Shanghai
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Avoid the middleman, buy direct…
If you were hosting someone from a different country, what would you show off about America? Would you bring them to the Statue of Liberty and amaze them with the fact that the US is a melting pot of many different cultures? Would you visit the Grand Canyon or the Great Lakes and regale them Continue reading
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Chinormous…
There are everyday superlatives to describe something of immense size. Mammoth. Gigantic. Colossal. There are newer terms that even better capture the immensity. Ginormous. Hugemongous (made this one up myself!). Some occasions, however, call for something far grander. I’ll admit that I was a little excited to see the Great Wall of China. We were Continue reading
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Tastefully Chinese…
Rooms in the more modern Chinese hotels have a particular aesthetic. How does one tactfully describe them without invoking the ire of the powers that be? We are, after all, in a very, very globally-connected world. Hotel room designs pay a clear homage to the country’s long history. Guests were expected to be impressed (Bob Continue reading
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Chinese Chinese-American food…
Sometimes it is best to err on the side of familiarity. Especially if your clientele hails from different parts of North America. There were countless variations of a theme. One day the deep-fried (insert familiar protein) would be served in a sweet and sour sauce. Then caution would be thrown in the wind and the Continue reading
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Don’t ask, won’t tell…
You were forgiven for asking if you were fair-skinned, blond-haired, and blue-eyed but it was an altogether different story if you were somewhat indistinguishable from the native population. So is the government doing anything about the smog? The reticence of the tour guide was answer enough. FUN FACT. Gone are the images of the 1980s Continue reading

