Professional Mourners for Hire

Interesting story from NPR this morning on hiring "professional mourners" to show respect for the deceased.

http://www.npr.org/2013/06/26/195565696/belly-dancing-for-the-dead-a-day-with-chinas-top-mourner

China's ancient 'donut-like' homes: Where to see the tulou

Among the more intriguing pieces of history in Fujian are the tulou -- large, round, rammed-earth buildings dating back centuries.

http://travel.cnn.com/China-travel-tulou-unesco-919371?sr=fbmainintl





Nicknamed "four dishes with a soup," the Tianluokeng cluster of tulou at Nanjing features four round fortresses surrounding a fifth square one.

Scholarship Program for Study in China!

“In the 21st Century, China is no longer an elective course.” - Stephen Schwarzman

http://www.npr.org/2013/05/02/178783650/a-rhodes-like-scholarship-for-study-in-china


http://schwarzmanscholars.org/

Dragon Boat Races in Tuscaloosa

AL.com (@aldotcom) tweeted at 4:55 PM on Sat, Apr 27, 2013: Tuscaloosa Dragon Boat races draw hundreds of competitors, donors (photos, video) http://t.co/3kLiTAvzhs (https://twitter.com/aldotcom/status/328266171419860993) Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download

River Of Poems And Paintings: China's Li River

The River of Poems and Paintings sounds like something out of a fairy tale, but it's actually the nickname of China's Li River. Winding through over 50 miles of the country's Guangxi region, the picturesque body of water is the perfect setting for an artist looking for inspiration from nature's bounty.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/18/river-of-poems-and-paintings-photographer-michael-sheridan-china-li-river_n_3109413.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003#slide=more292333

http://bbs.chinadaily.com.cn/thread-851463-1-1.html

When Dinner Has a Gleam in Its Eye

Sorry, I really couldn't resist:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/17/dining/rabbit-duck-and-fish-heads-reappear-on-the-menu-in-china.html?smid=pl-share

Don't know if I'd be brave enough to sample these culinary delights...

SITE 2013: Trials and Triumphs of Blogging Internationally

Our conference presentation for the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education

Thursday, March 28th 10:15-11:15 AM

Paige Vitulli, University of South Alabama, United States

Peggy Delmas, University of South Alabama, United States

Susan Santoli, University of South Alabama, United States 

SITE Blogging Internationally from Paige Vitulli

Hip First Lady for China?

Interesting piece by the Atlantic on the wife of incoming Chinese president Xi Jinping. She's a professional singer - Peng Liyuan.

http://www.theatlantic.com/china/archive/2013/03/chinas-hip-new-first-lady/274005/

Chinese Buffet

My daughter's fortune cookie
says that her feet
will touch the soil of many lands

The China King buffet costs twice as much
on Sunday as it does during the week
Somewhere in Pakistan a man has made news
by burying an infant alive

It is less than two months since China
Already I have abandoned my chopsticks skills
for a fork to shovel the rice, stab the chicken

There is a multi-tiered chandelier hanging
over the smeared sneeze guards
on the buffet line, offering french fries,
fried chicken, crab rangoon, and sushi

A potbellied man passes me,
his gray braid swinging unappetizingly
close to the food trays

In the booth next to our table
a middle-aged couple clasp outstretched hands,
heads down, eyes closed, thanking God
for this Chinese buffet

- Peggy

Teaching Faculty How to Pronounce Chinese Students' Names

From Inside Higher Ed:

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/03/11/chinese-pronunciation-workshop-hit-u-iowa-business-school

Be sure to listen to the audio at the end.