Recent Posts

2016

Chinese History FAQs: “What was Mao’s Deal?”

December 27, 2016

Probably the most commonly asked question in my classes is “What was Mao’s deal?” It’s a tough question to answer, even for folks from China. Approach ten people in a Beijing park, and ask them about Mao, best be prepared to get ten wildly different answers. [Read More...]

“Friends With (few) Benefits,” The World of Chinese

December 21, 2016

If you’re a Chinese businessman or official and you call David or James an “Old Friend,” you might as well pack up whatever it is you’re selling because they’re not buying it. It’s an old strategy, one that has been perfected over the years. But there was a time when the “old friend” routine was still a work in progress. [Read More...]
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