Time as an expat

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About this blog

This is the fourth time that I've been to China, third time living here. This time I chose a new city, Qiqihar. It's in China's northeast and can be very very cold. I don't know anyone here so this is a completely new experience for me.

June 1, 2010 update. For those who follow this, you already know. I thought the company I came to work here for was reputable. Turns out it was not. I ended up playing my hand well and I was able to be released from my contract. I then turned to the local college in Qiqihar and began to study here.

July 8, 2010 update. I've returned to the US for the summer. Since I still consider myself an expat as I have no US residency I will be continuing this.

• 1

  So it begins with end....   Qiqihar, China on Sep 23, 2009 0 pictures 2 comments
• 2

  Yay! The western style bike shop!   Qiqihar, China on Sep 27, 2009 0 pictures 0 comments
• 3

  Biking in and around here   Qiqihar, China on Oct 1, 2009 5 pictures 1 comment
• 4

  134 miles by bike & puff the magic dragon? SCORE!   Taikang, China on Oct 3, 2009 13 pictures 0 comments
• 5

  "Well, that's China for you."   Qiqihar, China on Oct 9, 2009 0 pictures 0 comments
• 6

  Ok, today was a much better day.   Qiqihar, China on Oct 10, 2009 1 picture 0 comments
• 7

  Waste of time, do you know it?   Harbin, China on Oct 12, 2009 0 pictures 0 comments
• 8

  I'm beginning to believe that my boss is a bad per   Qiqihar, China on Oct 21, 2009 0 pictures 0 comments
• 9

  It was like that scene in 300 when Xerxes was cut   Qiqihar, China on Oct 22, 2009 0 pictures 0 comments
• 10

  My boss is a bad person.   Qiqihar, China on Oct 24, 2009 0 pictures 0 comments
• 11

  She should really be called Miss Management.   Qiqihar, China on Oct 26, 2009 0 pictures 2 comments
• 12

  The only place with worse traffic might be Brazil   Qiqihar, China on Oct 27, 2009 0 pictures 0 comments
• 13

  The health of myself, the environment and others   Qiqihar, China on Nov 2, 2009 5 pictures 0 comments
• 14

  Just a heads up, you might not hear from me   Qiqihar, China on Nov 4, 2009 0 pictures 0 comments
• 15

  Into the mind of the Chinese   Qiqihar, China on Nov 6, 2009 0 pictures 0 comments
• 16

  Here! Buy this garbage made by a good brand!   Qiqihar, China on Nov 7, 2009 0 pictures 1 comment
• 17

  Something resembling contract resolution   Qiqihar, China on Nov 8, 2009 0 pictures 0 comments
• 18

  KFC sells hamburgers?!?!   Qiqihar, China on Nov 12, 2009 1 picture 0 comments
• 19

  Well, now that the excitement has died down....   Qiqihar, China on Nov 29, 2009 17 pictures 0 comments
• 20

  I'm getting 'Bad Santa' to use as a training video   Qiqihar, China on Dec 3, 2009 0 pictures 0 comments
• 21

  When they want to, they are rediculously efficient   Qiqihar, China on Dec 7, 2009 0 pictures 0 comments
• 22

  This does not surprise me at all.   Qiqihar, China on Dec 8, 2009 0 pictures 1 comment
• 23

  The art of making people in China   Qiqihar, China on Dec 21, 2009 0 pictures 2 comments
• 24

  Incompetance abounds   Qiqihar, China on Dec 28, 2009 0 pictures 2 comments
• 25

  Sleep deprived anger gnomes have arrived....   Qiqihar, China on Dec 29, 2009 0 pictures 0 comments
• 26

  China could have the best mimes in the world   Qiqihar, China on Jan 1, 2010 0 pictures 1 comment
• 27

  Not just my own prison   Qiqihar, China on Jan 4, 2010 8 pictures 0 comments
• 28

  The US is the protector of the galaxy....   Qiqihar, China on Jan 8, 2010 0 pictures 2 comments
• 29

  2 things you can't do to a native English speaker   Qiqihar, China on Jan 15, 2010 6 pictures 0 comments
• 30

  Dumbest thing I have ever heard.   Qiqihar, China on Jan 16, 2010 0 pictures 0 comments
• 31

  Talk is cheap until....   Qiqihar, China on Jan 19, 2010 0 pictures 0 comments
• 32

  A happy place.   Qiqihar, China on Jan 21, 2010 0 pictures 4 comments
• 33

  So where are you going for spring festival?   Qiqihar, China on Feb 10, 2010 0 pictures 1 comment
• 34

  And there was much rejoicing!   Qiqihar, China on Feb 20, 2010 4 pictures 1 comment
• 35

  Finally! An activity in Qiqihar!!!   Qiqihar, China on Feb 27, 2010 5 pictures 0 comments
• 36

  Advertising 101   Qiqihar, China on Mar 2, 2010 0 pictures 0 comments
• 37

  If you want an education pick up a cat by its tail   Qiqihar, China on Mar 10, 2010 0 pictures 0 comments
• 38

  Slow progress   Qiqihar, China on Mar 11, 2010 0 pictures 0 comments
• 39

  A few coincidences.   Qiqihar, China on Mar 16, 2010 17 pictures 3 comments
• 40

  This is the best things have been since I arrived   Qiqihar, China on Mar 21, 2010 0 pictures 0 comments
• 41

  When English edgucation goes engrish...   Qiqihar, China on Mar 23, 2010 0 pictures 0 comments
• 42

  We're doing this for your safety. Really, we are!   Qiqihar, China on Mar 26, 2010 0 pictures 1 comment
• 43

  Chinese people in a foreigner's element   Qiqihar, China on Apr 5, 2010 8 pictures 0 comments
• 44

  Proof that silly people lead to bananas.   Qiqihar, China on Apr 17, 2010 0 pictures 0 comments
• 45

  2+2=5?   Qiqihar, China on Apr 23, 2010 9 pictures 2 comments
• 46

  Spring is finally here in Qiqihar   Qiqihar, China on May 27, 2010 10 pictures 0 comments
• 47

  Unexpected sights touring outside of Qiqihar.   Qiqihar, China on May 28, 2010 40 pictures 0 comments
• 48

  Can't sleep, so it's update time.   Qiqihar, China on May 31, 2010 17 pictures 0 comments
• 49

  I took the road less traveled and it was...   Qiqihar, China on Jun 1, 2010 16 pictures 0 comments
• 50

  Rock, Racing and Racism. Add some touring too.   Qiqihar, China on Jun 5, 2010 52 pictures 0 comments
• 51

  The new route!   Qiqihar, China on Jun 8, 2010 39 pictures 0 comments
• 52

  Qiqihar University, I love you...   Qiqihar, China on Jun 10, 2010 4 pictures 0 comments
• 53

  Manners and the lack of.   Qiqihar, China on Jun 14, 2010 22 pictures 0 comments
• 54

  A genuinely good time.   Qiqihar, China on Jun 15, 2010 12 pictures 1 comment
• 55

  Getting ready   Qiqihar, China on Jun 23, 2010 2 pictures 0 comments
• 56

  It's not prejudice... It's culture!   Qiqihar, China on Jun 28, 2010 0 pictures 1 comment
• 57

  A much better place now.   Chicago, IL on Jul 8, 2010 32 pictures 0 comments
• 58

  So what has changed and what is the same?   Chicago, IL on Jul 10, 2010 0 pictures 0 comments
• 59

  The beginning of my US bike trip   Milwaukee, WI on Jul 13, 2010 158 pictures 0 comments
• 60

  All things Harley Davidson   Milwaukee, WI on Jul 14, 2010 29 pictures 0 comments
• 61

  Wine and cheese, Wisco style!   West Bend, WI on Jul 16, 2010 55 pictures 0 comments
• 62

  Dude... so like, we're in Michigan!   Ypsilanti, MI on Jul 18, 2010 18 pictures 0 comments
• 63

  The last of my Ypsilanti trip.   Chicago, IL on Jul 22, 2010 117 pictures 0 comments
• 64

  To Wisconsin for no real reason.   Chicago, IL on Jul 24, 2010 19 pictures 0 comments
• 65

  The school leaders of Qiqihar   Chicago, IL on Jul 25, 2010 0 pictures 0 comments
• 66

  This is NOT how you bike tour.   Athens, WI on Aug 3, 2010 59 pictures 0 comments
• 67

  Well, here I am.   Beijing, China on Aug 30, 2010 0 pictures 1 comment
• 68

  A better place...   Zhengzhou, China on Sep 8, 2010 0 pictures 0 comments
• 69

  China: T Shirt hell ... and I love it!   Zhengzhou, China on Sep 10, 2010 0 pictures 0 comments
• 70

  Still wishing I was there.   Zhengzhou, China on Sep 19, 2010 0 pictures 0 comments
• 71

  Life is comfortable here so far   Zhengzhou, China on Sep 26, 2010 0 pictures 0 comments
• 72

  Well, I can deal with this...   Hong Kong, China on Sep 27, 2010 0 pictures 0 comments
• 73

  Well that was something different...   Hong Kong, China on Oct 4, 2010 0 pictures 0 comments
• 74

  Hi Heilongjiang! How unpleasant it is to see you!   Qiqihar, China on Nov 19, 2010 0 pictures 2 comments
• 75

  No, this isn't China. This is Qiqihar...   Qiqihar, China on Nov 19, 2010 63 pictures 0 comments
• 76

  The end of Qiqihar and others...   Zhengzhou, China on Dec 7, 2010 0 pictures 2 comments
• 77

  Broke up yet another fight....   Zhengzhou, China on Dec 12, 2010 3 pictures 2 comments
• 78

  What are you going to do to celebrate Christmas?   Zhengzhou, China on Dec 24, 2010 0 pictures 6 comments
• 79

  What do you do when you hate to travel...   Zhengzhou, China on Jan 11, 2011 0 pictures 0 comments
• 80

  A mountain and the GREATEST DOCTOR EVAR!   Xinyang, China on Jan 20, 2011 33 pictures 0 comments
• 81

  I wonder the stories my room mate will tell....   Zhengzhou, China on Jan 26, 2011 0 pictures 0 comments
• 82

  When you teach here you don't choose your roommate   Zhengzhou, China on Feb 7, 2011 0 pictures 0 comments
• 83

  Bla bla bla bla bla, OH HAY RUNNING   Zhengzhou, China on Mar 3, 2011 0 pictures 0 comments
• 84

  Things are going, one way or the other...   Zhengzhou, China on Mar 19, 2011 0 pictures 0 comments
• 85

  I now know what the forcast of "sand" feels like.   Zhengzhou, China on Apr 17, 2011 24 pictures 0 comments
• 86

  The last trip to Huairou....   Huairou, China on Apr 24, 2011 31 pictures 0 comments
• 87

  Dentists in Zhengzhou (China, too)   Zhengzhou, China on Apr 28, 2011 0 pictures 2 comments
• 88

  90% done.   Zhengzhou, China on May 22, 2011 0 pictures 0 comments
• 89

  I miss sliding cars around   Zhengzhou, China on Jun 7, 2011 20 pictures 1 comment
• 90

  A foreigner's guide to having a road bike in China   Chicago, IL on Jul 20, 2011 4 pictures 0 comments
• 91

  We're losers.   Chicago, IL on Jul 20, 2011 0 pictures 1 comment