Monkey Abroad

Category: China

  • Is Mandarin Chinese The Hardest Language To Learn?

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    Kevin Cook
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    Growing up, I always believed that Chinese is the toughest language to learn. In this video I ask a couple folks on the street in Yangshuo what they think, then I break down some of the basic components of the Chinese language (Mandarin dialect) to see just how tough this language is compared to English.…

  • Traveling for $20 A Day: Shanghai, China – Ep 1

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    Kevin Cook
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    We traveled to Shanghai, China and visited People’s Square, ate delicious Chinese street food all day and booked a room in a hostel – all for less than 20 dollars (130 RMB)! This is the FIRST EPISODE of the Traveling for 20 Dollars a Day series. We now have visited citied all over Asia –…

  • Chinese Foot Massage: Cure-all or Hoax? | Shanghai

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    Kevin Cook
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    It is believed that a Chinese foot massage can not only maintain and promote health but also cure a variety of ailments. In this video, I get a traditional foot massage and see if the benefits are as legit as they say. Traditional Chinese foot massages start off with a footbath and proceed to an…

  • Traveling for $20 A Day: Hangzhou, China – Ep 2

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    Kevin Cook
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    We traveled to Hangzhou and visited the famous West Lake, saw a Chinese marriage market, and ate a ton of delicious Chinese food – all for 20 dollars (130 RMB)! Meals: Breakfast at 新丰小吃 : 馄饨(wontons) and 小笼包(soup dumplings) – 17 RMB(Address: 复兴南街分店 – 杭州市上城区复兴南街180-2号) Lunch at 吴山烤鸡 ：a whole roasted chicken – 26 RMB(Address:…

  • Traveling for $20 A Day: Chengdu, China – Ep 3 (Ft. The Food Ranger)

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    Kevin Cook
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    We visited Chengdu—the capital city of China’s Sichuan Province—and ate a ton of cheap, signature Chengdu street food. With the help of Trevor James, We ate some delicious Chinese wraps, zongzi, RABBIT HEAD, and a ton of other cheap foods! Fellow YouTuber and food blogger – Trevor James (The Food Ranger) showed us a ton…

  • Chinese FIRE CUPPING Therapy

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    Kevin Cook
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    Chinese fire cupping therapy is a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine that uses a flame and cups to bring “bad blood” to the skin’s surface, which is believed to bring detoxification, pain relief and a variety of other health benefits. Because it’s my first time cupping, I brought Tina along with me to a local…

  • 10 Travel Tips for Visiting China

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    Kevin Cook
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    As a country undergoing the grandest developmental makeover in recent history, China is becoming an increasingly popular destination for ESL teachers and backpackers alike. Traveling to China for the first time can be intimidating, but it shouldn’t be if you come prepared with a few travel tips. 1. Don’t project American standards onto China A problem…

  • 7 Reasons Why I Love Teaching College ESL in China

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    Kevin Cook
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    After a tedious breakup with my old teaching job, I got my new Chinese residence permit and I’m finally legit. Now I can legally say that I teach ESL at a college in Rizhao, and I love it. Although changing jobs was a logistical nightmare, here are 7 reasons why the grass is greener on…

  • So I Quit My Language Center Job in China: Part 2

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    Kevin Cook
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    So it turns out that I still work for the language center. I tried my best to quit, but within the confines of Chinese law, I couldn’t have my cake and eat it too… yet. This is about compromising, and my employer agreed to meet me in the middle. It’s a long story so I’ll…

  • So I Quit My Language Center Job in China

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    Kevin Cook
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    Earlier this week I put in a week’s notice of resignation from my English language training center in Rizhao, Shandong, China. Before I’m labeled as a no-good, rotten quitter, let me explain… Why I quit I get along very well with the staff, teachers and my superiors. The school pays on time, provided a stellar…