Category: Blog

I’m Not in a Rush — You’re Just Slow

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I was catching the subway with my girlfriend. We got on the escalator and I noticed the left side was completely open, so I suggested we walk down instead of standing. She agreed… until about three-quarters down, when she sighed and asked why I was “in such a rush.”

My girlfriend has two modes when analyzing my movement:

  1. I’m “in a rush,” or
  2. I’m “impatient.”

If I walk on an escalator, I’m in a rush. If I walk faster than the crowd, I’m impatient. Somehow my legs have become a personality flaw.

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When Leaving Feels Like Coming Home

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A couple of days before flying to Toronto to see my best friend, I decided to rent a car. The idea of driving in an unfamiliar city made me nervous, but after relying on Ubers during my 2023 visit (before my friend’s son was born), I figured a rental car could save both money and time.

As I drove around Toronto each day, I felt myself blending in. At first, I was just adapting to traffic patterns. Soon enough, I got comfortable running “side missions.” I went to the movies (I saw Weapons, in case you’re wondering). My girlfriend and I took walks around Humber Park. We wandered into stores to buy an umbrella, medicine, or food to cook at my friend’s place. Before I knew it, I felt at ease, almost like a local. When it was finally time to get an Uber to the airport, all I could think was, I don’t want to leave.

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Overused English Phrases My Chinese Students Can’t Quit

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Daily writing prompt
What is a word you feel that too many people use?
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I don’t really know what words most people overuse—mainly because the “people” in my life are mostly students. As a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) teacher at a university in China, I’ve learned that my students have a handful of go-to phrases they rely on for speaking and writing exams:

  • “Nowadays…”
  • “With the development of [something]…”
  • “Double-edged sword”
  • “In a word…” (usually followed by many, many words)

Let’s take an example. If students are assigned an essay on the pros and cons of giving children smartphones, I can guarantee that at least a third will start with: “With the development of modern technology…”

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Alternate Universes and the Reality We Live With

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Daily writing prompt
Describe your life in an alternate universe.
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Most of my dreams are stupid.

Once, I had a dream where the camera panned out to a third-person view, and I watched myself swing over a creek on a long vine, as if I were watching a movie about me. In another dream, I got into a car accident and was left upside down, staring blankly at the asphalt, shattered glass all around. That one stuck with me. It didn’t feel like my mind was inventing something. It felt like I was living something.

It’s hard to explain how dreams can feel different. Sometimes, I can sense my brain actively constructing a world — like Inception. Other times, I feel like a passenger, just experiencing whatever’s in front of me. I can’t explain the mechanics, but I know the difference when it happens. I’ve convinced myself that those “passenger” dreams are glimpses into alternate universes. I don’t know when or why I started believing that, but it helps me make sense of the strange, vivid places I go when I sleep.

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In China, I’m a tourist attraction for non-tourists

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I have shown enough patterns of introvertedness that people I generally like being around know me as someone who doesn’t like being around people. Admittedly, I don’t enjoy parties, large gatherings, small talk, or extended conversations with unfamiliar people, and I often feel drained after socializing with others. Still, I don’t like having the word “introverted” so closely associated with me, even if it is true.

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What is the point of mosquitoes?

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My girlfriend and I were staying in Guizhou province for a wedding. Our hotel left an electric mosquito repeller plug-in near the bed. I don’t know if having this in a hotel room is the norm, but the only other time I saw a room with this was in Phuket, and the room did indeed have mosquitoes. So, needless to say, this was not a good sign.

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Yup, I check Instagram for updates on the latest snacks

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I miss only three things about America: my family and friends, bigger apartments, and food. The food in China is wonderful. I’m simple, so I love dàndànmiàn (dandan noodles), non-spicy huǒguō (hot pot), wontons in chili oil (but not too much oil), and barbecue on a stick. But sometimes, on the most random Thursdays, I want a smokehouse combo from IHOP.

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