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The Lord Of The Visa
Waiting two more minutes doesn’t sound so bad. We have been standing in the small — yet overcrowded — room for about two hours, browsing brochures about the latest Shenzhen fair trade and exchanging exasperated glances with our unfortunate lineup mates. I went out twice for a smoke, drank about two liters of water and read all the notes taped on the wall.
I Won’t Boycott The Olympic Games
Something has been bothering me for a while now. Maybe it’s the one-sided view of the problem. Maybe it’s because I feel we’re witch-hunting. Maybe it’s because I can’t take hypocrisy very well. or maybe I’ve just been brainwashed my the Chinese as my friends like to joke.
Call Me (Not)
But she surprised me. Instead of mentioning my laziness (because she clearly remember that when she visited Paris, French were less efficient than Japanese, therefore they were lazy - some kind of genetic problem that I must have had inherited because I was very French indeed - are you following me ?) , she blamed my English.
The Word Is Collapsing
In September 2001, I was living in Hong Kong, working for a local company. I had just graduated from high school and was enjoying my first glimpse of freedom in Kowloon.
I had two co-workers : Bidé and Kelín. Both of them were also my roommates since the company I was working for provided accommodation.
We were [...]
The World For Dummies
–I swear to god, you’re not speaking French. We’re all American here, we don’t understand your stupid language.
– Let’s speak Chinese !
– Not when we’re drunk ! Speak English or get out !
Since I don’t want to get out, I speak English. Let’s avoid a diplomatic breakdown.
During morning classes, we have to stand [...]
From Laowai To Canadian
– 老外！老外 ！
It’s me, Zhu. I’m a laowài, a foreigner, a white woman, an object of curiosity. An oddity in the streets of Hong Kong.
This summer 2001 is hot and humid. The typhoon season is in full swing and some days, I can’t even leave the 32nd floor of the building where I live. The [...]
Funny, How ?
We were three friends sit at a small wobbly wooden table, set half on the sidewalk, half on the curb side of the dusty road. We just came back from a bar where my roommate’s Chinese boyfriend was performing and we were starving, craving for a platter of jiaozi. It was a hot and humid [...]
See China Right In Front Of You
Need an enemy ? Hesitate no longer, fellow Westerner, I have your pick : China.
Sure, times have changed, most of the world isn’t trying to defeat communism anymore, since it pretty much killed itself. Sure, China wasn’t targeted as the latest “Axis of Evil”. Sure, China hasn’t been accused of fostering terrorist - so far [...]
