Do all the food scandals in China make you nervous about the quality or safety of produce here? I never really got sick, even from street food (thanks to my iron stomach), but even I found myself scrubbing all greens for cooking at home with special soap and hoping that … read more
Moving to a new country with children can be stressful but it also is a unique opportunity to expose kids to a different culture. Of course their schooling is important. You want to make sure your offspring will enjoy a quality education while experiencing a new culture. So how are … read more
Isn’t he adorable? I don’t have a cat but love cats. So I was excited when I had the opportunity to take care of this sweetie for a few weeks as a pet-sitter. I also got to try out living in a different part of Beijing, near Ritan Park. A … read more
Chinese New Year is long over and the heavy smog that blanketed Beijing then for a few days was probably quickly forgotten during the windy, crisp and sunny days that followed. But as it is with blue skies in Beijing, they don’t last long. As soon as the wind drops, … read more
Updated April 2016 The tax season is well under way. As an American living abroad, you may say “I don’t have to worry yet about filing my US taxes, I’ll get an automatic extension because I live abroad.” Not so fast. It is correct that you have more time to … read more
A Chinese workplace can be so different from a Western one, in things you may not expect. Someone who is planning to go to China for work asked me the other day what the 5 key differences are between working in China and the West. I thought I’ll answer this … read more
You find yourself moving half-way around the world to Beijing without knowing what your next home looks like. Scary thought, huh? Freaking out at the idea of searching frantically for an apartment while staying in a hotel? Understandable. But don’t worry. Finding and leasing a flat in Beijing can be … read more
I’m a blonde (I mean my hair color!). At least I used to be. By now, my blonde needs a little bit of maintenance, if you understand, and also some highlights to lighten up the mutt color. No big deal, right? That’s what I thought. Hit and miss of coloring … read more
When I first came to Beijing on a vacation in 2006, there were 3 subway lines: Line 1, the old government line, which opened in 1969; line 2, which traces the second ring road, and line 13, which connects the northern periphery to the city. Look at the Beijing subway … read more
Finding a nice place to live in a city as big, foreign and fast-paced as Beijing can seem daunting to new Beijing expats and even to foreigners who have lived here for a while. My husband and I had the help of Chinese colleagues or friends to find an apartment … read more