ZGBriefs by Joann Pittman
Joann Pittman is Vice President of Partnership and China Engagement and editor of ZGBriefs.
Prior to joining ChinaSource, Joann spent 28 years working in China, as an English teacher, language student, program director, and cross-cultural trainer for organizations and businesses engaged in China. She has also taught Chinese at the University of Northwestern-St. Paul (MN), and Chinese Culture and Communication at Wheaton College (IL) and Taylor University (IN).
Joann has a BA in Social Sciences from the University of Northwestern-St. Paul (MN), and an MA in teaching from the University of St. Thomas (MN).
She is the author of Survival Chinese Lessons and The Bells Are Not Silent: Stories of Church Bells in China.
Her personal blog, Outside-In can be found at joannpittman.com, where she writes on China, Minnesota, traveling, and issues related to "living well where you don't belong."
You can find her on Twitter @jkpittman.com and on Facebook at @authorjoannpittman.
She makes her home in New Brighton, Minnesota.
ZGBriefs | February 11, 2021
Celebrate Lunar New Year online with a variety of virtual events (February 8, 2021, Lonely Planet) Many of the celebrations for the Lunar New Year are taking place virtually this year, inspired by food, performances and art and craft traditions that take place across Asia.
ZGBriefs | February 4, 2021
Chinese New Year good luck fruit is nutrition powerhouse (February 3, 2021, Inkstone News) Kumquat trees adorned with red lai see fong (literally, good fortune envelopes) are auspicious decorations at the start of the Lunar New Year. Native to China, the fruit is available around the world, including at supermarkets in major cities in the US.
ZGBriefs | January 28, 2021
8 Things To Know About The New Requirement For A Negative Covid-19 Test To Fly To The U.S. (January 26, 2021, View from the Wing) As of today the U.S. now requires a negative Covid-19 test within 3 days prior to departure, or documentation of having already recovered from Covid-19, for all air passengers flying to the country (citizens and non-citizens alike).
ZGBriefs | January 21, 2021
Why 1.2 billion people share the same 100 surnames in China (January 16, 2021, CNN) With 1.37 billion citizens, China has the world's largest population, but has one of the smallest surname pools. Only about 6,000 surnames are in use, according to the Ministry of Public Security. And the vast majority of the population -- almost 86% -- share just 100 of those surnames.
ZGBriefs | January 14, 2021
U.S. bans imports of all cotton, tomato products from China's Xinjiang region (January 13, 2021, Reuters) U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the order applies to raw fibers, apparel and textiles made from Xinjiang-grown cotton, as well as canned tomatoes, sauces, seeds and other tomato products from the region, even if processed or manufactured in third countries.
ZGBriefs | January 7, 2021
China steps up COVID-19 curbs near Beijing as infections rise (January 5, 2020, Reuters) Chinese authorities on Wednesday imposed travel restrictions and banned gatherings in the capital city of Hebei province, which surrounds Beijing, in the latest escalation of measures to stave off another coronavirus wave.
ZGBriefs | December 31, 2020
Coronavirus visa uncertainty turns foreign students against China (December 26, 2020, South China Morning Post) Thousands of young people are waiting to hear if they will be allowed back into the country to continue their studies. Many are giving up and growing angry, as Beijing’s soft power diplomacy in education suffers.
ZGBriefs | December 24, 2020
Mandarin Christmas Medley (December 23, 2020, Outside-In) As a way of saying Merry Christmas, here’s a video titled Jingle Bells in Chinese Christmas Medley. It’s just plain fun (and stinky tofu even makes an appearance).
ZGBriefs | December 17, 2020
Is China About to Introduce a “Three-Child Policy”? (December 10, 2020, Radii China) Chinese authorities have made no secret of their desire for more babies in the country, but do the people really want them?
ZGBriefs | December 10, 2020
Pandemic fuels an RV boom in China (December 7, 2020, Inkstone News) People in China have been forced to enjoy domestic tourism because of the coronavirus pandemic. Many of them are turning to RVs to enjoy the road less traveled.