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.

Degen Hill 4/20/15 Degen Hill 4/20/15

Buddy sent me this from the school he teaches at. Keep up the good work man.

Degen Hill 8/19/14 Degen Hill 8/19/14

Coolest shirt I have seen one of my kids wear so far

Degen Hill 7/18/14 Degen Hill 7/18/14

Correct..

Me:So what do you eat during the morning?
Student:Breakfast
Me:What do you eat at night?
Student:Dinner
Me:What do you eat during the afternoon?
Student:Fish

Degen Hill 7/5/14 Degen Hill 7/5/14

Germany, she knows what’s up

Degen Hill 5/12/14 Degen Hill 5/12/14

Mother’s Day was super fun

Colored paper flowers in my little kids class, and made origami cranes / flowers with the older ones. Wishing all you moms out there a fantastic day!

Degen Hill 4/24/14 Degen Hill 4/24/14

Happy belated Easter! And yes, I named one of my kids ‘Wall-E’ spelled with a ’-’

Degen Hill 4/19/14 Degen Hill 4/19/14

Colored eggs for Easter and thought, this is going to get crazy

So I gave them all lollipops before we started and it was the quietest they have ever been. I’m glad I boiled 2 dozen eggs because 8 were dropped in less than an hour. But hey, kids will be kids.

Degen Hill 3/25/14 Degen Hill 3/25/14

I’m off to Mongolia tomorrow for the final border run on my current visa. Plan: find a soviet-era war jacket. 24 hours should be plenty of time

Degen Hill 3/20/14 Degen Hill 3/20/14

Awhile back my company did a photo shoot and they put my picture on the internet, no problem

My buddy in Shanghai just sent me this and said they are all over the place. This is not what I had in mind when I fantasized about being ‘famous’

Degen Hill 3/9/14 Degen Hill 3/9/14

5 year olds doing push-ups is hilarious

Degen Hill 3/7/14 Degen Hill 3/7/14

Birthdays are the best

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He thought he was sooooo funny

Degen Hill 1/26/14 Degen Hill 1/26/14

Cake in the face, classic

Degen Hill 1/21/14 Degen Hill 1/21/14

Played Jeopardy in class and used real money in honor of the Chinese New Year

I’ve never seen kids be so excited about winning the equivalent of .04 cents. I’ve also noticed several firework stands being constructed around where I live and keep getting more and more excited in anticipation of their grand opening.