I was invited to go to the Fragrant Hills a weekend of two back. This is an area on the outskirts of Beijing. There is a new tram which goes there (it opened last year, or the year before I think), but I haven’t been there before. I’ve thought about it, several times, but it …
Sitting on the Iron Throne
Game of Thrones recently finished, which was big news for many fans. I watched the series, but came to it rather late in the day. The final episode was interesting, and I suppose concluded all the stories, though I know lots of people who were annoyed at the ending. I wasn't overly bothered, though it was …
The end is nigh
As the end is nigh, and I only have a handful of classes left, I have been wrapping up my lessons. In my culture course, for instance, I recently had the students discuss what they had learnt from the course and if anything had surprised them. Several things stood out. Firstly, in one class a …
In the captain’s chair
The temperature in Beijing recently has been hot, hot, hot. Seriously, it has been in the mid-to-high 30s, although I think cooler weather (slightly cooler at least) is on its way. My second-year students have been teaching classes themselves recently, and my first-year students are about to start their final exams (I know it might …
Food, glorious food
As I progress towards the end of the semester, and the end of my time here, I have been having meals with various friends and ex-students. There are no doubt more to come. First, there was last week, during the four-day holiday from 1-4 May. I met with a student who I taught in my …
‘We’re in the endgame now’
That has both literal and metaphorical meaning. Avengers: Endgame was released in China last week, before the UK or US. I will not say how many times I have seen the film, only that it is more than once. I do not actually mind spoilers, but I know a lot of people do, and I …
‘Green Tea’
Another week done, and another week closer to endgame (literally and metaphorically; the new Avengers film, Avengers: Endgame, will be released in China next Wednesday, 24 April, a whole two days before the UK and US. Of course, I have bought a ticket to watch it on Wednesday afternoon, after my class finishes Wednesday morning). Not …
