From Utah to China and Back and Beyond...

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About this blog

I took a year off from a 9-5 public school teaching career, and moved to Hangzhou, China, where I worked for one year. I decided to stay and not reclaim my job. I am now in a state of permanent exile. I'll ride this wave as far as it takes me. No future in the US for a 50 year old over-experienced educator. I cost too much for the districts to pay.

This is a great life for the time being. Hopefully the government will continue to allow us foreign teachers to remain here. The Chinese people are kind.

• 1

  Preparing for the big move to the Middle Kingdom.   Logan, UT on May 21, 2011 4 pictures 0 comments
• 2

  Closed a 4 year teaching stint, now for some fun!   Logan, UT on May 27, 2011 5 pictures 2 comments
• 3

  Final preparations, thoughts about China, & stuff!   Logan, UT on Jun 4, 2011 3 pictures 0 comments
• 4

  Booked the flights and more!   Logan, UT on Jun 18, 2011 14 pictures 0 comments
• 5

  Gives us your tired your poor.....   Las Vegas, NV on Jul 18, 2011 9 pictures 0 comments
• 6

  Dont read this it's short and boring.   Rosemont, IL on Aug 7, 2011 0 pictures 0 comments
• 7

  Frow DFW to Shangers and beyond   Shanghai, China on Aug 10, 2011 0 pictures 0 comments
• 8

  First full day in China   Xiasha, China on Aug 10, 2011 0 pictures 2 comments
• 9

  Nicer place very pretty here   Hangzhou, China on Aug 11, 2011 11 pictures 0 comments
• 10

  20 Yuan my arse!!!   Hangzhou, China on Aug 12, 2011 5 pictures 2 comments
• 11

  *#+-&   Hangzhou, China on Aug 14, 2011 4 pictures 2 comments
• 12

  First free English lesson.   Hangzhou, China on Aug 15, 2011 0 pictures 0 comments
• 13

  Lookin！up   Hangzhou, China on Aug 16, 2011 28 pictures 2 comments
• 14

  Damn this place is incredible   Hangzhou, China on Aug 17, 2011 7 pictures 0 comments
• 15

  Dipping Cigarettes and other fun anecdotes!   Hangzhou, China on Aug 18, 2011 22 pictures 1 comment
• 16

  Last two days at Mingtown   Hangzhou, China on Aug 20, 2011 5 pictures 2 comments
• 17

  Red bikes of freedom   Hangzhou, China on Aug 22, 2011 7 pictures 2 comments
• 18

  Meet the Buddhists!   Hangzhou, China on Aug 22, 2011 3 pictures 0 comments
• 19

  Closer to the sea   Xiasha, China on Aug 23, 2011 3 pictures 3 comments
• 20

  My new "Hood".   Xiasha, China on Aug 26, 2011 10 pictures 4 comments
• 21

  Time for it all.   Xiasha, China on Aug 27, 2011 6 pictures 2 comments
• 22

  Monday   Xiasha, China on Aug 28, 2011 4 pictures 6 comments
• 23

  Bikes and Cat Scans   Xiasha, China on Aug 31, 2011 10 pictures 2 comments
• 24

  Workin' hard in the PRC!   Xiasha, China on Sep 1, 2011 6 pictures 4 comments
• 25

  Hangzhou ("hongjoe")   Xiasha, China on Sep 5, 2011 8 pictures 3 comments
• 26

  General Musings and pictures...   Xiasha, China on Sep 8, 2011 7 pictures 2 comments
• 27

  911 and Autumn festival.   Xiasha, China on Sep 10, 2011 32 pictures 1 comment
• 28

  KIWIS, COMMUNISM & BEING MEAN TO FISH!   Xiasha, China on Sep 15, 2011 18 pictures 2 comments
• 29

  A ham, cheese, and salami sandwich...   Xiasha, China on Sep 18, 2011 6 pictures 3 comments
• 30

  Damn it's nice to be teaching again!   Xiasha, China on Sep 22, 2011 17 pictures 4 comments
• 31

  Time to get to work...   Xiasha, China on Sep 27, 2011 18 pictures 2 comments
• 32

  October 1st "National Week" holiday.   Xiasha, China on Oct 1, 2011 29 pictures 1 comment
• 33

  Through the door to the unknown and other tales.   Xiasha, China on Oct 6, 2011 13 pictures 0 comments
• 34

  STEVE JOBS REST IN PEACE.   Xiasha, China on Oct 6, 2011 2 pictures 1 comment
• 35

  National Week is now over...   Xiasha, China on Oct 8, 2011 7 pictures 1 comment
• 36

  I am "Ready for the Weekend"!   Xiasha, China on Oct 13, 2011 4 pictures 0 comments
• 37

  WenWei Cun (real China)   Xiasha, China on Oct 16, 2011 14 pictures 1 comment
• 38

  Shopping, the Zoo, a show, and dung discrimination   Hangzhou, China on Oct 18, 2011 27 pictures 0 comments
• 39

  Racing the sun.   Xinghua, China on Oct 22, 2011 52 pictures 0 comments
• 40

  Time for the Students.   Xiasha, China on Oct 26, 2011 7 pictures 1 comment
• 41

  Another Sunday Bike ride, and other tales.   Qi Hang Lu, China on Oct 30, 2011 12 pictures 1 comment
• 42

  THANK YOU READERS!!!!! OVER 600 THIS MONTH!   Xiasha, China on Oct 31, 2011 0 pictures 2 comments
• 43

  A Pocketful of Music..   Xiasha, China on Nov 2, 2011 6 pictures 2 comments
• 44

  The 4 bike-men of the Qaintang.   Xiasha, China on Nov 6, 2011 18 pictures 0 comments
• 45

  Late at night you start to rise. & Ben-Floyd   Xiasha, China on Nov 9, 2011 4 pictures 0 comments
• 46

  Two days with Mao in Suzhou.   Suzhou, China on Nov 13, 2011 39 pictures 0 comments
• 47

  "BRING OUT YOUR DEAD"!   Xiasha, China on Nov 16, 2011 7 pictures 0 comments
• 48

  Ride into Hangzhou to promote bicycling.   Hangzhou, China on Nov 19, 2011 7 pictures 0 comments
• 49

  Thanksgiving Chinese style   Xiasha, China on Nov 24, 2011 3 pictures 3 comments
• 50

  Weekend bike trip to Qain's garden lake.   Hangzhou, China on Nov 28, 2011 6 pictures 0 comments
• 51

  Another weekend in Mingtown   Hangzhou, China on Dec 4, 2011 6 pictures 0 comments
• 52

  OK....This entry is now finished!!!!!   Xiasha, China on Dec 8, 2011 13 pictures 0 comments
• 53

  Jingle bells!   Xiasha, China on Dec 14, 2011 3 pictures 2 comments
• 54

  Weekend in Mid December....(final version)   Xiasha, China on Dec 17, 2011 4 pictures 0 comments
• 55

  Ramblings and observations..   Xiasha, China on Dec 20, 2011 1 picture 0 comments
• 56

  I saw three ships a sailin'.... on Christmas day   Xiasha, China on Dec 25, 2011 0 pictures 4 comments
• 57

  End of the semester. Life is cheap. Ducks.   Xiasha, China on Dec 27, 2011 4 pictures 0 comments
• 58

  HAPPY NEW YEAR!   Xiasha, China on Jan 1, 2012 5 pictures 0 comments
• 59

  A few days past New Years...   Xiasha, China on Jan 3, 2012 3 pictures 0 comments
• 60

  Alone...at last.   Chen’ansi, China on Jan 8, 2012 15 pictures 0 comments
• 61

  Last few days in Xiasha   Jianying, China on Jan 11, 2012 19 pictures 0 comments
• 62

  Shanghai (more to follow keep check back)   Shanghai, China on Jan 16, 2012 25 pictures 0 comments
• 63

  Home again   Dallas, TX on Feb 8, 2012 0 pictures 0 comments
• 64

  I only put this entry in for the map.   Incheon, Korea Rep. on Feb 9, 2012 0 pictures 0 comments
• 65

  Shanghai'd again!   Shanghai, China on Feb 10, 2012 2 pictures 1 comment
• 66

  Back to my pad in Xiasha   Xiasha, China on Feb 11, 2012 12 pictures 0 comments
• 67

  First day of the Spring Semester   Xiasha, China on Feb 14, 2012 5 pictures 0 comments
• 68

  Long fuggin' weekend.   Yanguan, China on Feb 19, 2012 6 pictures 0 comments
• 69

  Cold Cold Rain (Final revision)   Xiasha, China on Feb 29, 2012 1 picture 0 comments
• 70

  Heading down south.   Xiasha, China on Mar 7, 2012 20 pictures 0 comments
• 71

  Jammin'   Xiasha, China on Mar 9, 2012 5 pictures 0 comments
• 72

  Yong Jiu Bikes   Xiasha, China on Mar 12, 2012 2 pictures 0 comments
• 73

  The Xiasha Poet Society...   Xiasha, China on Mar 13, 2012 2 pictures 0 comments
• 74

  The worlds largest trading post... Yiwu, China   Yiwu, China on Mar 19, 2012 14 pictures 0 comments
• 75

  Bring on the sun!   Xiasha, China on Mar 29, 2012 3 pictures 1 comment
• 76

  Couch Surfer road trip to Longhu Temple   Longhu, China on Mar 31, 2012 34 pictures 0 comments
• 77

  Qiandaohu by portabike.   Qiandaohu, China on Apr 5, 2012 71 pictures 0 comments
• 78

  Another Pocketful of Music   Xiasha, China on Apr 8, 2012 2 pictures 0 comments
• 79

  Spring has sprung and then some... dim sum? (NEW)   Yanguan, China on Apr 12, 2012 27 pictures 4 comments
• 80

  Search for the "Bearded Dragon"   Hangzhou, China on Apr 16, 2012 9 pictures 0 comments
• 81

  Tea Villages West of Xihu.. by bicycle...   Meijiawu, China on Apr 21, 2012 28 pictures 2 comments
• 82

  Friday a bus trip to Yanguan   Yanguan, China on May 1, 2012 23 pictures 2 comments
• 83

  Ride to the East China Sea... at last..   NanBei Hu , China on May 7, 2012 53 pictures 1 comment
• 84

  Down to the wire..Properly cooked Gumbo recipe.   XIASHA, China on May 26, 2012 8 pictures 0 comments
• 85

  My God the Chinese know how to PARTY!   XIASHA, China on Jun 2, 2012 5 pictures 0 comments
• 86

  Way down south to the "Nam" border...   Yizhou, China on Jun 9, 2012 9 pictures 0 comments
• 87

  My first brush with the jungle wildlife and more..   Yizhou, China on Jun 11, 2012 0 pictures 1 comment
• 88

  Guangxi... The Mississippi of China!!   Yizhou, China on Jun 15, 2012 43 pictures 0 comments
• 89

  Day trip to lovely Liuzhou!   Liuzhou, China on Jun 16, 2012 9 pictures 0 comments
• 90

  A hot Sunday night in South China   Yizhou, China on Jun 18, 2012 6 pictures 1 comment
• 91

  FEATURED ON TRAVELPOD!? GEARING UP FOR THE RIDE!   Yizhou, China on Jun 25, 2012 5 pictures 3 comments
• 92

  Everyday observations of my new city.   Hechi, China on Jun 26, 2012 15 pictures 1 comment
• 93

  A timeless valley a short ride away.   Yizhou, China on Jul 1, 2012 19 pictures 0 comments
• 94

  Another Picture Show...   Yizhou, China on Jul 8, 2012 34 pictures 3 comments
• 95

  On the Road.. Part 1.   Guiyang, China on Jul 17, 2012 5 pictures 0 comments
• 96

  GuiYang to Xian   Guiyang, China on Jul 20, 2012 9 pictures 0 comments
• 97

  Xi'an   Xi'an, China on Jul 22, 2012 14 pictures 0 comments
• 98

  Xi'an day 5   Xi'an, China on Jul 24, 2012 17 pictures 0 comments
• 99

  Farewell lovely Xi'an   Guilin, China on Jul 26, 2012 4 pictures 0 comments
• 100

  A river trip on the "Xia Jianhe   Yizhou, China on Aug 6, 2012 6 pictures 2 comments
• 101

  The Cave of the White Dragon.   Yizhou, China on Aug 9, 2012 21 pictures 0 comments
• 102

  Little Al has come to town!   Luocheng County, China on Aug 12, 2012 33 pictures 0 comments
• 103

  Bike riding thru the fields and villages.   Yizhou, China on Aug 23, 2012 17 pictures 0 comments
• 104

  Trip to the Yizhou Buddhist Temple.   Yizhou, China on Aug 25, 2012 19 pictures 0 comments
• 105

  Reflections of a long long summer..   Yizhou, China on Aug 28, 2012 1 picture 0 comments
• 106

  "Shan Bei" and other villages.   Yizhou, China on Sep 8, 2012 37 pictures 0 comments
• 107

  Cave of the White Dragon Part 2   Yizhou, China on Sep 22, 2012 28 pictures 1 comment
• 108

  The party's over....   Shanghai and Chicago, China on Nov 15, 2012 9 pictures 0 comments
• 109

  Wyoming!   Sheridan, WY on Nov 20, 2012 5 pictures 0 comments
• 110

  Northern Wyoming Thanksgiving experiences.   Gillette, Buffalo, WY on Nov 22, 2012 3 pictures 0 comments