![]() My sister, in turn, would gasp in awe at the danger of my exploits. "Did I tell you about the time " I'd start off innocently as we entered the turnstiles at the station. I'd wait until we saw the sign at the West Train Station reminding passengers to beware of pickpockets, then I'd mention that I caught a thief with his hand in my pocket at a noodle stall in Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. My mind was ablaze, cataloguing all the great China stories I could pretend to be reminded of when we saw sights in the capital. Though my logical side knows other foreigners have been here and done that, I succumb to the sweet-scented myth like everyone else.įor weeks before her visit, I biked through Beijing's cold winter streets to my ancient Chinese classes every day. ![]() Best of all, you get to wrap yourself in the velvety illusion that you're the first to do it. The greatest consolation of straddling squatty potties and riding country buses that pass blindly around mountain corners is that it makes a great story. Better than great, her visit would let me cash in on the most essential benefit of living in China - regaling audiences with China adventure stories. ![]() ![]() The trauma started when my sister landed in Beijing. I've never seen Hessler, author of the bestsellers Oracle Bones and River Town, but I eke out a bitter existence every day in his footsteps. Peter Hessler singlehandedly ruined my life in China. ![]()
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