tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40844852010-03-30T14:36:45.511-04:00Welcome to Dalian's premiere weblog written by a Chinese Canadian who taught English and western culture, learned a fair bit of Chinese, experienced Chinese culture, made many Chinese friends, ate Chinese food and travelled around mainland China. Personal stories and commentary that are sometimes controversial but always honest. Enjoy.Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.comBlogger380125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084485.post-1121405140990776642005-08-14T12:43:00.000-04:002006-06-15T01:03:45.836-04:00

I've begun work on the new Hong Kong Edition of the Mask of China. The layout is basically the same for now; it may change depending on how much time, energy and effort I want to expend on a redesign.Please edit your bookmark/favourites/site feeds to reflect the most current posts from Hong Kong at:http://www.maskofchina.com/hkI will keep the Dalian Edition online for those who are interested in

Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084485.post-1124289192635912592005-08-13T10:27:00.000-04:002005-08-17T12:02:35.526-04:00

Dalian International Airport now has a customs desk. Keep in mind that the airport is not a new international airport-it's been around for quite some time. It has connections to Europe, the Middle East and other parts of Asia like Korea and Japan. I always wondered why the customs desk at the Dalian airport was unstaffed every time I went through the airport. I wonder what nasty things got

Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084485.post-1120047702259674412005-07-08T08:18:00.000-04:002005-07-08T16:55:27.920-04:00

As I was on my long 31 hour journey back to Canada, my flight was delayed and I was stuck in Vancouver international airport for 7 hours. Jet lagged, unable and afraid to sleep (as I was traveling alone, it's best not to sleep in the airport because I had to watch your luggage and make sure you don't miss any annoucements over the public addresss system).One thing I decided to do on my trip home

Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084485.post-1120236081832058792005-07-01T12:28:00.000-04:002005-07-01T12:59:08.400-04:00

It's nice to celebrate the big day back home after a few years abroad. The more time I spend abroad, the more I appreciate its people and culture. Just because I've pretty much declared non-residency in Canada that doesn't mean I've turned my back on my country either. I'm ashamed to say I've traveled more of China than I have of Canada but I'll probably take a big long backpacking trip across

Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084485.post-1120045816678113082005-06-29T06:50:00.000-04:002005-06-29T08:00:52.260-04:00

Yesterday was my second day in Toronto and I got quite a bit accomplished. I woke up refreshed after sleeping a good 7 hours from 2AM to 9AM. The previous 72 hours I had slept a combined 8 hours!I went downtown to meet up with some of my old Bell Canada co-workers and get a couple of errands done-namely to get my driver's license and public health insurance card renewed. What a shock to the

Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084485.post-1120006953420935072005-06-28T20:56:00.000-04:002005-06-28T21:07:06.300-04:00

I'm back at home now. I arrived after a long 31 hour journey which included 14 hours combined stay in Shanghai and Vancouver airports and almost 1 hr wait for my luggage to get spit out of the luggage belt.Lots to say but little time to say it. It's nice to be home. The air is very clean in Toronto compared to Dalian, supposedly one of the cleanest cities in China and Toronto is one of the

Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084485.post-1119424368900249052005-06-22T20:12:00.000-04:002005-06-24T11:17:06.396-04:00

Only a few more days left before I leave. Packing is mostly done now, my cousin Tim visiting from Australia and his friend Kevin are having a good time here, enjoying the laid back atmosphere, pleasant weather and the food-keep in mind they're visiting from hot, humid and crowded Guangzhou..it wouldn't be hard to top that.I've posted a couple sets of random people and places photos I've put up

Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084485.post-1119146639687017382005-06-18T21:17:00.000-04:002005-06-30T10:07:34.660-04:00

Once the weather gets warm, Dalian citizens like to be in the 'great outdoors'. Of course, if you're from the west, it's not the outdoors you're thinking about; you know, the trees, lakes, rivers, streams, forests, etc.But in urban Dalian, hitting the great outdoors means going to the public squares and parks at dusk after dinner, usually after 6:30PM. This may not sound like fun to the foreigner

Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084485.post-1118679519132979762005-06-13T11:07:00.000-04:002005-06-13T12:31:59.496-04:00

My room, a bit messier than usualLess than 2 weeks left now and I've started to pack up my things. I have 3 piles of clothes/belongings in my room now:1. Stuff to bring home to Canada2. Stuff to give to my cousin, Tim, who will visit me next week and take down to Hong Kong3. Stuff to give away to local friends.Each pile is huge! I can't believe all the crap that I have accumulated. The biggest

Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084485.post-1118136472784435852005-06-07T09:03:00.000-04:002005-06-09T10:47:20.983-04:00

Thanks to Ryan who sent me this link of a thread on eslcafe.com bbs where the original poster basically said Dalian sucks. A lot has been written on that BBS about Dalian. It's pretty much an abandoned thread so I'll address the issue on my site.Coming to China, for many foreigners is a step down in terms of civility and modern conveniences. You have to accept that fact. But China has other

Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084485.post-1118073744625940302005-06-06T11:51:00.000-04:002005-06-06T12:02:24.630-04:00

As much as I enjoy a birthday party, one thing that I don't like is the ceremonial "throwing cake at each other" routine that seems to happen at every birthday party I go to in China.One of my students even threw cake at me during a Christmas party which got my nice dress shirt messy and some cake found its way on my digital camera. I was not happy about that at all; he was lucky to walk home

Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084485.post-1117984989470317962005-06-05T09:57:00.000-04:002005-06-05T12:06:28.856-04:00

My cousin, Austin, is gone now. He had a good time here. He ate a helluva lot of new Chinese foods, you just can't get outside of mainland China (or at least not as good).Hot pot, Beijing roast duck, Sichuan food, Xinjiang BBQ, Dalian seafood, fried breads/buns/dumplings..it was a food festival for the week he was here.And why shouldn't I enjoy it all? I've only got 3 weeks left in this culinary

Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084485.post-1117819544305780452005-06-03T12:23:00.000-04:002005-06-03T13:25:44.330-04:00

I've noticed a steady influx of foreigners living and travelling through these parts. Maybe it's my big ego (haha!) but I'd like to think that some of them came to live/visit Dalian after reading my website! There are many reasons why foreigners come to Dalian. It's well-known in China for it's natural beauty, cleanliness, fair weather (most of the time), and laid back way of life. Aside from

Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084485.post-1117548904009892032005-05-31T12:00:00.000-04:002005-05-31T12:35:26.616-04:00

Dear children of China, happy children's day!You are the future custodians of a budding economic and political super power. The pressures of society will grow heavier every year. The high school entrance exams, university entrance exams, graduate school entrance exams and job interviews all will test your work ethic and resolve. Competition is fierce in China as you probably know already.Show

Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084485.post-1117540934219442112005-05-31T07:58:00.000-04:002005-05-31T08:15:51.836-04:00

Constant power outages and water outages...this is a new school, our building is less than 1 year old and the surrounding buildings are no more than 2 years old...I guess the water pump's 1 year warranty just expired!No 'sorry for the inconvenience', 'we're working as hard as we can', 'thank you for your patience'....if you're thinking of teaching at Neusoft next year or studying Chinese here..

Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084485.post-1117328529976114312005-05-28T20:43:00.000-04:002005-05-28T21:18:05.773-04:00

Today marks the start of the final month of my time in Dalian. It won't be the last time I come here as I intend to visit once in awhile and I'll be in constant contact with my friends here. Of course, my feelings are mixed, I really like this place but I know it's time to move on. More reflections on my time here later on in June.My Australian cousin, Austin, is here visiting while on a

Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084485.post-1117121848630565422005-05-26T11:09:00.000-04:002005-05-26T12:05:53.223-04:00

Here's a humongous two-story advertisement hanging in Parkland mall announcing the impending arrival of Starbucks in Dalian.Shame on you Starbucks, you're a multinational corporation, not some second rate Chinese company...get your spelling in order!

Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084485.post-1116917753905093962005-05-24T02:31:00.000-04:002005-05-28T21:05:15.283-04:00

Recently, I saw a movie called Ke Ke Xi Li 可可西里 which takes place in an area of Tibet which experienced the massive slaughter of Tibetan antelopes in the 1990s. A group of volunteer Tibetans formed a patrol team to fight the antelope poaching with mixed results. It's a straight forward film with some really nice scenic shots and a touching story. Check it out...A while back I got an email from

Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084485.post-1116510694160124432005-05-19T01:53:00.000-04:002005-05-19T09:51:34.216-04:00

I own the 8th edition, August 2002 copy of the Lonely Planet (LP), China guide. I hate it. The only reason I haven't thrown it out yet is, well, for sentimental value I guess.The newest edition of the LP China guide is coming out in the next 2 weeks to a month, depending on where you live.As a relatively seasoned China traveller, I urge my readers NOT to buy it. Why would I say such a nasty

Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084485.post-1116428880170057952005-05-18T09:18:00.000-04:002005-05-18T11:12:49.196-04:00

Live in China and you'll often see the Chinese do something that makes you (the foreigner) shake your head and go 'why the hell are they doing that?'.Well, I've been doing that that every morning on my way to work for the past couple of months, since it started getting warmer.It all started with the ritual of burning the grass and escalated to an all out random reforestation of the Neusoft

Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084485.post-1116346352585497272005-05-17T10:58:00.000-04:002005-05-17T12:13:24.223-04:00

I equate dumplings in China to pizzas in the west. In the northeast of China, where the dumpling was created, dumplings are eaten for breakast/lunch/dinner and dumpling restaurants are everywhere. They're very cheap, convenience food (if you're not making them yourself that is), healthy and come with many kinds of fillings 馅. They're served as a traditional dish during spring festival, but in

Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084485.post-1116129620615372542005-05-14T22:00:00.000-04:002005-05-15T00:00:20.620-04:00

Recently, after talking with some students about cross cultural issues, I came up with an idea on how ordinary Chinese students could learn more about ordinary westerners: make pen pals.When I was a kid I dabbled with pen pals a bit but got frustrated with the slow response times. I never enjoyed writing snail mails. Now with instantaneous communication in the form of email, instant messaging

Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084485.post-1115912110464775732005-05-12T11:06:00.000-04:002005-05-12T18:49:01.706-04:00

There was a fire aboard a ferry in the sea off Dalian's coast last week. I know this not because I read about it online at Daliannews.com, but because my dad asked me about it when I talked with him last week. I had to do a google search on this incident and found a writeup about it in a Taiyuan newspaper. Taiyuan is a city in central China thousands of miles away from Dalian on the northeast

Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084485.post-1115822198403762352005-05-11T09:08:00.000-04:002005-05-11T11:01:05.086-04:00

Chinese society is inherently complex and difficult to maneuver. The concept of relationships aka guanxi关系,the concept of giving face　面子, the concept of hierarchies　in China are all examples of this complex society.One thing Chinese often say to me about foreigners is that their thinking is too simple. What I quickly fire back in return is that Chinese people think too much. Case in point:I

Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084485.post-1115654771299821882005-05-09T11:11:00.000-04:002005-05-09T12:18:43.923-04:00

This past weekend, 5 friends and I attempted to get into a 4 seat taxi(it's a 5 seat car, but of course the cab driver needs a seat). The driver said he didn't want to take all 5 of us (some of the girls were small, we could have squeezed in) because the police have been fining cab drivers 200RMB for carrying more than 5 passengers. Last summer, there seemed to be a police initiative about seat

Dezzamaskofchina@gmail.com0