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{ Category Archives } China

Mega Bread

I’m not sure what the Chinese name is for it, but there is a kind of huge bread often found sold on the streets of China that I have to admit is pretty tasty. It is not the kind of hearty whole grain material that I usually like but there is something satisfying about the [...]

The Other Korean Wave

I mentioned in an earlier posting written while visiting Taiwan in 2005 that, in addition to media products such as Korean movies and dramas, there is another “Korean wave” out there. As I mentioned in that posting, “Korean-style plastic surgery” (韓風整形) can be found advertised on the streets of Taipei. In this advertising we see [...]

Protect the Environment, Save Bumf

With minor modifications, I think this has to be my favorite new slogan: This sign can be found in the bathrooms of Jinan airport in China.1 A loose translation of the Chinese might go something like this, “Support the protection of the environment, use only what [toilet] paper you need.” (or “be economical in your [...]

Library Glasses Department

I spent an hour or two on Shandong Normal University campus in Jinan and noticed an interesting addition to the services available at their university library. The sign on the left reads: Library Glasses Department (in red) Accurate Eye Examination, Fast Delivery of Glasses (in blue) Similar info on the vertical sign. That the library [...]

Promoting Transparency in Dental Work

I was walking through the back streets of a neighborhood in northeastern Jinan the other day and, among the restaurants one can usually find on the street side, I found myself curiously watching a dentist perform his work while another patient (?) waited by the door.

Are You Korean?

I caught a taxi today to visit the Baotuquan(趵突泉)springs here in Jinan. I asked the driver what my chances were of catching a cab to the airport around 5:30 in the morning on Monday to get to Jinan airport to return to Korea and how long it would take from my hotel. After he answered, [...]

The Dangers of a Sample Size of One

I spent a few hours in the Shandong provincial library here in Jinan this morning to pass the time while I waited for an appointment with a professor at Shandong University. After spending less than ten minutes to get a one year library card for 15RMB (Using my Chinese name 林蜀道, American passport, writing down [...]

NYT is not blocked in China but CNN is

As I mentioned in an earlier posting, the blog here at Muninn.net appears to be blocked in China. I have tried it from several internet cafes (网吧) here in Jinan and in addition to failing to load, on one occasion I was greeted with a scary alert box that told me I had tried to [...]

A Great Leap Towards Civilization

Interesting sign above the urinals in the bathroom at Jinan airport: 靠前一小步 Move forward a small step 文明一大步 Make a great stride towards civilization The English translation provided on the sign itself was somewhat less inspirational and certainly more obscure: To preceding half step, a civilized stride

Are you Satisfied with Your Immigration Officer?

I am writing this in Jinan, China where I’m visiting for just a few days to help prepare for a year of research in China next year and visiting Shandong University to meet a few professors. Since the blog here at Muninn.net has somehow angered the Chinese censors and is blocked, I’ll post this entry [...]