The ability to understand, explain, and interpret China to a non-Chinese audience will be one of the most prized skills in the decades to come.
4 Philosophies Underlying the WeChat Mini-Program – Lessons from the Father of WeChat
The man who built WeChat, China’s No.1 communication tool with 877 million daily users, rarely appears in public. The 47-year-old Allen Zhang (Zhang Xiaolong) is a low-profile, chain-smoking, and hardcore programmer who prefers to let his product speak for itself. However, last December, WeChat held its own version of the WWDC in Guangzhou, where Zhang … Continue reading 4 Philosophies Underlying the WeChat Mini-Program – Lessons from the Father of WeChat
Beijing is Big
How big is Beijing? Let me count the ways. It’s land area is equivalent to 156 Parises, 20 New York Cities, 10 Londons, and is bigger than the entire state of Connecticut. Countries that are smaller than Beijing include Qatar, Jamaica, and Lebanon. It has 20 million people—which is more than the population of New … Continue reading Beijing is Big
There’s Nothing to See Where I Come From
When I’m asked about my hometown, the conversation usually goes like this. American: Where are you from? Me: China. American: Oh cool! Which city? I’ve been to Beijing. Me: I’m from the northeast. American: (losing interest upon knowing that I’m not from either Beijing or Shanghai) Ok! So it’s close to Beijing? Me: Not really, … Continue reading There’s Nothing to See Where I Come From
Lessons From a Chinese Massage Parlor
If you want to understand Chinese culture, I suggest visiting a massage parlor in China. I’m not talking about the high-end SPAs that you find in a Hilton or a Sheraton. I’m talking about your neighborhood massage parlor, where a massage costs below $40 an hour, where you never need to make an appointment, where … Continue reading Lessons From a Chinese Massage Parlor
Why I Dislike Eating in American Restaurants
As I’m about to fly home to China in a few days, I realized that one thing I miss the most about being in China is eating at restaurants the Chinese way. When I first came to the US in 2013, it took me a while to adjust to the American way of restaurant service. … Continue reading Why I Dislike Eating in American Restaurants
My Problem with “How are you?”
When I first arrived at Harvard freshman year, it was also my first time being in the US. Many things that happened during that hectic first week of school is now blurry memory, but one thing still stands out to me, more than three years later: I did not know how to reply when people … Continue reading My Problem with “How are you?”
A Guide to Using WeChat Emojis
It is very difficult to talk to Chinese people without using emojis. Whenever a Chinese friend Facebook messages me, I feel compelled to reply with WeChat because there are messages and nuances that can only be expressed with emojis that only exist on WeChat. The difference between emojis on Chinese and Western apps can shed … Continue reading A Guide to Using WeChat Emojis
Stranger in My Own Country
Every time my plane lands in Beijing Capital International Airport, my anticipation of returning to my home country is replaced by a nervousness about how to practically navigate a country that I have not visited for a year. First, I realize that I cannot text or call my family or friends about my arrival, because … Continue reading Stranger in My Own Country
Warm Water
I still remember the day when I realized that the concept of “warm water” does not exist in America. On a brisk winter morning my freshman year, I stepped into Au Bon Pain and asked if I could have a cup of warm water. The waitress looked at me as if I had said those words … Continue reading Warm Water
Zara Zhang 