I've heard a saying that went something like, "if you stay in a country for three weeks you can write a book, three months a postcard, and three years nothing!" I am now faced with this problem. Having lived in China for about five years, I am totally used to daily life here. That shouldn't be something to complain about, right? Adapting to a different society and culture is something to be satisfied with, is it not? Usually it would be. However, it makes writing a column about my impressions of China a lot more difficult.

    Luckily for me two friends from my country, Ireland, came to visit me during the summer. It was their first time in China and it was through their eyes that I rediscovered the pleasure of experiencing a foreign culture for the first time again. ......