CHINA and the WEST

 Journal Entry 2 April 2023 We spoke to Amy who was at our School previously and had decided to leave and branch out independently.  I was curious about this because my enthusiasm and interest in working in an international school had totally died and I want to take a chance again on doing a whole new thing in my life. She seems to be doing really great, selling Crystals online.    So we met up at Wade's Wensen, which is quite far from the Shencheng district where we live. Amy demonstrated the crystal can move in various ways - or at least appears to.    We met up with Tane Mcleay who I met 5 years ago when I first arrived in China and started working at Hangzhou Entel School. And had a pretty fun evening meeting all kinds of ex-pats from everywhere on earth who congregate at various watering holes on a Friday evening for drinks and chat and fun.  Simba from Zimbabwe and a girl from Scotland debating some aspect of philosophy or politics. We met a fasc...

 2. The decline of the Yuan Dynasty  Mongol Warrior   After Kublai's death in 1294, the dynasty decayed rapidly; so rapidly, in fact, that it ruled all of China for less time than it took to conquer it. Although every Yuan emperor wore a helmet when he posed for a portrait, those who came after Kublai were no warrior-kings--most of them never even saw a battlefield--and they let the maintenance of the country go neglected while they struggled between themselves for power. Between 1294 and 1333 ten emperors rose and fell; after them came a boy of 13, Toghon Temur, who ruled as long as Kublai Khan, though not as effectively.  Inflation and high taxes alienated the peasants; the discontented scholars continued to make trouble whenever they saw an opportunity. Strange rumours began to circulate concerning the Mongols' intentions: they would not only ban iron weapons but iron tools; every unmarried boy and girl would be seized for government service; most frightening was ...

1. My Journey in China  This  is my History blog regarding China and in it I am combining my own adventures and experiences living and working in China  References:  The Fall and Rise of China - Professor Richard Baum  China 1839-1997 - Michael Lynch. The xenohistorian . Introduction In my sojourn in China I have recently begun a program to learn the History of the region, it is vast epic and sweeping.  Standing on a Rampart Great Wall of Xian The internet is resplendent with resources to study, and I could just go and study as many of these as I can, and then distil them into my own History of China in my own words on this blog. But that is boring  I need to start with a quick Overview Focus on my own areas of interest as they fit into the overall timeline. As a resident of China for the last four years, I need to research China for my personal development and growth as a guest and resident of China.  Also, since I consider myself a bit of a Hist...