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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>Writer. Traveler. Tea Drinker.</title> <atom:link href="https://beckyances.net/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://beckyances.net</link> <description>Writer. Traveler. Tea Drinker. Doing all three in China</description> <lastBuildDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2023 04:18:36 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2</generator> <item> <title>What’s the Laziest Way up a Mountain? This Way.</title> <link>https://beckyances.net/2023/01/31/laziest-way-up-a-mountain/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=laziest-way-up-a-mountain</link> <comments>https://beckyances.net/2023/01/31/laziest-way-up-a-mountain/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Becky Ances]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2023 13:56:13 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[China]]></category> <category><![CDATA[gardens]]></category> <category><![CDATA[lazy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[xiamen]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://beckyances.net/?p=18528</guid> <description><![CDATA[As I rode the slick new escalators up the side of the mountain in the Xiamen botanical Gardens, I hated myself a little. Why was I here, supporting the destruction and abuse of this gorgeous natural mountain? I mean, is there anything lazier than taking an escalator up a mountain?]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As I rode the slick new escalators up the side of the mountain in the Xiamen botanical Gardens, I hated myself a little. Why was I here, supporting the destruction and abuse of this gorgeous natural mountain?</p> <p>I mean, is there anything lazier than taking an escalator up a mountain? You don’t even have the excuse of covering high elevation quickly, like a cable car. An escalator is slow, cumbersome, and built only for the sake of lethargic people who want to get up a small rise without getting even an ounce of exercise.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="769" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/05C3E93B-BAF5-4C6F-9FA7-F90AD2869821-769x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18524" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/05C3E93B-BAF5-4C6F-9FA7-F90AD2869821-769x1024.jpeg 769w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/05C3E93B-BAF5-4C6F-9FA7-F90AD2869821-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/05C3E93B-BAF5-4C6F-9FA7-F90AD2869821-768x1022.jpeg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/05C3E93B-BAF5-4C6F-9FA7-F90AD2869821-1154x1536.jpeg 1154w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/05C3E93B-BAF5-4C6F-9FA7-F90AD2869821-1539x2048.jpeg 1539w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/05C3E93B-BAF5-4C6F-9FA7-F90AD2869821-600x799.jpeg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/05C3E93B-BAF5-4C6F-9FA7-F90AD2869821-scaled.jpeg 1923w" sizes="(max-width: 769px) 100vw, 769px" /></figure> <p>And part of me was very upset. I could see the giant boulders that were cut into to make room for the escalators, could imagine all the gorgeous trees, bushes and nature that was plowed over, dug up, replanted with new, probably non-native species made to look nice in photos, not to help the animals in the area to thrive.</p> <p>And the fact that I had paid money to support it was killing me. I’m not a hardcore outdoorsman but I love meandering through a forest the only sounds being leaves crunching underfoot, or the trees shaking in the breeze. In every park and nature area in China I always make it my mission to get away from the crowds and the paths and find the quiet, untouched areas. (It’s not hard. Usually 5 minutes away from the entrance or scenic spot is totally empty.) So why was I supporting this electronic monstrosity made to make money and not do much else?</p> <p>At the top there was a path continuing up into the mountains, a low graded, metal walkway built 10+ feet off the ground. It was packed with young people taking pictures, kids running around with their parents or grandparents yelling at them to come back. The path continued for about another kilometers where it ended at a road with a bus stop to take you to other parts of the Botanical Gardens, or back down to the entrance.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/9B4FA626-6702-43BB-AE81-8D764646CBF6-768x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18522" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/9B4FA626-6702-43BB-AE81-8D764646CBF6-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/9B4FA626-6702-43BB-AE81-8D764646CBF6-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/9B4FA626-6702-43BB-AE81-8D764646CBF6-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/9B4FA626-6702-43BB-AE81-8D764646CBF6-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/9B4FA626-6702-43BB-AE81-8D764646CBF6-600x800.jpeg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/9B4FA626-6702-43BB-AE81-8D764646CBF6-scaled.jpeg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure> <p></p> <p>And then I realized.</p> <p>Sure, they destroyed a lot of nature, but they made it more accessible. While I was silently judging all these lazy people around me, truth was I was one of them. I have a genetic disorder, been sick the past few years and these days don’t have enough energy to climb a flight of stairs, much less a mountain.</p> <p>The only reason I could climb this peak was because they had an escalator. And looking around, the elderly, the toddlers, the parents pushing their babies in strollers, it seemed many people were in the same position. Can’t push a stroller up a wild mountain path can you? Even for people physically able to hike, many probably wouldn’t have attempted it without the ease of the escalator, therefore introducing nature to some who might not have much experience with it.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="769" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_5862-769x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18526" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_5862-769x1024.jpg 769w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_5862-225x300.jpg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_5862-768x1022.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_5862-1154x1536.jpg 1154w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_5862-1539x2048.jpg 1539w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_5862-600x799.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_5862-scaled.jpg 1923w" sizes="(max-width: 769px) 100vw, 769px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>We were high enough to see the iconic Xiamen towers in the distance. </em></figcaption></figure> <p>None of us would have been out in the fresh air, getting sunshine on our faces, enjoying nature if they didn’t have easy access to the top of the mountain. Since they built this electric monstrosity, it actually opened up an area for many of us wouldn’t be physically able to get to ourselves. And isn’t it better to get outside, however you can, then to sit in a mall or go shopping?</p> <p>And I had a lovely time. Azhi and I did find a small path only a step away from the crowds, yet completely empty and wild. And I did get to hear the leaves shake quietly in the breeze, smell the rich earthy scent of the forest and have a few moments of peace only nature can give you.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/4E8F80AD-E32C-48EE-813C-8D8D48C245A8-768x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18525" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/4E8F80AD-E32C-48EE-813C-8D8D48C245A8-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/4E8F80AD-E32C-48EE-813C-8D8D48C245A8-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/4E8F80AD-E32C-48EE-813C-8D8D48C245A8-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/4E8F80AD-E32C-48EE-813C-8D8D48C245A8-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/4E8F80AD-E32C-48EE-813C-8D8D48C245A8-600x800.jpeg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/4E8F80AD-E32C-48EE-813C-8D8D48C245A8-scaled.jpeg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Literally steps away from the crowds, yet a whole ‘nother world. </em></figcaption></figure> <p>So while young Becky (healthy Becky) was appalled at the annihilation of this beautiful nature spot, older Becky appreciated the accessibility—appreciated the city for building this escalator up the mountain, so I could have a nice day out doing what I liked. </p> <p>So maybe I’m getting old and soft, or being sick has given me more appreciation for making places accessible for all. And I DO appreciate the city, for making such a nice, clean, easy way to get out and about in nature. Now all they have to do is control the parking lot….</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_5897-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18534" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_5897-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_5897-300x225.jpg 300w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_5897-768x576.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_5897-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_5897-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_5897-600x450.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Thank god we took the bus…</em></figcaption></figure>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://beckyances.net/2023/01/31/laziest-way-up-a-mountain/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>From Zero Covid to Zero F&#*s</title> <link>https://beckyances.net/2022/12/29/from-zero-covid-to-zero-fs/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=from-zero-covid-to-zero-fs</link> <comments>https://beckyances.net/2022/12/29/from-zero-covid-to-zero-fs/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Becky Ances]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 29 Dec 2022 02:40:43 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://beckyances.net/?p=18513</guid> <description><![CDATA[So I’m sure you heard about the protests in some of the major cities in China against the government and the strict Covid policies. But what happened after? From the beginning China has followed a “zero covid” policy, which means isolating cases from the public (and hundreds of their close]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>So I’m sure you heard about the protests in some of the major cities in China against the government and the strict Covid policies. But what happened after? </p> <p></p> <p>From the beginning China has followed a “zero covid” policy, which means isolating cases from the public (and hundreds of their close contacts), constant PCR tests to catch community outbreaks early, lockdowns, and quarantine for all international arrivals.</p> <p>While these policies serve well in saving lives for the first few years, I think we all know the time has long come for them to end. Even the strictest western countries, like Australia and New Zealand, ended their quarantines and Covid prevention policies about 6 months ago, and everyone in China knew we had to as well. The question was when and at what cost?</p> <p>Well, the “when” was pushed up by the protests. the rumor was the government had the plan in place and the it was gonna roll back restrictions slowly over a few months. But the economic toll, and the growing anger of the people, forced the government to move up the time frame. And after almost three years of strict policies suddenly everything was lifted in one swoop. No more scanning QR codes, no more covid tests, no more nothing.</p> <p>And…</p> <p>…It felt strange…</p> <p>Gates were removed, stores could open all their doors (where previously only one was open with an employee checking your scanned QR code) and the Covid testing stations at the train station and airports disappeared. It feels equal parts free and terrifying. Suddenly all these restrictions we lived with, which just because a natural part of daily life, were gone.</p> <p>And weren’t these restrictions put in place to protect us? With them gone does that mean…we’re all gonna die?!?</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_4791-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18515" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_4791-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_4791-225x300.jpg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_4791-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_4791-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_4791-600x800.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_4791-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>They always sanitized the subway, but when covid restrictions ended, Xiamen ramped up the disinfectant, and at subway stops I would see 2 cleaning ladies wiping down anything people touched. </em></figcaption></figure> <p>The thing is people in China have always been scared of Covid. Very scared. You might think the evil communist government used Covid as an excuse to track the population of mindless sheep, cause that was the line from the western media, but that’s actually not true.</p> <p>The people in China wanted protection in the beginning, insisted on it, willing to give up personal freedoms to temporarily to protect themselves. (Like Americans with the “Patriot Bill” after 9/11.)</p> <p>If Covid was left unchecked the people would have protested the government wasn’t doing enough and there might very well be a new leader or a new party right now.</p> <p>But after years, it just went on wayyyyyy too long, and was way too disruptive. The CCP has long been weighing civil unrest due to mass deaths vs. civil unrests due to a poor economy. The Shanghai lockdowns really seemed the tipping point in changing the public’s opinion, and the Xinjiang fire was the final straw. They knew it was time to end it and deal with the surge on the heathcare system. </p> <p>So everything opened. At once. No more tracking, no more reporting, nothing. It was a complete shock to the system.</p> <p>And while on one hand it felt great, there were a lot of unintended ironic situations as a result of it.</p> <p>For instance my university, at midnight last Tuesday, said all students had to go home immediately and would finish the semester online. Huh?! We rarely had online classes, only when Xiamen had a larger outbreak (2 times over the past 2 years.) So why now, when everything was open, were they back to online?</p> <p>Well, it was to protect the students, or, basically just not deal with the hassle of sick kids. (And kids wanted to go home. In other universities they were protesting to finish online.)<br>The province decided it was better to send the kids home early while they were healthy instead of waiting for the inevitable wave to get them all sick. For years they were protecting students by keeping them on campus and overnight they were protecting them by kicking them out.</p> <p>Another ironic thing? Mask wearing has gone up. Previously people felt pretty safe. Covid cases were being caught and isolated so there wasn’t much danger being out in public. Now with people walking around probably sick, everyone is wearing masks all the time. Like, even sitting in Starbucks I see people taking off the mask to sip and then putting it back on after. It’s not a requirement–masks are only required on public transportation and for food service staff–just what people here want to do. (Masks are not a political issue here so nobody cares.)</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_4997-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18516" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_4997-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_4997-300x200.jpg 300w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_4997-768x512.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_4997-600x400.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_4997.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Where’s Waldo? (I swear I’m in this picture.) While most people took off their mask when they started running almost everyone wore their mask before a half marathon/5k I participated in a week after restrictions were lifted. I thought for sure I’d get covid from this, but I didn’t. It took me another week. </em> </figcaption></figure> <p>But the most ironic thing is there seems to be a new kinda lockdown. Not forced, but self imposed. A “sick down” as it was. As Omicron washes through the country stores are closing because they don’t have enough staff and people are staying home cause they are sick or avoiding it.</p> <p>So things can be opened and yet they are closed.</p> <p>I’ve heard that hospitals are packed and the health care system is overwhelmed. I’m not sure how true that is. Maybe in bigger cities like Shanghai and Beijing? But I went to the hospital here in Xiamen just the other day, to get a prescription, and it was totally normal. No giant lines, no wailing ambulances bringing in gurneys of old people, nothing. And xiamen is a city of 5 million people with not a lot of hospitals. It would be easy to overwhelm them here and they aren’t yet.</p> <p>So I’m taking that news with a grain of salt. As I am taking the death toll projections. Deaths are not being as publicly shared as they were before, so we will never know the real numbers. But from living here, and knowing people (and yes, people talk) I haven’t heard any inklings of mass waves of deaths. Just the elderly/already sick people. Very sad, but expected. </p> <p>And medicines were hoarded and sold out, but only because people got scared and bought way more than they needed. Luckily I have some super old Tylenol so I’m all good. Good news is no toilet paper hoarding though canned peaches were. Culture difference I guess. </p> <p>And of course the internet is hilarious as it’s the first time we are all sick, all together, so people are making hilarious tic toks and a lot of viral memes. I won’t get into it as a lot will be lost in translation, but trust me, they are funny.</p> <p>I, of course, have covid as I am writing this. I lead a pretty active life and don’t avoid areas with big crowds, but it took me about a week and a half to get it after opening. I have a little sore throat, some weak muscles, nothing to freak out about. No fever, no chills and if this writing make sense then my brain is still working. (And I am recovered by the time I published this.) </p> <p>So that’s it. From zero covid policy to zero fucks policy practically overnight. The last covid restriction to go is international arrivals. If you arrive in China today from abroad you still need 5 days in a hotel quarantine, but that will end Jan 8th, so basically just one more week. If you want to come to China, come after the eighth.</p> <p>Azhi and I are hitting up Shanghai Disney this weekend. Last time I went to Disney, or really traveled anywhere, was Jan 2021. We could have traveled but it would be a big mess with PCR tests, green QR codes and a lot of paperwork. It wasn’t worth it to me. So it’s a long overdo trip to see friends, have some fun and say hi to Mickey. All the traveling I have done has been in trains and cars, so this will be my first plane ride in THREE YEARS! Hope I remember how it works. (I’m supposed to bang the seat in front of me and take off my shoes and socks and stick my toes in the slot between chairs right?)</p> <p>Honestly I have always felt safest living in China during the pandemic, and if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. But it went on about six months too long, and I am VERY happy we are moving on from it. If our payment is getting Covid, then so be it. It seems like no country can get out of this completely untouched, and locking down until the less harmful Omicron strain dominated unequivocally saved millions of lives.</p> <p>But the best news is that after six years I will finally make a return to the US for a visit! Now there is no paperwork and no fear of getting locked outside the country I am finally going to make the trek back summer 2023. Save the date!</p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://beckyances.net/2022/12/29/from-zero-covid-to-zero-fs/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>The Instagrammification of a Beach</title> <link>https://beckyances.net/2022/11/21/the-instagrammification-of-a-beach/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-instagrammification-of-a-beach</link> <comments>https://beckyances.net/2022/11/21/the-instagrammification-of-a-beach/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Becky Ances]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 21 Nov 2022 03:35:20 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[China]]></category> <category><![CDATA[beach]]></category> <category><![CDATA[china beach]]></category> <category><![CDATA[instagram]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://beckyances.net/?p=18506</guid> <description><![CDATA[You’d think in a country where Instagram was blocked there would be no Instagrammification of places. But then you’d be wrong...very wrong. ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You’d think in a country where Instagram was blocked there would be no Instagrammification of places. But then you’d be wrong…very wrong. </p> <p>Case in point: my local beach. I’m out on the beach almost everyday and the other day, seemingly out of nowhere, a few new items grew out of the sand overnight. </p> <p>One is a giant pink hashtag symbol.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG_3514-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18504" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG_3514-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG_3514-225x300.jpg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG_3514-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG_3514-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG_3514-600x800.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG_3514-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure> <p>Another is a big pink @ sign.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/B7F6AACB-4060-4E5E-A2AE-A5F2847C8848-768x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18500" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/B7F6AACB-4060-4E5E-A2AE-A5F2847C8848-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/B7F6AACB-4060-4E5E-A2AE-A5F2847C8848-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/B7F6AACB-4060-4E5E-A2AE-A5F2847C8848-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/B7F6AACB-4060-4E5E-A2AE-A5F2847C8848-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/B7F6AACB-4060-4E5E-A2AE-A5F2847C8848-600x800.jpeg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/B7F6AACB-4060-4E5E-A2AE-A5F2847C8848-scaled.jpeg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure> <p>Smaller and less noticeable is a colorful “direction” sign, it’s lack of actual utility betrayed by the fact it was just randomly planted with no actual distance measurements on the sign.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG_3457-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18502" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG_3457-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG_3457-225x300.jpg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG_3457-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG_3457-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG_3457-600x800.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG_3457-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure> <p>And the cutest, most practical element: a row of colorful wooden beach chairs chained together so they can’t be separated (and the beautifying effect can’t be ruined.)</p> <p>The thing is, the beach is packed and already has been a popular place to create social media content. Even on a Monday morning I can go to a near empty beach yet find 2-3 people vlogging, taking carefully calculated pictures, or, my least favorite, streaming themselves singing karaoke at full volume.</p> <p>So I don’t know why the city decided adding these little quirks would be a good idea. Especially as the city has gone through great pains to keep the whole area very natural and unbuilt. The road is over a block away (so no cars near the beach) and there are no shops or commerce in the beach area besides from a few small places selling drinks every few kilometers.</p> <p>Parking lots are filled to the brim on weekends, with some cars waiting for 30+ minutes to get a space, and trying to find a space being enough for your picnic blanket can be a feat on a Saturday afternoon. So they certainly don’t need to attract more people to the beach. They added a bunch of extra toilets this summer simply because the preexisting infrastructure wasn’t enough (proving they have more people than expected.)</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG_2529-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18509" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG_2529-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG_2529-225x300.jpg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG_2529-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG_2529-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG_2529-600x800.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG_2529-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Does a beach with this many people on the weekend really need to work to attract MORE people?! </figcaption></figure> <p>So, why add these touches? I don’t know. Maybe the head of the beach administration has a big following on social media and wanted to jazz up their videos. (Or perhaps, more likely, they have a 17 year-old-daughter who is into social media and suggested it.) But I kinda wish they just left it alone. I don’t care for a giant hashtag ruining my view of the beach, or a random signpost pointing to nowhere.</p> <p>I don’t know how big a draw it is actually to influencers, but I do know they have become a handy spot for the beach cleaners. I’ve seen them taking a break on the chairs, or hiding under the big # signs getting a little shade as they play with their phones. Probably not the purpose they were intended for, but at least someone is getting some use out of the eyesores.</p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://beckyances.net/2022/11/21/the-instagrammification-of-a-beach/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>The Stuff of Nightmares</title> <link>https://beckyances.net/2022/09/12/the-stuff-of-nightmares/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-stuff-of-nightmares</link> <comments>https://beckyances.net/2022/09/12/the-stuff-of-nightmares/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Becky Ances]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 12 Sep 2022 13:53:38 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[China]]></category> <category><![CDATA[ai art]]></category> <category><![CDATA[store]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://beckyances.net/?p=18477</guid> <description><![CDATA[Recently I’ve been noticing a lot of “Ai Art” around on the internet. Sometimes created by my friends, sometimes in ads, I have noticed very interesting and intriguing artwork all labeled “Ai.” I also watched a youtube video about design (because I recently opened an online shop) and they suggested]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Recently I’ve been noticing a lot of “Ai Art” around on the internet. Sometimes created by my friends, sometimes in ads, I have noticed very interesting and intriguing artwork all labeled “Ai.” I also watched a youtube video about design (because I recently opened an online shop) and they suggested using an ai tool to create new designs. That you could tell the computer what you wanted and it would create a new design that you could probably tweak for your own shirts and products. </p> <p>The video did say that the designs weren’t high quality, and there might be some slight errors, but it would be good to give a general idea and you could make your own based on it. So I decided to try it out. </p> <p>I went to craiyon.com, the website recommended in the video, and put in a few keywords. I’m getting my online shop ready for christmas so I put “badminton” and “santa” to see what ideas it would come up with. I will show you the results, but warning…what is seen cannot be unseen. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="897" height="683" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-29-at-9.06.44-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18481" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-29-at-9.06.44-PM.png 897w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-29-at-9.06.44-PM-300x228.png 300w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-29-at-9.06.44-PM-768x585.png 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-29-at-9.06.44-PM-600x457.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 897px) 100vw, 897px" /><figcaption><em>Why are Santa’s eyes endless gaping holes?! </em></figcaption></figure> <p>I thought maybe that was just a fluke and tried more very simple keywords: badminton female players outdoors</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="868" height="607" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-29-at-9.25.25-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18479" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-29-at-9.25.25-PM.png 868w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-29-at-9.25.25-PM-300x210.png 300w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-29-at-9.25.25-PM-768x537.png 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-29-at-9.25.25-PM-600x420.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 868px) 100vw, 868px" /><figcaption><em>Does ai think people look like this?! </em></figcaption></figure> <p>Since it was messing up even the most basic thing, I decided to go fanciful. Maybe it would do better there. So I tried “badminton player avocado.” </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="826" height="603" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-29-at-10.49.11-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18480" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-29-at-10.49.11-PM.png 826w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-29-at-10.49.11-PM-300x219.png 300w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-29-at-10.49.11-PM-768x561.png 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-29-at-10.49.11-PM-600x438.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 826px) 100vw, 826px" /><figcaption><em>Those fingers will haunt me in my nightmares.</em></figcaption></figure> <p>Then I dropped badminton and went with “person with candy cane hitting an alien.” </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="806" height="631" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-31-at-3.28.34-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18485" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-31-at-3.28.34-PM.png 806w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-31-at-3.28.34-PM-300x235.png 300w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-31-at-3.28.34-PM-768x601.png 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-31-at-3.28.34-PM-600x470.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 806px) 100vw, 806px" /><figcaption><em>It just left out the “person” and went with alien. </em></figcaption></figure> <p>“Little girl petting a panda bear with fish” </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="842" height="611" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-31-at-3.31.43-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18482" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-31-at-3.31.43-PM.png 842w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-31-at-3.31.43-PM-300x218.png 300w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-31-at-3.31.43-PM-768x557.png 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-31-at-3.31.43-PM-600x435.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 842px) 100vw, 842px" /><figcaption><em>The horror, the horror…</em></figcaption></figure> <p>“Human dancing on the moon.” </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="799" height="588" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-31-at-3.45.18-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18484" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-31-at-3.45.18-PM.png 799w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-31-at-3.45.18-PM-300x221.png 300w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-31-at-3.45.18-PM-768x565.png 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-31-at-3.45.18-PM-600x442.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px" /><figcaption><em>This is the only one that has a little but of artistry in it. </em></figcaption></figure> <p></p> <p>I then had to stop because I wanted to sleep that night and anymore would give me nightmares forever. But, I think it’s safe to say the artistic world is still free from computer takeover…for now. </p> <p>But you know what isn’t a nightmare? The designs over at Dragon Badminton, the best badminton shop in the world! <a href="https://badmintonbecky.myshopify.com/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://badmintonbecky.myshopify.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Head on over there and check it out! </a></p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://beckyances.net/2022/09/12/the-stuff-of-nightmares/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>The (Surprising) Best Chinese Food for a Picnic</title> <link>https://beckyances.net/2022/08/12/the-surprising-best-chinese-food-for-a-picnic/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-surprising-best-chinese-food-for-a-picnic</link> <comments>https://beckyances.net/2022/08/12/the-surprising-best-chinese-food-for-a-picnic/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Becky Ances]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 12 Aug 2022 04:47:30 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[China]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chinese Food]]></category> <category><![CDATA[beach]]></category> <category><![CDATA[beach picnic]]></category> <category><![CDATA[chinese food]]></category> <category><![CDATA[food]]></category> <category><![CDATA[picnic]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://beckyances.net/?p=18472</guid> <description><![CDATA[Since I’ve been living at the beach there have been a lot of picnics. A lot, a lot. So many picnics. I mean, when I make a meal I have two options, sit at the table in my apartment staring at the wall, or walk 5 minutes and sit on]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Since I’ve been living at the beach there have been a lot of picnics. A lot, a lot. So many picnics. I mean, when I make a meal I have two options, sit at the table in my apartment staring at the wall, or walk 5 minutes and sit on lush grass, under swaying palm trees, watching the waves lap against the shore. It’s not a hard choice. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_0051-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18471" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_0051-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_0051-225x300.jpg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_0051-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_0051-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_0051-600x800.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_0051-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption><em>Sometimes I like to grab a cup of soymilk from McDonalds and just sit under the trees reading for a bit. Not a full picnic, but a lovely little break. </em></figcaption></figure> <p>Also between me and the ocean is a Starbucks, McDonalds, a Thai place, 3 BBQ places, a few milk tea places and about a dozen other restaurants. And a supermarket. So when I’m too lazy to cook I can just swing by one of those places, grab a snack or food and sit on the beach to eat it.</p> <p>Now that summer is in full tilt, daytime picnics are out of the question. It’s just too hot. The ocean breeze is like the blast of hot air that comes out of your oven, and no amount of palm trees can keep you cool. But nighttime is manageable and every weekend includes at least one nighttime picnic with either dinner or cold drinks while looking at the ocean and the stars. (Okay, ‘star’ as I’m sill in a huge city with lots of light pollution.)</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="576" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_0472-576x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18468" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_0472-576x1024.jpg 576w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_0472-169x300.jpg 169w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_0472-768x1365.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_0472-864x1536.jpg 864w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_0472-1152x2048.jpg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_0472-600x1067.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_0472-scaled.jpg 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px" /><figcaption><em>A cold drink tastes even better if you can see the ocean. </em></figcaption></figure> <p>So I’ve been experimenting with picnic food. Obviously the best foods are the most classic western food: sandwiches, homemade salads (Azhi has really gotten to like potato salad, I’m a fan of the tomato cucumber one), cut up fruit. But those are more homemade things (expect for the cut up fruit, very cheap and easy to buy here) and like I said I’m kinda lazy.</p> <p>So I have been trying a lot of different foods from the local places to see how “picnic suitable” they are. <em>Across the bridge noodles,</em> a type of noodle soup, was yummy but messy. You slurp up the noodles and the liquid kinda goes everywhere. Also I don’t like to just drink the soup when the noodles are gone so you have this big to-go container half filled with soup that is just an accident waiting to happen.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_3468-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18460" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_3468-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_3468-225x300.jpg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_3468-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_3468-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_3468-600x800.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_3468-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption><em>7-11 sandwiches score high on convenience, but low on taste. </em></figcaption></figure> <p>BBQ is good. The meat and veggies are cooked on wooden skewers so it’s easy to bring and eat. But it also gets cold really quickly, especially if there is wind, so the second half of the meal is never as good as the first.</p> <p>More typical chinese dishes, like rice or noodles dishes are good, and simple to eat as all you need are chopsticks, but it just feels a little heavy to be suitable picnic food. You want to be satiated after a picnic, but not so full you can’t move.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="576" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_0381-576x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18469" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_0381-576x1024.jpg 576w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_0381-169x300.jpg 169w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_0381-768x1365.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_0381-864x1536.jpg 864w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_0381-1152x2048.jpg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_0381-600x1067.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_0381-scaled.jpg 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px" /><figcaption><em>I actually keep a “picnic bag” by my door at all times. In it is a blanket, tissues, bottle opener and utensils so I can just grab it and go.</em> </figcaption></figure> <p>I wasn’t finding any real satisfactory local food suitable for a picnic.</p> <p>But the other night, as Azhi and I were just sitting at the beach after sunset, him drinking a beer, me a milk tea, a group plopped down next to us and broke out their dinner. We immediately recognized it for genius picnic food it was, and next weekend we had our own spread. That meal? Peking Duck.</p> <p>If you’ve never had Peking duck, let me explain. The ducks are roasted in an oven and the breast meat is thinly and delicately cut into small slices. (Carving a duck is an ancient skill that chefs can spend years mastering.) To eat the duck meat you put it in a small, thin pancake. You then add a few slices of cucumber and spring onion (already cut into perfect sized portions) add a little sauce to the pancake, roll it up like a burrito and you’re good to go.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="576" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_1413-576x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18465" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_1413-576x1024.jpg 576w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_1413-169x300.jpg 169w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_1413-768x1365.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_1413-864x1536.jpg 864w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_1413-1152x2048.jpg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_1413-600x1067.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_1413-scaled.jpg 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px" /><figcaption><em>The Holy Grail of Chinese picnic food. Very compact but so much flavor and fun in these little boxes. </em></figcaption></figure> <p>The reason it is such a good picnic food is because everything comes neatly in little to go boxes, and you make the pancakes in your hand, so you don’t need dishes or any utensils besides one pair of chopsticks for the group. Beijing duck is salty and oily, but the fresh, raw cucumber and spring onion balances out and gives it a fresh feeling. Duck, like chicken, is also delicious cold or hot, so you don’t have to worry about eating quick before it cools.</p> <p>Each pancake is only one or two bites, and it’s a fun little activity to actually make each pancake, instead of just shoving food in your mouth without a break.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="576" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_1414-576x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18464" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_1414-576x1024.jpg 576w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_1414-169x300.jpg 169w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_1414-768x1365.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_1414-864x1536.jpg 864w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_1414-1152x2048.jpg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_1414-600x1067.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_1414-scaled.jpg 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px" /></figure> <p><em>It’s picnic perfect!</em></p> <p>So I am officially declaring Peking Duck the best chinese picnic food, though I will not rest on it’s laurels. I will continue to brave the wide range of food from all over the world in search of perfectly suitable picnic foods. It’s a tough job, but that’s the price of living life at the beach. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_3762-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18459" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_3762-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_3762-225x300.jpg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_3762-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_3762-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_3762-600x800.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_3762-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://beckyances.net/2022/08/12/the-surprising-best-chinese-food-for-a-picnic/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Adventures in TranslationLand</title> <link>https://beckyances.net/2022/07/18/adventures-in-translationland/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=adventures-in-translationland</link> <comments>https://beckyances.net/2022/07/18/adventures-in-translationland/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Becky Ances]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 18 Jul 2022 09:36:58 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[China]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Learning Chinese]]></category> <category><![CDATA[funny translation]]></category> <category><![CDATA[translation]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://beckyances.net/?p=18441</guid> <description><![CDATA[When I first came to China, 13 years ago, we didn’t have things like smart phones and instant translation apps. In a way I’m grateful, as it forced me to learn Chinese to do the most basic things like order off a menu or read an address. But of course,]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When I first came to China, 13 years ago, we didn’t have things like smart phones and instant translation apps. In a way I’m grateful, as it forced me to learn Chinese to do the most basic things like order off a menu or read an address. But of course, now things are vastly different. You can scan any text and different apps will instantly translate for you. And chat apps, like wechat, have the translation built in now, so with only a long press of your thumb you can translate anything in seconds. </p> <p>It makes living here much easier and opens communication between people that might not talk otherwise. Buttttt, just because its free and easy, doesn’t mean it’s without flaws</p> <p>Take for instance this note, which a foreign teacher found outside his door one day. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4116-2-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18443" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4116-2-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4116-2-225x300.jpg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4116-2-600x800.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4116-2.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure> <p>The translation was so bad he couldn’t help but laugh and send it to us as well. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="473" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4118-473x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18444" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4118-473x1024.png 473w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4118-139x300.png 139w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4118-768x1662.png 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4118-710x1536.png 710w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4118-600x1299.png 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4118.png 828w" sizes="(max-width: 473px) 100vw, 473px" /></figure> <p>For some reason, another foreign teacher decided to translate it himself, and instead of getting the same translation, as you would expect from the same picture in the same app, it came up with something completely different! So naturally we all had to translate it ourselves and the results were <em>amazing</em>. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4143-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18450" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4143-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4143-225x300.jpg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4143-600x800.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4143.jpg 828w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption>Bonjour! (The person who translated this was not french.) </figcaption></figure> <p></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="747" height="878" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4145.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18451" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4145.jpg 747w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4145-255x300.jpg 255w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4145-600x705.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 747px) 100vw, 747px" /><figcaption>“Mulberry Swirls and Electric Drills” could be the new Radiohead Album. </figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="711" height="866" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4141.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18448" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4141.jpg 711w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4141-246x300.jpg 246w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4141-600x731.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 711px) 100vw, 711px" /><figcaption>It’s just…it’s just…it’s just…</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="461" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4140-461x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18447" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4140-461x1024.jpg 461w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4140-135x300.jpg 135w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4140-768x1707.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4140-691x1536.jpg 691w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4140-922x2048.jpg 922w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4140-600x1333.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG_4140.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 461px) 100vw, 461px" /></figure> <p>Stuff like this is why I tell my translation students they will <em>indeed</em> have jobs after graduation and won’t be left behind in the technology revolution. Some things just can’t be done by computers. </p> <p></p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://beckyances.net/2022/07/18/adventures-in-translationland/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Walking with Pikachu</title> <link>https://beckyances.net/2022/06/17/walking-with-pikachu/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=walking-with-pikachu</link> <comments>https://beckyances.net/2022/06/17/walking-with-pikachu/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Becky Ances]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jun 2022 00:19:56 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[China]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Traveling]]></category> <category><![CDATA[city walk]]></category> <category><![CDATA[nature walk]]></category> <category><![CDATA[xiamen]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://beckyances.net/?p=18399</guid> <description><![CDATA[I’m not sure how it started. Maybe I just thought it was cute the way my Taiwanese boyfriend pronounced Pikachu (pi-ka-que), but for the past five years, every time one of sees a Pikachu doll, toy, game etc we have to talk about it and point it out, and end]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I’m not sure how it started. Maybe I just thought it was cute the way my Taiwanese boyfriend pronounced Pikachu (<em>pi-ka-que</em>), but for the past five years, every time one of sees a Pikachu doll, toy, game etc we have to talk about it and point it out, and end up saying “pika pika” for the next few minutes. </p> <p>But neither of us actually likes Pikachu, Pokemon or anything related to it. So why has it become a thing between us? No clue. I’ve literally never even seen an episode of Pokemon or played any of the games. </p> <p>But it is a thing between us, so when I saw cute little Pikachu band aids at the store, I bought them cause I thought it would be funny. I assumed they were normal strip band aids with pictures of little pikachus on them and I did actually need band aids, so it wasn’t a waste of money. But it turned out they were even cooler. When I opened one to put on an imaginary wound on Azhi’s hand, it turned out the entire band aid was the shape of Pikachu’s head. And instead of just ripping it off, as I expected, he wore it as we walked out the door to begins the day’s adventure.</p> <p>“Take a picture,” he said holding out his hand so the Pikachu band aid was visible. And so the Pikachu walk was born. It wasn’t meant to be a Pikachu walk, but it was going to be an epic walk. Xiamen, an island, has a 22km walk that goes across the entire city from beach to beach in sidewalks, elevated platforms and special walkways. A few months ago we walked 12 km’s from the ferry port to SM (a large mall approximately in the middle) so today we were gonna do the other half, starting at Guanyin Shan beach and ending back at SM. </p> <p>Honestly, I didn’t think the Pikachu band aid was gonna make it. Azhi isn’t the most careful person and it was pretty cheap, with a few of the edges coming up before we even made it to the starting point. But not only did Azhi take care of his hand and the band aid, he made me take pictures with it at every scenic spot. </p> <p>“Why are you taking a picture without Pikachu!” he would cry, running over and thrusting out his Piakchu hand if he saw me setting up a shot with my phone. If I had already snapped the picture I had to do it again with Pikachu, no exceptions. </p> <p>So, please enjoy the scenic Mountain-to-Sea Trail with our little yellow friend, Pikachu. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2133-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18369" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2133-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2133-225x300.jpg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2133-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2133-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2133-600x800.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2133-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption>Let Pikachu lead the way! </figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="824" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2140-824x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18370" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2140-824x1024.jpg 824w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2140-241x300.jpg 241w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2140-768x954.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2140-1236x1536.jpg 1236w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2140-1648x2048.jpg 1648w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2140-600x746.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 824px) 100vw, 824px" /><figcaption>The beginning of the walk is pretty uneventful with just small markers on the normal sidewalk to lead the way. The elevated walkways, and special paths would come a few kilometer’s later. But Pikachu, and us, had 22 km’s to go to reach the other side. While we could probably do it in one go, we decided not to. 10 Km’s was our goal. </figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="576" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2189-576x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18381" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2189-576x1024.jpg 576w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2189-169x300.jpg 169w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2189-768x1365.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2189-864x1536.jpg 864w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2189-1152x2048.jpg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2189-600x1067.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2189-scaled.jpg 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px" /><figcaption>While the walk started off just on the normal sidewalk, I can”t help but go a little off-roading if I see a dirt, nature trail. So I found a short dirt bike path while Pikachu, and Azhi, walked on the normal sidewalk. </figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2144-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18371" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2144-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2144-225x300.jpg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2144-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2144-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2144-600x800.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2144-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption>Pikachu couldn’t help but stop and smell the flowers along the way. </figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2153-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18372" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2153-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2153-225x300.jpg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2153-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2153-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2153-600x800.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2153-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption>While it was a little off the official walk, Pikachu heard some monks chanting and decided to explore one of the old temples in the middle of the city. </figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="576" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/7480C050-259C-45BE-A95B-ABDFED572477-576x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18367" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/7480C050-259C-45BE-A95B-ABDFED572477-576x1024.jpeg 576w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/7480C050-259C-45BE-A95B-ABDFED572477-169x300.jpeg 169w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/7480C050-259C-45BE-A95B-ABDFED572477-768x1365.jpeg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/7480C050-259C-45BE-A95B-ABDFED572477-864x1536.jpeg 864w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/7480C050-259C-45BE-A95B-ABDFED572477-1152x2048.jpeg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/7480C050-259C-45BE-A95B-ABDFED572477-600x1067.jpeg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/7480C050-259C-45BE-A95B-ABDFED572477-scaled.jpeg 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px" /><figcaption>The path went around a reservoir, so we decided it was a good place to stop for lunch. I prepared a classic American picnic lunch: potato salad, cucumber salad, BBQ wraps and oranges. </figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2160-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18373" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2160-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2160-225x300.jpg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2160-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2160-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2160-600x800.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2160-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption>After the reservoir, the path finally went above the ground, on an elevated pathway. They have a 3 story building (with an elevator) to get the walkers from the ground. </figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BF8236EF-DD6D-4B7A-8ED1-60628DD5C711-768x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18368" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BF8236EF-DD6D-4B7A-8ED1-60628DD5C711-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BF8236EF-DD6D-4B7A-8ED1-60628DD5C711-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BF8236EF-DD6D-4B7A-8ED1-60628DD5C711-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BF8236EF-DD6D-4B7A-8ED1-60628DD5C711-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BF8236EF-DD6D-4B7A-8ED1-60628DD5C711-600x800.jpeg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BF8236EF-DD6D-4B7A-8ED1-60628DD5C711-scaled.jpeg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption>It was a good view from above and Pikachu waved to all the drivers below. </figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2173-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18376" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2173-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2173-225x300.jpg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2173-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2173-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2173-600x800.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2173-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption>While Xiamen is an island, surrounded by the ocean, the city is actually incredibly green with dozens of parks and mountains in the center of the city. This walk takes you through many of them. </figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2172-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18375" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2172-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2172-225x300.jpg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2172-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2172-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2172-600x800.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2172-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption>Even Pikachu needed a break after about 7 km’s. </figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/8F1605C7-C05A-415A-95CD-06A341EAA83D-1-768x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18365" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/8F1605C7-C05A-415A-95CD-06A341EAA83D-1-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/8F1605C7-C05A-415A-95CD-06A341EAA83D-1-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/8F1605C7-C05A-415A-95CD-06A341EAA83D-1-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/8F1605C7-C05A-415A-95CD-06A341EAA83D-1-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/8F1605C7-C05A-415A-95CD-06A341EAA83D-1-600x800.jpeg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/8F1605C7-C05A-415A-95CD-06A341EAA83D-1-scaled.jpeg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption>The pedestrian only pathway has a lot of nice little details if you know where to look. </figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2163-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18374" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2163-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2163-225x300.jpg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2163-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2163-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2163-600x800.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2163-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption>The path is always clearly marked with signs and colored lines. At one part the walking path meets up with the biking path (the world’s longest elevated bike path). Green is biking, orange is walking and they are separated for safety. </figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2177-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18377" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2177-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2177-225x300.jpg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2177-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2177-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2177-600x800.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2177-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption>The day was cold, but we stupidly didn’t bring any drinks with us. While there are a ton of drink machines along the path, I wanted a bottle of milk tea. We looked at every drink machine but the milk tea was sold out in every one! Finally after 7km’s we found one. What can I say? Xiamen people love their milk tea. </figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2178-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18378" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2178-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2178-225x300.jpg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2178-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2178-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2178-600x800.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2178-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption>In some instances the path goes right between apartment buildings (it goes through the city center after all) and sometimes the path had a sort of privacy shield so you couldn’t see what was going on in the apartment buildings on either side. Pikachu was disappointed because he loves snooping. </figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/820D3A88-2EFE-46C5-AB60-BB75B63FF4C1-768x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18366" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/820D3A88-2EFE-46C5-AB60-BB75B63FF4C1-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/820D3A88-2EFE-46C5-AB60-BB75B63FF4C1-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/820D3A88-2EFE-46C5-AB60-BB75B63FF4C1-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/820D3A88-2EFE-46C5-AB60-BB75B63FF4C1-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/820D3A88-2EFE-46C5-AB60-BB75B63FF4C1-600x800.jpeg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/820D3A88-2EFE-46C5-AB60-BB75B63FF4C1-scaled.jpeg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption>Where’s Pikachu? Perfect camouflage! </figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2183-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18379" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2183-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2183-300x225.jpg 300w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2183-768x576.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2183-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2183-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2183-600x450.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>When we saw the arch, we signed with relief, knowing the end was in sight. This arch is over a very busy street that we pass by often, so it signaled the end was close. Notice the twirling bridge in the background with red lights. That’s the same path and it goes from street level back into the mountains for the next 10 km’s. </figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2184-scaled-e1644844466400-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18380" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2184-scaled-e1644844466400-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2184-scaled-e1644844466400-300x225.jpg 300w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2184-scaled-e1644844466400-768x576.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2184-scaled-e1644844466400-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2184-scaled-e1644844466400-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2184-scaled-e1644844466400-600x450.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>With flagging energy and very sore feet, we finally made it to the 10 km mark before getting off the path and heading back down to the street. </figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="828" height="968" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2208.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18385" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2208.jpg 828w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2208-257x300.jpg 257w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2208-768x898.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/IMG_2208-600x701.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 828px) 100vw, 828px" /><figcaption>Our path. We did only 10km’s on the official pathway, but the days total was 20km’s and almost 30,000 steps! Phew! What a day…</figcaption></figure> <p>I think it’s no secret I’m a fangirl of Xiamen, and this walk is one of the reasons why. This city really plans for green spaces that people can use for free. This path is not only well thought out and planned, but has plenty of (clean) toilets, drink machines and even AED paddles at regular intervals in case there is a medical emergency. The whole path has a gentle grade that can accommodate wheelchairs and people with mobility issues, and when it goes into the mountain the walkway is a platform above the forest ground so people can’t bother or disturb the nature below. </p> <p>This mountain-to-sea path was finished about two years ago, and now they are working on a similar path that crosses the island from north to south. I can’t wait to walk on it when its done. I wonder, will Pikachu come with us then? </p> <p></p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://beckyances.net/2022/06/17/walking-with-pikachu/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Here We Go Again!</title> <link>https://beckyances.net/2022/06/09/here-we-go-again/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=here-we-go-again</link> <comments>https://beckyances.net/2022/06/09/here-we-go-again/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Becky Ances]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 09 Jun 2022 03:40:10 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[China]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Writing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[xiamen]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://beckyances.net/?p=18417</guid> <description><![CDATA[Bored, playing around on my computer the other day, I started looking through old bookmarks on my browser. Since I have been an Apple user for a long time, whenever I get a new device or computer, it copies everything over automatically and I have bookmarked websites I haven’t looked]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Bored, playing around on my computer the other day, I started looking through old bookmarks on my browser. Since I have been an Apple user for a long time, whenever I get a new device or computer, it copies everything over automatically and I have bookmarked websites I haven’t looked at in more than a decade. </p> <p>One folder labeled “Blogs-China” was one I forgot I had. It had a massive list of blogs with names I had basically forgotten about. Some were personal friends or some people I found when I was thinking of coming to China long ago and some that I had found in my first few years before WeChat and text groups started.</p> <p>As I started going through them, eager to see where these people were now, I was met again and again with error messages. “This site no longer exists.” or “Buy this domain name for $4000.” Or just ads for tumblr and wordpress.</p> <p>Some sites that did work were last updates some time around 2014 or even 2012. The only sites that I managed to find that were up, running and recently updated had changed from China blogs to some other topic. The writer had left China years ago and started writing different topics, their former life archived under a tab.</p> <p></p> <p>Then I thought about my site. While it is still active in my mind, I haven’t written any new posts in almost a year and people might think my site is dead too. Actually that’s not true. I haven’t <em>published</em> any new posts. I’ve written close to a dozen, I just never actually got around to posting them. </p> <p>Why?</p> <p>Part of it is logistics. I don’t like the look of my website and I don’t like the process it takes to update a post. I know wordpress is highly popular and customizable, but with such an old blog I have a lot of old problems that are clogging it up and making it difficult. I could figure it out but I really don’t care enough to do a deep dive to find where all my problems come from.</p> <p>Second a lot of my posts seemed a bit braggy. Now you know I do love me some bragging, but for the past two years as Covid revenged the world, my life didn’t change that much. Yes, I’m kinda stuck here in China (as in, if I leave the country there is no guarantee I can come back so I don’t dare leave) but that’s really my only major problem. Aside from an initial few scary months when the virus was discovered, things here have been…well…normal. </p> <p>We’ve had a few little outbreaks but Xiamen never experienced a serious lock down where I couldn’t leave my apartment. But I know how much my friends in America and Europe were suffering, especially in 2020, and I thought pictures me and my friends at afternoon tea at the Xiamen Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, or my trip to Shanghai Disney would just be pouring salt in their wounds so I never published those blog posts.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_6690-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18419" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_6690-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_6690-300x225.jpg 300w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_6690-768x576.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_6690-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_6690-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_6690-600x450.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption><em>By June of 2020 as America was locked down, things were normal here and I was regularly going out with friends. A fact I felt comfortable sharing with my friends in China, but it felt cringy to show off to my American friends. </em></figcaption></figure> <p>I also wrote a few blogs about updates of living in China during the pandemic, to counteract the misinformation I was seeing on the internet. Like I wrote one long post about the vaccine and how people assumed that “Communist China” (said in angry tone) would have a vaccine mandate. But they don’t. And not only that but the government has even stopped private companies from issuing vaccine mandates for their workers or visitors. No one in China can force you to get the vaccine and no one even tries to strong arm you into it. I know that from personal experience of friends, both Chinese and western, who haven’t gotten the vaccine. They have gotten no pressure from anyone and have had zero restrictions in movement without it. Restaurants, concerts, jobs, places where lots of people gather are not allowed to ask for your vaccine status. Something I know is hard for Americans and Europeans to believe. But I felt it would be politicized or people would say I’m lying, or whatever. And I just don’t want to deal. So I didn’t publish those.</p> <p>And then there were some personal posts. I’ve mentioned my genetic health condition on here a few times, and I’ve had some pretty major issues over the past 3+ years that I’ve written about, but they felt too personal and things I probably shouldn’t put on the internet for anyone to see for years and years. So those I never published either.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="576" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_0416-576x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18420" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_0416-576x1024.png 576w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_0416-169x300.png 169w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_0416-600x1067.png 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_0416.png 750w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px" /><figcaption><em>I’m not shy talking about my illness, but maybe these things are best left in person and not on the internet archived forever. </em></figcaption></figure> <p>But finding all those dead or long ago blogs made me miss writing and sharing my life on the blog. So, while I’m not making any promises I will be making my best effort to update this blog on a more regular basis. I have always seen myself as a go between two worlds; China and America, and I’ve felt it’s my duty to help people from both cultures understand each other a little more.</p> <p>So while I have long since lost fascination with the “exotic” aspects of China (I’ve lived here 13 years people! Chinese culture seems normal to me while western culture is more exotic at this point) there are still many things I can talk about and share. I know there is still a lot of misunderstandings between the two cultures and I hope, by openly sharing my experiences, people from both sides can learn.</p> <p>So, welcome back! And see you soon!</p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://beckyances.net/2022/06/09/here-we-go-again/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>The Five Books I Keep Returning To</title> <link>https://beckyances.net/2021/07/30/the-five-books-i-keep-returning-to/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-five-books-i-keep-returning-to</link> <comments>https://beckyances.net/2021/07/30/the-five-books-i-keep-returning-to/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Becky Ances]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 30 Jul 2021 10:21:37 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[At Home]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Writing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[books]]></category> <category><![CDATA[hero with a thousand faces]]></category> <category><![CDATA[reading]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://beckyances.net/?p=18355</guid> <description><![CDATA[As a (attempting) minimalist, and a traveler who has no permanent home base, I try to keep as little stuff as possible, which is quite a feat given that I have natural pack rat tendencies, and enjoy collections (hello spoons of the world). Books are one of the most common]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As a (attempting) minimalist, and a traveler who has no permanent home base, I try to keep as little stuff as possible, which is quite a feat given that I have natural pack rat tendencies, and enjoy collections (hello spoons of the world).</p> <p>Books are one of the most common things people collect, and as an avid reader, I am no exception. Living in China my access to own physical English books is limited, which seems like a good thing, but it makes it worse as every physical book is more precious to me, and even if I don’t like it I figure some English speaker would at some point in the future so I should hold onto it.</p> <p>But with only one bookshelf in my place, and it half filled with diaries, travel books and knickknacks, I am forced to keep my books to a limited number. So I only keep the books that mean something to me, that I want to read again and again, books I know intimately and books that no matter how I change or grow, I will always return to.</p> <p>So here are the five books I returning to the most:</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="750" height="1000" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_6420-copy.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18350" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_6420-copy.jpg 750w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_6420-copy-225x300.jpg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_6420-copy-600x800.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /></figure> <p><strong><em>The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell</em></strong></p> <p>I am never not reading this book. Every time I open it and read chapter, or just a few paragraphs it always gives something to think about. <em>The Hero’s Journey</em>, as laid out by Campbell, is the basic story structure of most books, movies and TV shows, but it’s also a guiding force in my life. I teach it to my students every year, but I also make most major decisions by it.</p> <p><br>While most people know and like the quote “follow your bliss,” the one that has really changed my life is “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” Campbell taught me that your fear can actually tell you more about your deepest desires than your joy.</p> <p><br>Like I tell my students, if someone asks to speak to 500 people about teaching English in China, I’d have no problem. Sure, I’d be nervous about speaking in front of so many people, but not threateningly so, and I’d lose almost no sleep over it. But if someone asked me to give a TED talk in front of 20 people, I’d have a twisted, nervous stomach for weeks. It’s because teaching English is my job, it’s not my passion. I love it, but it’s not a big part of my identity or something I am looking to improve or be considered a leader in the field.</p> <p><br>But TED talks are something I admire a lot, only interesting people get asked to give one, and I very much admire it. So the fear and nervousness (“Will they like me? Am I gonna flop? Who am I to give a TED talk?”) actually shows me what I care about, what I want deep down. So Campbell taught me to chase my fears to be a “hero” in my own story. And that’s just ONE example of how his words have changed my life. I could go on for hours about it. (And do, sorry students! lol)</p> <p><strong><em>Meditations by Marcus Aurelius</em></strong></p> <p>I know, I know, nothing as hip and trendy as reading Stoic philosophers these days. But like Joseph Campbell I am never NOT reading this book. If you are unfamiliar with it (congrats, you are not a hipster), it is the private diary of Marcus Aurelius, an emperor in Ancient Rome, who just wrote down his personal thoughts on how to be a better person. Unlike Campbell, in which I have a bookmark that I move sequentially, I prefer to pick up Meditations and read sections at random. Since it’s a private diary, not a story or novel, really any section gives you something to think about in your life.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="750" height="1000" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_6418-copy.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18348" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_6418-copy.jpg 750w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_6418-copy-225x300.jpg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_6418-copy-600x800.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /></figure> <p><br>Such as “At the break of day, when you are reluctant to get up, have this thought ready to mind: ‘I am getting up for a man’s work. Do I still then resent it, if I am going out to do what I was born for, the purpose for which I was brought into this world? Or was I created to wrap myself in blankets and keep warm?’ ‘But this is more pleasant’. Were you then born for pleasure – all for feeling, not action?”</p> <p><br>Motivational, relatable and very easy to understand. This and <em>Hero</em> are the only books I have underlined, highlighted and tagged pages to because there is so much to think about. I hate marking up books, but it’s almost a necessity with these two. No one should read either of these books only once because there is so much to chew, one reading would be a waste.</p> <p><strong><em>Winnie-The-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner, AA Milne</em></strong></p> <p>While these books might seem totally different from my first two, in reality they aren’t. Classic, original Winnie (the one written by AA Milne before Disney bought it) is just as much a philosopher as Campbell or Aurelius. Possibly even more so with lines like: “Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.” </p> <p>And…</p> <p><br>“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,” said Piglet at last, “what’s the first thing you say to yourself?”<br>“What’s for breakfast?” said Pooh. “What do you say, Piglet?”<br>“I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?” said Piglet.<br>Pooh nodded thoughtfully. “It’s the same thing,” he said.”</p> <p>I mean, that’s basically the same as Aurelius’ chapter on waking up right? Only much more cute.<br>I’m convinced there is no self-help guru half as wise as Winnie and the gang. And with short chapters and cute stories, it’s perfect to keep by your bedside as read as you drift off.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="750" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_6417-copy.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18352" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_6417-copy.jpg 1000w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_6417-copy-300x225.jpg 300w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_6417-copy-768x576.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_6417-copy-600x450.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure> <p><strong><em>Man’s Search For Meaning – Viktor Frankel</em></strong></p> <p>Another classic I think doesn’t need much introduction, <em>Man’s Search</em> is a psychology book that teaches you that meaning, and not happiness, makes our lives fulfilling. That we can choose how to react in any situation and that our worst pains and struggles actually make our lives better.</p> <p><br>I find that this book is also important to read over and over because as you change, the understanding of this book changes. Nobody gets through life scar free, and the longer you are around, the more difficulties you’ll face, So its really helpful to read this book regularly. I tend to read it cover to cover every 2-3 years, just to see what new lesson I’ll learn from the same words.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="750" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_6416-copy.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18353" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_6416-copy.jpg 1000w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_6416-copy-300x225.jpg 300w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_6416-copy-768x576.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_6416-copy-600x450.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure> <p><strong><em>The War of Art by Steven Pressfield</em></strong><br>As a creative person we need someone in our corner, cheering us on, giving us tough love, and just being the stern voice in our head that makes us sit our butts down and get the work done. For me that’s Steven Pressfield and this book.</p> <p><br>He doesn’t care if you’re busy. He doesn’t care if you have no talent, he doesn’t care if you have 100 reasons why you can’t do your artist calling, Because to him they are all just weak excuses brought on by “resistance” (that negative voice in your head. And he has NO time for it. This book is short and sweet about how to get over resistance and get back to doing the work your soul is calling for you to do. I love his strict, unforgiving (yet understanding) tone because that’s what you need to hear sometimes.</p> <p>So this are the five books I keep returning to again and again, and expect I will continue for the rest of my life. Now it’s your turn. What book or books do you read over and over? Tell me in the comments below!</p> <p></p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://beckyances.net/2021/07/30/the-five-books-i-keep-returning-to/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>“Do You Like Bread?”</title> <link>https://beckyances.net/2021/07/16/do-you-like-bread/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=do-you-like-bread</link> <comments>https://beckyances.net/2021/07/16/do-you-like-bread/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Becky Ances]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 16 Jul 2021 06:45:41 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[China]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chinese Culture]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chinese Food]]></category> <category><![CDATA[snacks]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://beckyances.net/?p=18341</guid> <description><![CDATA[I passed by a friendly woman whose family I buy fruit from and stopped for a minute to chat. She was standing in front of a cooler she had dragged out from her store a little down a side street and she was selling cold watermelon cut up into containers]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I passed by a friendly woman whose family I buy fruit from and stopped for a minute to chat. She was standing in front of a cooler she had dragged out from her store a little down a side street and she was selling cold watermelon cut up into containers ready to eat. </p> <p>“I’m gonna get some other things and I’ll be back for some watermelon,” I told her. I then went down the street and picked up a loaf of bread. Earlier I was in the mood for french toast but didn’t have any. </p> <p>I went back to the woman and I held up my bags and said “done!” The bag was quite thin and she could clearly see the loaf I had inside. </p> <p>“Do you like bread?” she asked. </p> <p>I stifled a little laugh, I mean, who asks that question? But I said yes, chatted for a moment about the summer holiday, bought two containers of watermelon and headed home. </p> <p>The funny thing is that while no one would ever ask that question in America, in China it’s legit. It’s because bread, as in a loaf of bread, is a relatively new concept in China. I mean it’s sold everywhere now, available in pretty much every supermarket and most the bakeries, but it’s still very much seen as a western thing. </p> <p>It wouldn’t be shocking to come across someone who hasn’t eaten bread. In fact, I wonder if the fruit lady ever tried a slice. </p> <p>While a staple of the American diet, where every meal can be enhanced with some bread, it’s not traditional or common in China. I mean, there are bread-like things: steamed buns, round naan bread, circular english muffin style bread filled with meat. But they don’t call any of that “bread.” In Chinese it’s called “bing” which just means something round. Slices of bread, rolls, buns for sandwiches, just isn’t common outside more hip and trendy places. </p> <p>In fact even the loaves of bread are miniature. A loaf might have 6 or so slices, because it is seen as a snack instead of an ingredient. I’ve often seen students bring a “loaf” into class, bought at the school store, and just pull out slices to eat. No butter, not jelly, no nothing. To get a full sized American loaf you’d need to buy 3-4 of the loaves here. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_6268-copy-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18344" srcset="https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_6268-copy-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_6268-copy-225x300.jpg 225w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_6268-copy-600x800.jpg 600w, https://beckyances.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_6268-copy.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption><em>This is the size of a full loaf of bread in most places. </em></figcaption></figure> <p>And because it is seen more like a snack, the bread tends to be sweeter than what westerners are used to. Some can be overpoweringly sweet, but most are sweet like wonder bread. Just really processed sweet. You can get “whole grain” bread as well, but I have a feeling it has just as much added sugar as the white stuff. </p> <p>People in China don’t have toast and eggs for breakfast (unless they are going to a western restaurant), students don’t bring sandwiches to school (they prefer hot, cooked lunches) and dinner never includes a basket of rolls. </p> <p>So asking someone if they like bread is a total normal question because it’s not a given. It’s like if someone in America asked you if you liked sushi. Nowadays Sushi is available basically everywhere but exotic enough that some people have never tried it or don’t like it. </p> <p>So yeah, I like bread. I’ve cut down on it a lot since I’ve moved here, but I do still like it very much. Now excuse me while I go make some french toast. </p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://beckyances.net/2021/07/16/do-you-like-bread/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> </channel></rss> If you would like to create a banner that links to this page (i.e. this validation result), do the following:
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