Here’s the story, in short (in no particular order)… 1. Japanese volunteers, race officials and spectators are more vocal on the whole than perhaps any spectators I’ve encountered this side of Boston. 2. Japanese spectators outstretch their hands more for high-fives than anywhere else I’ve seen. 3. At 28k, there are gorgeous Carnivalesque dancers clad…
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Better Than a Snow Day
November 3rd: What’s better for a teacher than a snow day?! When the Chinese government decrees all schools in Shanghai closed for TWO (2) days due to the annual International Import Expo. Yes, that’s right. At the noontime hour, I’m back at my second home–东外滩。The East Bund. Its a second Saturday repeating after the first….
China: Marathon Training Weekend
Friday, October 25th: 10 x 1 mile “Square” relay around Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai. Our InterSport team up against 106 other corporate teams from around Shanghai. Leigh & I rushed in from work, way from the other side of the city. Very little time to warm up–enough stretching time but only about 3/4 mile…
A Year In China, IV
Friends: I apologize for the formatting mess-up in this post. Tuesday, 10/08: 71 degrees, cloudy. Great conditions. Air somewhat improved, but still 120’s right now. Runable, but hoping for more improvement. Went out to run a few, but seems there was an endless recess period today. Kids from all grades, all directions, were flying around…
Philippines Adventure
Can’t forget that ladder is behind me, dark open water below. Bamboo scaffolding on each side of this boat, speeding out to Osbol. We’re searching for dolphins, will later swim with sea turtles…and, before that, the almighty whale shark. Guilin and I arrived in the Philippines five days ago. It’s been a grand adventure ever…
A Year in China, III
9/15: That was eerily rational. Chinese folks, at least 4 at once, stood fast as several of us exited the train at South Shaanxi. Wow. 9/16: Tired but less humidity, breezy, good air. I’m heading to InterSport. 4 classes today but felt like 2. 3 were 80 minute periods. But these sixth graders are great….
A Year In China, Dammit!
9/10: Well, thought computer saved my last week’s worth of entries. Maybe not. No time to check now. If not, I’ll have to recap later. “You’re face looks weird,” sixth grade Brian just told me bluntly. I think he meant well, maybe. I think he meant younger now than I shaved (??). Middle schoolers. Tonight’s…
A Year in China–Part I
8/18: LA to Shanghai. Am I the only one who enjoys 12-14 hour flights? Watched “blackish,” “Pet Sematary.” Read LA Times, New York Times. Studied Chinese. Did sets of squats. Looking forward somewhat to Shanghai but anxious about training being interrupted by bad air quality. I should be positive. In typical Chinese fashion, Guilin pops…
Where to Find Great Vegan Food…
Hoping to help travelers searching for great vegan eats in the following locales: Seoul-Tokyo-Koyasan-Kyoto. By no means exhaustive, it’s up to date at present time. Yes, these places indeed do still exist (although hours may be a bit crazy at times). Please get HappyCow app to find addresses, phone numbers and mostly accurate operating hours….
7 Things About Seoul
7 Noticings about Seoul… 1. Korean women are gorgeous 2. Subway stations are tightly knit, with narrow corridors, low ceilings, brick archways and have a special endearing character. News stands sell a unique assortment of goods including infant outfits & house slippers. The trumpeting announcement of incoming trains is a wholly unique element of the…
I’ve (almost) Made It
XXXXVII days in the gym post-injury, pre-run. That first run did not go quite as I’d hoped. Naively, perhaps, I believed with all my might that I’d fly directly from air cast into running. “I’ll average about 5 miles a day by the time I come back into new year,” I told several folks. Hahahaha…
2019: First Photo
Siberia from 34,000 feet
Don't Let My Parents Read This 