a lot. I work fairly late on weekdays {8:30pm}, I often don't feel like cooking when I get home, and it's actually cheaper to grab takeout for lunches at work {usually less than $3 for a portion that will feed me for two meals}.

Then, I realized that I had quite a few odds and ends left in my pantry: red lentils, pork, fennel seeds. What better way to use these than in a soup? I love lentil soup because you can, quite literally, do anything you want with them and the result will be fabulous.

I used this recipe from The Whole Kitchen for inspiration, but used what I had on hand and could easily find {note: no parmesan cheese rind, roasted red peppers, or sausage}. The result was, predictably, delicious. I invited a few of my girlfriends over to share the massive pot this made, and they both not only downed their bowls, but also demanded the recipe.

If I were in the States, I'd use Italian sausage and skip the fennel and extra Italian seasoning. However, giving the effect of sausage with the seasonings worked just as well.

Ingredients
1 lbish ground pork
2-3 stalks chopped celery
2 chili peppers, chopped {note: you can use bell peppers. The peppers I get here are very similar to Hatch chilies in the U.S.}
1 carrot, chopped
1 small yellow onion, chopped
5 cloves of garlic, minced
cayenne pepper, to taste
italian seasoning to taste
1 T fennel seeds
1 T red wine vinegar
1 cup white wine
1 can chopped tomatoes
1 1/3 cups red lentils, picked over and rinsed
olive oil
chicken bouillon if desired

Directions
In some olive oil, saute the ground pork with fennel, italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
When the meat is cooked, removed from the pot and set aside.
Add a bit more oil and saute onions, carrots, celery, and peppers until soft.
Add garlic, and cayenne to taste.
Saute one more minute and add more italian seasoning, vinegar, wine, lentils and tomatoes.
Add water to cover everything and simmer until the lentils are soft {30-45 minutes}.
Taste halfway through and add bouillon, salt, etc. if desired
Serve, freeze, and eat the leftovers!

Book Review: Quiet

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren {Adventures in Flip Flops}) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 10:00:00 +0000

I've been having something of an identity struggle lately. I know part of this is because I live in China and already feel a bit isolated. I know part of it is that I live and work with folks who are far more social than I am. But, a recent experience left me feeling completely awful about myself and the fact that I really *do* prefer to be by myself a lot of the time. When I hang out with folks I far prefer quiet bars, coffee shops, restaurants and parks to crowded clubs, noisy streets, and parties. If folks decide to go out at 10:00pm, I 'm already asleep.

Often, I feel as though I'm my own worst enemy. That I should change and be a night-owl who enjoys lots of people around her. I've been told that this is the only way I will make friends or find a partner.

Then, I read Quiet.

Source: goodreads.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Susan Cain, the author, asserts that in the United States we reward outgoing behavior. Businesses are built on extroverted networking, people believe that the most outspoken are the most intelligent, and the squeakiest wheel often gets promoted. Yet, according to Quiet, it is assumed that around 50% of the population are introverts.

Some characteristics of introverts: small groups of close friends, needs alone time, works better alone than in groups {or at least needs alone time to plan and organize thoughts before collaborating}, generally likes reading and solitary pursuits. Sound like anyone you know?

Of course, this is a generalization. Many introverts can be extroverted when needed, or in certain situations. In a classroom I am extremely extroverted, both as a student and a teacher. I am an outgoing manager and challenge course facilitator. Around people I know well I'm loud. But, I still value the time when I go home and sit by myself in my apartment or a park bench, getting lost in a novel.
For one of the first times, I felt validated as an introvert. I realized I don't have to change who I am to be successful, make friends, or have fun. Could I broaden my horizons a bit? Who couldn't? There are always ways to improve and be more social, but there's no need to feel inadequate.

If you are an introvert, know an introvert, manage introverts, are partnered with an introvert you should read this book. Cain presents us with interesting anecdotes, powerful statistics, and a nicely written narrative. She often states the same things twice and the book can get repetitive, but overall this was a valuable book that I highly recommend.

Wordless Wednesday: Phuket

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren {Adventures in Flip Flops}) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 10:00:00 +0000

5 New Things

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren {Adventures in Flip Flops}) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:00:00 +0000

When I was planning my move to China, I thought of all these things I presumed I wouldn't be able to find. I packed toiletries, and snacks, and so many clothes! Now that I've been here awhile, I've discovered that I didn't have to pack nearly what I did. The plugs here take US cords, I can easily find my spices in both Beijing and Tianjin, and for the most part I can find clothes that fit {pants are the exception to that rule! Asian women just don't have the hips us Jewish girls do!}.

Here is my new, updated list of things I would bring if I were moving to China all over again:

1. Potato masher: goodness, I can't wait to get one of these. I can easily find butter, milk, and potatoes but have had NO luck finding a masher. Seriously, none. Currently, I use a whisk which sort of works {its better than a fork, at least!}, but not nearly as well as a *real* potato masher.

2. Fitted sheets: You can actually find these, if you look pretty hard, BUT you have to jump through some hoops or pay a lot of money. I'd just bring a set.

3. French press: I managed to find a press the first few weeks I got here, but it doesn't really work the way mine does at home. The mesh isn't the same and there's only one place it filters. The one I have in the states cost about $25, holds more than the presses I found here, and works better. It's coming back with me.

4. Products for curly hair: I brought these and have used them sparingly because I know I won't be able to find any more at a decent price. I actually kept my hair long for awhile so that I could just put it into a pony tail, but the weather is getting warmer, and I was itching for a new haircut! Shampoo and conditioner are easy to find and work well with my hair, but they just don't have curly hair products designed for people with actual curly hair.

5. Lotion: Everything here has skin whitener in it. Need I say more?

Any other expats out there with thoughts?

Book Review: Saving Fish From Drowning

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren {Adventures in Flip Flops}) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Unlike most people on the planet who read Amy Tan, the first novel I read of hers was not The Joy Luck Club {though, I am currently reading it, and am in love}. You see, I don't really get to go to bookstores here. I read mainly on my Kindle {both purchased and library books} and books that I borrow from other bibliophiles. But one day, I was in Beijing, in my favorite little bookshop, and ran across Saving Fish From Drowning. Even though I hardly need to buy anymore books {story of my life}, I couldn't resist.

Source: goodreads.com via Lauren on Pinterest

The novel opens with the narrator, Bibi Chen, explaining that she has been murdered. She doesn't know who hr killer is, and neither do the police. Her death was especially untimely: Bibi was set to lead a group of Americans through China and Burma, a several-weeks-long adventure of a lifetime.

Now, the group is faced with a conundrum: to go, or cancel the trip? The group decides to go, if only because Bibi would have wanted them to {and, because despite her urging, they neglected to purchase trip insurance}. Their adventure through isolated national parks, never-before-open-to-foreigners borders, and small villages deep in the jungle is enough excitement to last a lifetime. Of course, nothing is as simple as all that, and towards the end of their trip, most of the group goes missing deep in the jungles of Myanmar causing an international media sensation. Through it all, Bibi's spirit follows the group, helps where she can, and brings a multiple-person perspective to this story.

I admit, although I devoured this novel, I found it hard to start. The first few pages were gripping enough, but it was maybe about 100 before I really felt like I could dive in and never look back. This novel was fun in the sense that anyone who has ever been on a group trip has experienced some of the personalities that are part of the story. The couple that can't figure itself out; the germaphobe; the inconsiderate clod who makes everyone else look bad. We've all been there!

More than that, I just loved all of the random things that happened to these folks. As a frequent traveler {and an expat} myself, some of these situations hit pretty close to home. Others? Far-fetched for sure, but a good reminder that research is everything on a trip. In all, this was a fun, fast-paced story that has enticed me to read more of Amy Tan. It's a solid novel.

Wordless Wednesday: Bangkok

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren {Adventures in Flip Flops}) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 02:55:00 +0000

{Khao San Road}

{What Pho}

Bucket List: The Great Wall

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren {Adventures in Flip Flops}) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 01:00:00 +0000

Hello, friends! Long time no see! Things have been busy 'round these parts: I recently took a trip to Thailand for Spring Festival {Chinese New Year} and then my sister came to Beijing to visit.

One of the things we did while she was The Great Wall. It was awesome, y'all. I've seen a few things in my life, but the wall? Superb.

Our hotel arranged for a private car for us {not as expensive as it sounds, and well worth it if you're considering a trip to China} and together with a few of my friends we made the trek out there.

The sky was blue {not always the case here!}, the air was crisp, and it was the perfect day. And, I got to cross another thing off my Bucket List.

A perfect day. What have you crossed off your Bucket List lately?

Blogging from China

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren {Adventures in Flip Flops}) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 02:51:00 +0000

Hi everyone. I've been....scarce here. I thought you should know why. There are several reasons.

For one, I've been a bit lazy. This Texas girl isn't used to winter, and boy, do I have winter! It makes me want to sit in my bed, under my toasty wool comforter, and read many books {or, watch Downton Abbey for hours at a time}. I haven't been cooking either. Yep, lazy.

For another thing, the internet is, erm, tricky, here. This post from The Middle Kingdom explains things very well. I DO have the ability to get here to update, but only at certain times of the day, and only if the stars align. I'm figuring out the best times to post and such, but slowly. So, posting will be a bit trickier for a few more weeks.

But don't worry! I have so many things planned for this blog! And I have blogging goals! And other goals! In the next few weeks I'll recap 2012, review my reading challenge, show you Tianjin, and share some book reviews with you! In the next few months I'll share my upcoming vacation {Thailand}, and I'll {hopefully} be adding a segment to update my progress in learning Chinese! And, of course, I have goals for 2013. Big ones.

So things are not over. They're just slow. But, they'll be picking up, and soon.

A Christmas Classroom

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren {Adventures in Flip Flops}) — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 12:00:00 +0000

One of the benefits of working over here is that school doesn't stop for Christmas. OK, so it's kind of a bummer, but I'm looking on the bright side here. What I mean is, I decorated my classroom for Christmas and I got to see it the WHOLE holiday season.

And, let me say, I think I did a pretty good job. So good, in fact, that my co-teacher and I won a contest within my learning center as the best decorated classroom! Felt pretty good, I must say.

You can't see alot of what my room looks like because of copyright issues and company policy, BUT, I did take photos of my bulletin board and ceilings for you. Aaaand, it snowed here a few weeks ago, so I'm including pictures of that!

Also, I'm going to Beijing for Christmas, so you can look forward to a post about the festivities!

Enjoy!

Happy Anniversary!

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren {Adventures in Flip Flops}) — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Today is a very special day {I say this to my kids all the time to get them excited for class. But, I mean it this time}!

My wonderful, amazing, awesome parents have been married for 28 years today. They're so great, y'all. They go on date nights to high school football games and still bowl in a league {they met in a bowling league!}.

I couldn't have asked for better parents. They've always supported me, even when I had this crazy idea to move across the world, and have always offered a helping hand if I got stuck.

Of course, I miss them like CRAZY, and wish I could be there in person to see them today and on Christmas.

I hope this is {almost} as good as me being there.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Book Review: Remarkable Creatures

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren {Adventures in Flip Flops}) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 12:00:00 +0000

It has been awhile since I've done a book review. After I transfered to Tianjin, I just didn't read much. Part of that is because I read SO MUCH in Beijing. Part is because I don't have to take the subway to work any longer. And part of it is because I've got other things to do now {cook! explore!}.

Source: goodreads.com via Lauren on Pinterest

But, I finally got back on the bandwagon when a co-worker lent me Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier.

From Goodreads:

In 1810, a sister and brother uncover the fossilized skull of an unknown animal in the cliffs on the south coast of England. With its long snout and prominent teeth, it might be a crocodile – except that it has a huge, bulbous eye.

Remarkable Creatures is the story of Mary Anning, who has a talent for finding fossils, and whose discovery of ancient marine reptiles such as that ichthyosaur shakes the scientific community and leads to new ways of thinking about the creation of the world.

Working in an arena dominated by middle-class men, however, Mary finds herself out of step with her working-class background. In danger of being an outcast in her community, she takes solace in an unlikely friendship with Elizabeth Philpot, a prickly London spinster with her own passion for fossils.

The strong bond between Mary and Elizabeth sees them through struggles with poverty, rivalry and ostracism, as well as the physical dangers of their chosen obsession. It reminds us that friendship can outlast storms and landslides, anger and jealousy.

I enjoyed this book. It was an easy read {took me about 2 days, and those were work days} and I liked the historical fiction perspective without all of the royal intrigue. Y'all know I love Philippa Gregory and Elizabethan plot novels, but sometimes a change is nice.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the strong female protagonists {shocker!}. Both of our main characters, Mary and Elizabeth never marry and generally don't care what others think. They pursue their passion for fossils, and have little regard for folks, especially men, who try and make it seem like they know about fossils when they don't.

Another great aspect of this novel is the emphasis on the relationship between the two women. They're bound by a common {and, for the time, odd} interest, but they help each other through some wonderful and some tough things. It was one of those BFF stories without all the fluff that drives me crazy.

In all, a great read, and great for those chilly winter days. In fact, I read this with a mocha at my local coffee shop and it was wonderful!