As seen on ThoughtCatalog.com As a self-appointed queen of Gchat and all sorts of online communications that require typing rather than verbalizing, I have encountered and continued to be bewildered by the use of emoticons and internet acronyms across culture. We all are familiar with a universal smiley face :-) a wink ;) or a LOL … Continue reading »
Living in Beijing, I am constantly exposed to the center of China-ness. Many things in this city remind me of the magnificent China: classic landmarks like the Forbidden City and the Olympic Bird’s Nest, intimidating government buildings that sprawl across the city, and eight-lane avenues which are so wide that it would require two red … Continue reading »
As an online geek, one of the most inconvenient aspects of living in China is being trapped inside the infamous Great Firewall. Stuck inside the wall, technically I am unable to access YouTube, Facebook, all blogging platforms (WordPress, Blogspot, Tumblr, etc. including my own blog), Twitter, FourSquare, Google Documents & Google Calendar at times, and … Continue reading »
If you are traveling to China and are looking for some advice, I’ve got one for you. Leave your credit card at home. Instead, bring small change – lots of it. The reason for this advice is not because China is dirt cheap – forget about the days when lunch is 2 kuai (USD0.30) and … Continue reading »
For those of you who enjoy reading cultural posts, check out PocketCultures – a website that brings, as the name suggests, different pockets of cultures around the world to your home browser. The website is divided into three sections; Topics of the World (blog posts like mine); Blogs of the World (which introduces you to … Continue reading »
It has been almost a year since I left America. Time flies freakishly fast. There are so many things about the US that I miss – that unique smell of America, J.Crew catalogues, Chipotle burritos, and not to mention “Party in the USA.” In the meantime, life in Beijing hasn’t been so bad either. I … Continue reading »
Although time is a universal concept, it seems to me that people from different places view it differently. To delay a train ride for one minute in Japan is a crime, but to arrive at a social gathering an hour late in Thailand is expected. Our watches may tick at a similar pace, but we … Continue reading »
I’m sure most of you have been to Chinatown in your city many, many times. For a lot of people, including myself, picking delicious dishes from dim sum carts is a neat way to jumpstart a Saturday morning. Packed with people and street vendors, Chinatown is charmingly unique and always fun to stroll along. Despite … Continue reading »
If you happen to know me in person and if you are not Thai, chances are at one point you probably think of me as the girl with a long, crazy last name. Let’s be honest – how many times do you get to meet someone with a last name longer than ‘Charassuvichakanich’? Exactly. For … Continue reading »
As I consider myself a city person, one aspect that keeps me excited about an urban lifestyle is public transportation, particularly the subway. Not only is it reliable and efficient, but it also portrays a vibe of the city quite accurately. There is no substitute for the distinct music video-esque vibe a Manhattan subway ride … Continue reading »
