Hot Pot Column

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Erik Nilsson

Sharing one dream with my Chinese study buddy

Our lives are as antipodean as our hometowns, but Xue Chen and I had at least one thing in common - we were nervous. Our exams were approaching.
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Stuart Beaton

I'm a plumber and I'm OK, I sleep all night and work all day

Ash and muddy footprints covered the floor and the air was filled with the acrid tang of burning plastic.
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Tiffany Tan

Cold bites but new habits keep away the chills

I had never seen snow before I was 17, when I went to school for a year in the US Midwest.
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Erik Nilsson

Tough lesson in financial wisdom from a Beijing cop

"Do you know what moshou means?" the police officer asked me in Chinese.
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Stuart Beaton

I've the keys, but where's the apartment?

When I hear the term, "naked marriage" (luohun), I always get the wrong picture in my head.
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Liu Jun

Up, close and personal with Cheerful China

"Why did you cut my punch line, 'Revenge is a dish best served cold'?" asked Australian Patrick Whiteley, a former editor.
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Congratulations on your divorce, my forest is in the lobby

"Congratulations," I told the newlyweds, "on your divorce!"
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Stuart Beaton (

I am no general, just a foot soldier

A few people have written to me lately and said: "You must be a great chef!"
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Liu Jun

Cashing in on group discounts has hidden costs

"Could we have another set of plates?" I asked. One of the two waiters who had been lingering near the counter chatting about vacation plans finally brought us the plate, without saying a word or offering even the hint of a smile.
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Erik Nilsson

Keeping it in the family, Chinese style

My two sets of "parents" were about to meet for the first time.
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