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The downside of being an expat: Saying Good Bye

Going through some old files looking for something and I came across this 2007 The Expat Life column about the sadness that descends every June as dear friends move on. Just thought I'd share. ** Summer is the transient time of the year…

Last column: long-term expats

* THE EXPAT LIFE * MARCH 6, 2009 Come Home, Did You Say? Some Expats Choose to Cut Ties with Their Employer and Stay Abroad * By ALAN PAUL We went to China in 2005 with a three-year commitment. Like most traditional expats, we arrived…

Last column

An Ex-Expat Learns Lessons from a New Expat THE EXPAT LIFE FEBRUARY 20, 2009> By ALAN PAUL Last fall as the reality that we were in our final months in China was beginning to sink in, I thought about dropping my Chinese classes. There…

Repat columns

I have written three so far.. this is number two. Not sure why I amstarting in the middle. Separating Anchors from Anvils Moving Abroad and Back Teaches an Expat the Value of His Stuff By ALAN PAUL I'm writing this column sitting at…
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Travel Guide Column

The Stresses and Rewards Of Playing the Tour Guide July 4, 2008 I wear a lot of different hats: father, columnist, blogger, Olympics reporter, bandleader. But the most challenging and at times anxiety-provoking is tour guide. I'm…

Expat Leaving Column

I am falling eve behind. here is two weeks' ago column. New one already posted last week. THE EXPAT LIFE By ALAN PAUL The Annual Expat Exodus Never Gets Any Easier June 20, 2008 It's feeling mighty empty around here. The annual…
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Hockey column

One Couple's Passion for Hockey Draws Beijing Expats onto the Ice June 3, 2008 Remarkably, becoming a half-baked Chinese rock star is not the most absurd thing I've done in Beijing. The most absurd thing I've done is becoming a half-baked…

Last column

THE EXPAT LIFEBy ALAN PAUL In Fast-Changing Beijing, NostalgiaFor This Morning's LandmarksOctober 26, 2007The more things change around here, the more they change.Beijing is developing at a breathtaking pace. This whole sprawling metro area…

Jay Gindoff in the house

Jay Gindoff was here for about 48 hours, Thursday evening-Saturday afternoon. As always, great to see Jay. He and I visited the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall on Friday. That was my third trip there this month and probably my 20th…

Last week’s column

How Cash Cools Tempers In Chinese Traffic Mishaps August 17, 2007 Ever since I got my Chinese driver's license, I worried about getting in an accident. The packed roads and erratic driving made me fear for my and my family's safety. But…