Kesmit3's Blog

I came across this on Twitter and thought it was an interesting thing to share with Western eyes. It's nearly impossible to get a straight answer on what is and is not allowed here in China regarding the Internet. We generally just know whether it works or not... The original document is in Chinese and here's basically what it says: 公安部第82号令: 互联网安全保护技术措施规定 Ministry of Public Security Decree No. 82: "Internet security protection technology measures required" (December 13, 2005 Ministry of Public Security published) Order to strengthen and standardize the first Internet security technology, prevention, protection of the Internet network security and information security, the promotion of the Internet healthy and orderly development, and safeguarding national security, social order and public interests, under the "Computer Information Network and the Internet Security Protection and Management Measures" , the enactment of this provision. Article II The term I...

Our professor asked us to compose a short essay describing our experience here in Beijing, which could be selected for a school wide competition! The following is the essay that I wrote, which was selected for the competition: 我很高兴我可以得到奖学金来北京学习汉语。我一到北京就认识了很多很好的人，有的是中国人，有的是从世界各国来的。我们互相学习，互相帮助。 在北京，我最喜欢的练习时间是打车的时候跟司机师傅聊天儿。他们常常问我：“你是哪国人？”现在我问他们：“你是中国人吗？”他们喜欢这个问题，每次听到都哈哈大笑！我喜欢他们笑，因为从他们的笑声里我可以听到他们的内心。这让我不再觉得我是一个外国人。 在北京两个多月，我去了很多地方：长城、天安门、故宫、孔庙、天坛、北海、奥运公园……可是我最好的经历是跟我的美国大学院长和两位中国教授一起去人民大会堂参加宴会。人民大会堂很大、很漂亮。我的美国朋友都喜欢我在那儿照的相片。我最喜欢的照片是跟我的院长在中国画“江山如此多娇”前边照的。不但因为那幅画儿非常漂亮，还因为我的院长是我的良师益友。吃饭的时候我的院长对全桌人说：“你们知道吗，我已经来过这儿五次了。”两位教授中的一位说：“按汉语的习惯你应该说，这是我第一百零一次来这儿了！”我的院长很高兴，因为他学会了用汉语表达他的幽默。我也很高兴，因为我体会到了两种文化不一样的幽默方式。 我在北京遇到了很多让我难忘的人，也经历了很多有意思的事，可是我觉得还有很多东西应该学习和体验，还有很多东西需要我用心去思考和感受。因为中国太大了，要想了解中国，得花很长时间。我的一位中国好朋友的爱人告诉我，我应该去一些小镇看看。我觉得他说得很对，我也对旅行很有兴趣。有很多地方是我想去的：宜昌，哈尔滨，三峡大坝，西安，杭州，青岛，曲阜……我不知道我能不能完全理解我看见的中国文化，可是我要试一试。 I start by describing my enthusiasm for being awarded a scholarship to study Chine...

During the holiday my cousin and I visited Xi'an to check out the famous Terracotta Warriors. Our Tour-guide, Helen showed us around: The Army is housed in three separate buildings, the oldest one likens to an old military hanger and houses the most impressive display of the army. There is even a warrior triage section in the back where they are being painstakingly cleaned and pieced back together. The Farmer that found them was there, but he wouldn't let his picture be taken...something about being old and it would steal his Spirit. No Kidding. The second building is a bit newer and houses a smaller number of warriors, which are shattered...yet, it gives a good idea of how the warriors were placed in their final resting spot via ramp. There's one more spot, but FIRST! There's a shop where you too can buy a Terracotta warrior with authentic dirt from the same ground that surrounded their 2k year resting place. My cousin purchased two miniatures. Then off to the th...

The only thing worse than food poisoning or the stomach flu is being in a foreign country while experiencing it. Fortunately I had all of my International SOS information handy in my iPhone and was able to speak to an English speaking doctor on the phone, who arranged our visit to a hospital and coordinated with the hotel staff to make sure we got there safely. High praise to everyone who helped out! My cousin and I had just watched Tarantino's classic film - Four Rooms. How could we help but chuckle at the irony. We were in the hands of the Bell Boy. It gets even better...his name is Clark. ;) He's our Super Man, for sure. This photo shows Clark, the Bell-Man, from the Radisson hotel that escorted my cousin and I to the hospital. What a relief! He stayed with us all night and got us back to our hotel safely. Dr. Chen and Dr. Garcia discuss His case, Cousin get's an IV... Shanghai from the window... Yeah! Fever broke, so we could fly back to Beijing. Healthy and ...

My cousin and I are celebrating the holiday together here in Beijing, China...last night we strolled down WangFuJing and stopped by the Catholic church only to find vendors selling Mardi Gras styled masks and devil's horns. It was a spectacle...