The Year of the Ox Reading 5: "The Search for Modern China"

This is a big book. I had a copy from around the time it came out, back when I was a member of the History Book of the Month Club. (I'd probably still be a member but they don't deliver overseas.) But I'd never finished it in almost 20 years. It came out in 1989, just after the Tiannanmen Square Massacre. It ends on that note. It starts back in 1644 with the last Ming Emperor committing suicide. Between that there is a whole lot of tragedy. Those years were difficult ones for China. Now she is recovering. It was interesting to read about the events that took place after Mao's death in 1976. There is a new edition to the book, but I read the first one. Hopefully I will learn more of what was going on behind the scenes someday.

This was an enjoyable work. I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about China, or to someone moving there. Wait a minute: I'm moving there. Yippy.

510 hours to go

I haven't blogged in some time. I guess I really need to get back to it, but I don't know. I might have to start a new blog in China since Jeffofarabia really isn't very Shanghai-like.

So what has been happening? First of all, lots of packing. I have too much stuff. I will be shipping most of my things and then leaving some things with a friend in Thailand while I travel around Southeast Asia a bit. Yep, I am going back to Southeast Asia on vacation. I am starting to see a pattern here. I guess I really do like it there. So relaxing.

The school year is mostly done. Have some last minute grading to do and then prepare the kids for finals. The seniors only have two days this upcoming week which is nice; they stopped working a while back. My school keeps giving them extra priviledges though, even though they have done nothing.

So it's mostly packing and trying to finish a few books and study a bit of Chinese. My Chinese was never really that good, but I am hoping that it actually improves this time. I guess it just takes practice.

I am also hoping to lose a bit of weight this summer. I have plumped up. I will do a lot of walking and swimming so hopefully that will trim me down a bit.

Well there are 510 hours to go. (Okay I'm counting.)