Author Archives: scottatirrell

Let’s warm the soul with a great topic: Dumplings. It’s a snowy winter day here in the Boston area, and my wife and I will be making the little devils for the Spring Festival (as is our tradition). In Chinese, they are generally called jiǎozi, and once discovered, they are essential to life. Many culturesContinue reading “My life in China, Part 16- Jiaozi full of love”

Ah, the Great Wall of China. As Chairman Mao said, “Bù qù chángchéng fēi hǎohàn” or “He who has not been to the Great Wall is not a true man.” At some point, I needed to write a post about this monstrous dragon. It is the most prominent symbol of China and is likely oneContinue reading “My life in China, Part 15- Surmounting Great Walls”

I had many beautiful experiences in China. My time there was just a smorgasbord of life lessons, wonderful memories, and exciting adventures. However, there were a few events that I would have to chalk up on the “cons” side of the board. One incident in particular comes to mind often while writing these posts. MyContinue reading “My life in China, Part 14- Taxi to hell”

I was now married and living in China. The ensuing months had been a whirlwind and we lived in a newlywed dreamworld for a time. To celebrate, we took a wonderful trip to Tianjin, the port city that feeds Beijing. We joined a local tour group that was comprised mostly of workers from a BaodingContinue reading “My life in China, Part 13- Making ends meet”

Picture this. My new wife and I are happily walking down the street in Baoding, holding hands as lovers do (especially newlyweds). Maybe we will go to the underground market to do some grocery shopping, buy some DVDs, or perhaps have a nice bite to eat. It’s getting crisp as winter approaches, so some steamyContinue reading “My life in China, Part 12- Walking hand in hand”

I was in China again after being away for two months, and it was fantastic to be back. No more getting up early for the hourly job and no more living with my parents. I was on my own again, and better yet, I was now a “living in China” veteran (sort of). I hadContinue reading “My life in China, Part 11- Best dollar I’ve ever spent”

*Originally posted 11/1/2020 How many times in life do we kick ourselves? The first few days I was in China, I kept a journal. I even brought several blank notepads realizing there would be value in documenting my experiences. But then, the wonders of the country pulled me away, and I stopped after perhaps halfContinue reading “My life in China, Part 10- Six months to life”

*Please note, this is a repost from October 2020. My wife’s aunt and grandmother are both healing and doing well. How to even approach the topic of Healthcare in China? It’s a pretty broad issue and one that the US hasn’t gotten right either, which is important to note right at the beginning of thisContinue reading “My life in China, Part 9- Healthcare in China”

During my time in China, people took me out to eat a lot, especially in the first few months. As I sat facing the door as the guest of honor in banquet after banquet of Lazy Susan parades, I was overwhelmed by the abundance and variety of Chinese cuisine. It was a bit of aContinue reading “My life in China, Part 8- Fish eyeballs and baijiu”