Cultural Curiosities

Chinese culture is as deep and rich as its 5000+ year history. It's intriguing and at times seems confusing, contradictory, and impenetrable. Drawn in by China's unique philosophies, I scraped the surface as a Religious Studies major in college. I've gotten my feet wet over the past three years living and working in Beijing. And last year, I opened the floodgates when I married into a Chinese family from a rural village outside of Beijing... which is about the closest an outsider can get to a VIP pass into the strange and exciting world of Chinese customs and traditions.

Despite the fact that my hubby is Chinese and offers a great deal of cultural input and support, I still don't "get" the deep significance of the Beijing Opera. I haven't memorized the dynasties or unraveled the secrets of Confucianism. What I do have is a Chinese family with a big heart. Arising from that and three years of life in China, is a wellspring of cultural curiosities that I'd like to share with you... Recipes, home-remedies, superstitions, customs, traditions, and the like.

Enjoy!