CHINA
Country Overview:
"A land of contrasts, where ancient traditions meet rapid modernization, and delectable cuisine coexists with complex political realities."
My seven-year journey in China, from May 2013 to August 2020, was a whirlwind of experiences. I taught English, pursued my Master's in Politics & Foreign Policy at the prestigious Tsinghua University, and immersed myself in the media landscape at China Today and Xinhua News Agency. Beijing was my home base, but my travels painted a vibrant tapestry of China's diverse landscapes and cultures: the bustling metropolis of Shanghai, the historic city of Xi'an, the tropical paradise of Sanya, the unique blend of East and West in Macau and Hong Kong, and countless other destinations in between. From savoring the exquisite flavors of regional cuisines to navigating the intricacies of daily life under a distinct political system, China left an indelible mark on me.
These things were so good. He fries basically what I would call a ‘mini-tortilla’, cuts it open, then puts in the meat and veggies that you choose. #Iheartstreetfood
This was a stir-fry type dish
Don’t ask me what’s in it, because half of it is either unrecognizable or unpronounceable
It's 10pm, I just got home, and I'm eating donkey.
I know this because I asked some guy what kind of meat it was and he mumbled, “Chicken - no, beef - no, pork - no. Uuuuuhhhhh IT’S DONKEY!!! Yes yes, donkey!” He looked like I should have given him a gold star or something. #Iheartchina #it'sdelicious
Despite the fact that I don’t know what they are, these things are delicious.
There is like a cheese, scallion and egg (tofu?) mixture inside a doughy center and a fried outside
1st picture was my first dinner here in China
The guy who picked me up at the airport got me settled in at the hotel, then left. Great. I was starving and had no way to communicate. So I went back to the school and asked if he could help me out. He took me to this giant place in the basement of a mall that has tons of Chinese food. You load up money on a card, then when you want something, you just tap the card against the machine and it deducts the costs and they serve you your food. Besides the sweet/sour chicken with rice, I had no idea what the other 3 bowls were.
Sometimes I know what I’m getting, and other times, I don’t. For example, the yellow stuff in the bottom picture came with what I ordered and it was like a gelatinous tapioca pudding without any flavor. After struggling with chopsticks and rice, I asked my buddy what the Chinese word for ‘fork’ was and he said, “They’ll just give you chopsticks anyway”.