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Kosher Chinese: Living, Teaching, and Eating with China's Other Billion
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Travel & Outdoors (2011)An irreverent tale of an American Jew serving in the Peace Corps in rural China, which reveals the absurdities, joys, and pathos of a traditional society in flux
In September of 2005, the Peace Corps sent Michael Levy to teach English in the heart of China's heartland. His hosts in the city of Guiyang found additional uses for him: resident expert on Judaism, romantic adviser, and provincial basketball star, to name a few. His account of overcoming vast cultural differences to befriend his students and fellow teachers is by turns poignant and laugh-out-loud funny.
While reveling in the peculiarities of life in China's interior, the author also discovered that the "other billion" (people living far from the coastal cities covered by the American media) have a complex relationship with both their own traditions and the rapid changes of modernization. Lagging behind in China's economic boom, they experience the darker side of "capitalism with Chinese characteristics," daily facing the schizophrenia of conflicting ideologies.
Kosher Chinese is an illuminating account of the lives of the residents of Guiyang, particularly the young people who will soon control the fate of the world.
In September of 2005, the Peace Corps sent Michael Levy to teach English in the heart of China's heartland. His hosts in the city of Guiyang found additional uses for him: resident expert on Judaism, romantic adviser, and provincial basketball star, to name a few. His account of overcoming vast cultural differences to befriend his students and fellow teachers is by turns poignant and laugh-out-loud funny.
While reveling in the peculiarities of life in China's interior, the author also discovered that the "other billion" (people living far from the coastal cities covered by the American media) have a complex relationship with both their own traditions and the rapid changes of modernization. Lagging behind in China's economic boom, they experience the darker side of "capitalism with Chinese characteristics," daily facing the schizophrenia of conflicting ideologies.
Kosher Chinese is an illuminating account of the lives of the residents of Guiyang, particularly the young people who will soon control the fate of the world.
256 pages, Paperback
First published July 5, 2011
20 people are currently reading
1410 people want to read
About the author
Michael Levy
2 books2 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 226 reviews
November 12, 2011
I really enjoy travelogues about China, even though they all follow the same pattern: traveler doesn't know much about China, takes crash course in Chinese, lives in China, experiences the contact sport that is standing in line in China, says stupid things in Chinese because they get the tones wrong, feels like an outsider, pokes fun at the food, makes friends, makes witty remarks about globalization in China (usually while sitting in a KFC or Pizza Hut) falls in love with China, finally feels accepted, leaves China, then returns later to check up on Chinese friends. SO PREDICTABLE, but so good :-D
And Levy's novel added a new twist to the usual Chinese travelogue; he's Jewish, and he is a teacher. I enjoyed getting to know his students (who gave themselves ridiculous English names such as: Stone Crusher, Machine, and Shitty), and I enjoyed the insights that his religion brought, especially when his friend Jennifer decides to participate in Yom Kippur, but does in order to jump start a crash diet. He reflects that, "Jennifer's hybrid was no more or less odd than a white guy from San Francisco lighting incense in his fancy loft apartment and practicing tai chi. It was globalized spirituality, both beautiful and meaningless."
And Levy's novel added a new twist to the usual Chinese travelogue; he's Jewish, and he is a teacher. I enjoyed getting to know his students (who gave themselves ridiculous English names such as: Stone Crusher, Machine, and Shitty), and I enjoyed the insights that his religion brought, especially when his friend Jennifer decides to participate in Yom Kippur, but does in order to jump start a crash diet. He reflects that, "Jennifer's hybrid was no more or less odd than a white guy from San Francisco lighting incense in his fancy loft apartment and practicing tai chi. It was globalized spirituality, both beautiful and meaningless."
October 3, 2011
With Kosher Chinese: Living, Teaching, and Eating with China's Other Billion, Peace Corps veteran Michael Levy has given us another addition to that ever-proliferating memoir genre, The-Crazy-Thing-I-Did-For-A-Year (or two). "Kosher Chinese" lives up to but fails to transcend the expectations for that genre -- scattered humorous anecdotes, occasional poignant insightful moments, and a few Big Questions (no great answers, but no one really has them anyway), embedded in a sea of mildly interesting details. It was okay, I guess -- readable and thankfully not too long -- but certainly nothing earthshattering. I did note that it might make an interesting companion read to Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, offering compare/contrast possibilities for American views of China and Chinese culture.
May 14, 2012
An interesting quick read. It's important to note that it's one person's experience in a specific city, but it's certainly not a perspective that I've been exposed to. I really appreciated that the book seemed well-balanced between the good and the sad. Mike Levy didn't try to overplay the poverty angle, or the creation of the middle class. I feel like I got to know the author and the people he got to know in China, rather than being exposed to characters or stereotypes.
One lingering question I have - what happened to the opera-singing neighbor? Did he suddenly die? Did he go on vacation? Did he lose his voice? I realize there was a lot going on that day, but how could you not wonder? Did you, Mike Levy, find out what happened to opera-singer but you thought we the readers wouldn't care? It's certainly not as important as learning about Big Twin and Little Twin, but I wonder...
One lingering question I have - what happened to the opera-singing neighbor? Did he suddenly die? Did he go on vacation? Did he lose his voice? I realize there was a lot going on that day, but how could you not wonder? Did you, Mike Levy, find out what happened to opera-singer but you thought we the readers wouldn't care? It's certainly not as important as learning about Big Twin and Little Twin, but I wonder...
July 28, 2011
This book was not only extremely amusing, but it also, I think, gave me a look on what it's really like to live in China. Levy writes about China and the Chinese people, particularly its young people, with compassion and wit. And of course there's the typical travel stories of strange food -- he finally forced himself to eat dog but drew the line at fried millipedes -- and hilarious language mistakes. Levy got into a lot of strange situations in China -- I think the "Santa Claus and Silly String incident" was my favorite -- and he wasn't afraid to poke fun at/criticize himself as well as other people. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to know what it's like in the "real" China.
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September 30, 2011
I picked this book up from the library because I laughed out loud at several points in the short introduction. I laughed because I just spent two years as an expat in the "forgotten places" of China and Levy's introduction was pitch perfect in capturing the simultaneous gravity and hilarity of cross-cultural foibles. The rest of the book struggled to maintain its initial balance and freshness, but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless, delivering a few truly hilarious anecdotes.
This will be an entertaining, if not completely satisfactory, read for anyone who has been an expat for any amount of time, particularly in China. I think it is particularly salient for those who have spent time in the regions of China who have largely been left behind in the astonishing economic changes of the last three decades. Though his writing is uneven and his humor tends a little too often toward the crass and sophomoric, he still touches on some of the unique emotions and situations of the expat experience. He's a humorous commentator on some of the more idiosyncratic aspects of Chinese society on the surface, but he flounders a bit when trying to touch on the more complex aspects of societal confusion, cultural chauvinism, and political hegemony.
Despite that, he is still successful in unfolding his story in an engaging though disconnected way, and at least does an admirable if incomplete job of introducing some of the complexities in Chinese culture and society that the average American reader might never consider. For that reason, I would recommend this as a good light read shot through with some small educational nuggets. Definitely worth checking out.
This will be an entertaining, if not completely satisfactory, read for anyone who has been an expat for any amount of time, particularly in China. I think it is particularly salient for those who have spent time in the regions of China who have largely been left behind in the astonishing economic changes of the last three decades. Though his writing is uneven and his humor tends a little too often toward the crass and sophomoric, he still touches on some of the unique emotions and situations of the expat experience. He's a humorous commentator on some of the more idiosyncratic aspects of Chinese society on the surface, but he flounders a bit when trying to touch on the more complex aspects of societal confusion, cultural chauvinism, and political hegemony.
Despite that, he is still successful in unfolding his story in an engaging though disconnected way, and at least does an admirable if incomplete job of introducing some of the complexities in Chinese culture and society that the average American reader might never consider. For that reason, I would recommend this as a good light read shot through with some small educational nuggets. Definitely worth checking out.
July 24, 2011
Kosher Chinese is a memoir of a young man, Michael Levy, serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in remote Guiyang, in Guizhou province, China.
Except for a few weeks training, Levy knew little about his destination and even less about Chinese culture. Almost from the beginning, Levy comes face to face with the differences he’s been told about in his classes.
You’ll find yourself, by turns, chuckling, shaking your head, even taking notes, and horrified. It is hard to tell who had more to teach, Levy or his students.
While you don’t have to have spent any time in China to enjoy Levy’s story, if you have been to China, outside Beijing and Hong Kong, your enjoyment will be increased. For instance when Levy faces his first squat toilet, if you’ve been to China, you’ll completely understand the dilemma he faced, literally and figuratively.
If you are going to China, this wouldn’t be a bad book to read, but it shouldn’t be the only book you read. Levy lived in China in 2005, and in the ensuing six years, China has seen many changes. If you are only visiting the major cities, this book probably won’t help you much. It is, nevertheless, a fast, interesting read.
Except for a few weeks training, Levy knew little about his destination and even less about Chinese culture. Almost from the beginning, Levy comes face to face with the differences he’s been told about in his classes.
You’ll find yourself, by turns, chuckling, shaking your head, even taking notes, and horrified. It is hard to tell who had more to teach, Levy or his students.
While you don’t have to have spent any time in China to enjoy Levy’s story, if you have been to China, outside Beijing and Hong Kong, your enjoyment will be increased. For instance when Levy faces his first squat toilet, if you’ve been to China, you’ll completely understand the dilemma he faced, literally and figuratively.
If you are going to China, this wouldn’t be a bad book to read, but it shouldn’t be the only book you read. Levy lived in China in 2005, and in the ensuing six years, China has seen many changes. If you are only visiting the major cities, this book probably won’t help you much. It is, nevertheless, a fast, interesting read.
July 31, 2011
This is basically "what I did on my summer vacation" but it was entertaining and somewhat informative. While there are inevitable "squat toilets are gross" passages, there are also interesting insights. And even though the author clearly enjoyed becoming a popular guy on his trip, his writing is self-deprecating enough that he doesn't come off as too much of a dick. So if you want an easy read that also might teach you something new about china, this is it. I wouldn't buy it again, though. This is library or friend-borrowing fare.
September 11, 2012
A funny, informative well written account of a Jewish Peace Corps volunteer in interior China. A fun read; sometimes disturbing due to the Chinese inhumane treatment of animals, especially dogs but very insightful observations on the politics of Chinese networking.
March 5, 2018
Kosher Chinese was an interesting look at at an area of China and the ethnic minorities living there that I knew nothing about. Michael Levy, a Jewish American Peace Corp volunteer, was a reasonably likable guide to the area, in an affectionate, if sometimes confused or distressed, tone. Hearing the stories through the filter of his own ethnic identity added another layer of interest to the story for me, especially given the apparent (if generally inaccurate) Chinese fascination with Jewish people.
I had never heard of Guizhou before, or of the poverty, or the various ethnic minorities before I read this book. I guess I assumed that the developed cities of coastal China reflected the majority of the county, aside from a few minority cultures I knew about, such as Tibetan and Uygher. So hearing about the poor, rural sections of China, its "other billion" was fascinating and illuminating, if not always appealing. I think only one who immerses themselves in the local culture, like Levy did for two years, really gets a strong sense of the dramatic cultural differences between Chinese and American culture, and Levy was kind enough to share his experiences and insights with us all.
Some of the experiences were uncomfortable to read about. The man punching the bag of puppies, for instance, bothered me as much as it appeared to bother Levy. Other things that we take for granted in American culture, such as (ideally) advancement due to ability, instead of guanxi, or social connections, were so very different in this culture. Voting in elections that didn't mean anything. so many differences.
And yet, sometimes the discussions Levy had with his Chinese friends and neighbors painfully highlighted weaknesses in our own American culture, as when one man told him, "it won't be long before America fades away. You have too many wars." He isn't wrong. While I don't desire the alternative offered by current "socialism with Chinese characteristics", the critiques they offered of my country and culture are worth heeding and addressing.
Overall, an enjoyable read, full of knowledge and insights that were new to me. Read it to broaden your perspective on the world, and learn about a part of the world not often addressed in the media.
I had never heard of Guizhou before, or of the poverty, or the various ethnic minorities before I read this book. I guess I assumed that the developed cities of coastal China reflected the majority of the county, aside from a few minority cultures I knew about, such as Tibetan and Uygher. So hearing about the poor, rural sections of China, its "other billion" was fascinating and illuminating, if not always appealing. I think only one who immerses themselves in the local culture, like Levy did for two years, really gets a strong sense of the dramatic cultural differences between Chinese and American culture, and Levy was kind enough to share his experiences and insights with us all.
Some of the experiences were uncomfortable to read about. The man punching the bag of puppies, for instance, bothered me as much as it appeared to bother Levy. Other things that we take for granted in American culture, such as (ideally) advancement due to ability, instead of guanxi, or social connections, were so very different in this culture. Voting in elections that didn't mean anything. so many differences.
And yet, sometimes the discussions Levy had with his Chinese friends and neighbors painfully highlighted weaknesses in our own American culture, as when one man told him, "it won't be long before America fades away. You have too many wars." He isn't wrong. While I don't desire the alternative offered by current "socialism with Chinese characteristics", the critiques they offered of my country and culture are worth heeding and addressing.
Overall, an enjoyable read, full of knowledge and insights that were new to me. Read it to broaden your perspective on the world, and learn about a part of the world not often addressed in the media.
March 28, 2021
This is one of the best of the many returned Peace Corps Volunteer memoirs I’ve read. Mike Levin was a Jewish volunteer in China in 2005. Although Kosher back home in New York, Mike decided that wasn’t going to work in China. He dived into the cultural experiences, including food, in a particularly poor and rural area of China, like the best PCVs do and reaped the rewards one hopes for. I have absolutely no desire to eat much of what he described. He wasn’t perfect. He lost his temper a few times, griped occasionally, and struggled often. He often found himself in situations that just didn’t make sense to him but he hung in there. His reflections and cultural comparisons are rich. Intriguing to me was his report that Judaism was recognizable and acceptable to the rural Chinese he met once he reminded them that he was “like Karl Marx.” All in all, I think his was exactly the kind of cultural exchange the Peace Corps is supposed to create. I have no doubt that his students gained from his novel (to them) teaching methods as much as he gained from them.
January 19, 2025
The author taught English in rural China through the Peace Corps.
While the title indicates Levy is a practicing Jew, he really is only ethnically/culturally Jewish. (He does not keep kosher in China.)
I really don't get culturally religious people. The author, for instance, corrects a Chinese acquaintance who decides to fast on Yom Kippur in order to lose weight, telling her that it is a "Day of Atonement" and not a diet. Yet he himself is not sure he even believes in God. It's as if he doesn't understand Judaism despite being Jewish...
There were funny moments in the book, and I enjoyed learning more about Chinese culture, but the author also relied on crude and vulgar humor, which was so unnecessary.
He also used profanity and misused the name of God.
I would have liked to hear more about the actual teaching of English, or even interactions with fellow Peace Corps volunteers. They are mentioned in the acknowledgements, but not in the actual book contents.
While the title indicates Levy is a practicing Jew, he really is only ethnically/culturally Jewish. (He does not keep kosher in China.)
I really don't get culturally religious people. The author, for instance, corrects a Chinese acquaintance who decides to fast on Yom Kippur in order to lose weight, telling her that it is a "Day of Atonement" and not a diet. Yet he himself is not sure he even believes in God. It's as if he doesn't understand Judaism despite being Jewish...
There were funny moments in the book, and I enjoyed learning more about Chinese culture, but the author also relied on crude and vulgar humor, which was so unnecessary.
He also used profanity and misused the name of God.
I would have liked to hear more about the actual teaching of English, or even interactions with fellow Peace Corps volunteers. They are mentioned in the acknowledgements, but not in the actual book contents.
August 27, 2018
I borrowed this from a friend of mine who lived in China for a year. Honestly, I was skeptical going into this--I am generally not a fan of books written about a country by a person not from that country. However, Levy did an excellent job. He was hilarious, but also honest (as far as I can tell) and humble. I feel like I have learned more through reading his book, and the book made me want to read more about China. There was not a moment in this book that felt unnecessary or irrelevant; I loved it all. Four solid stars.
October 16, 2020
I also taught in China, thirteen years before Levy, in Xi'an, a Northern city of medium size according to Chinese standards, with a population of about 6 million. As a Jew, I was doubly interested in this book. I was completely charmed by this memoir, partially with fond (and hazy: like Levy, I drank a lot of beer!) recollections of my experiences, and also by the author's sincere willingness to immerse himself in his new life. Very very highly recommended.
February 16, 2021
I loved this book so much. Michael Levy writes with heart and humor, and was able to to describe life in China as a foreigner, which can often be....indescribable. So glad I picked up this book.
April 14, 2021
Levy spent 27 months in China as a Peace Corps Volunteer beginning in 2005. I spent 27 months in South Korea as a PCV beginning in 1976. Levy wrote a book about his experiences; I wrote letters home. However, this book really took me back almost 40 years. So many of our experiences were the same. I laughed. I cried. We both had trouble with the food. Levy tells of a special welcoming meal where he was served millipedes. He could not eat them. He could not - he knew he should but he could not. I ate my boiled silkworms -- they looked like pecans in oil and salt. Only one. It did not taste like a pecan. Levy could not grit it out - he announced that he was special and that was why he could not eat the millipedes, even though they were eaten sticking to a sugar stick. He announced that he was Jewish and that got him off the hook. Nonetheless, he made some of the same mistakes all of us do; messing up language. I once urged seventh graders to "Hurry up and die" meaning that I wanted them to hurry up and finish the examination before the class period was over. They roared in laughter as Levy's students did when he misused words. It was a joy to read Levy's experiences, going drinking with the students, playing basketball with them, getting to know a poor family from an ethnic group. I think this easy reading book would be a pleasure to anyone who wants to know about other cultures. There are a lot of insights about Mao and what he did or caused. And it was a delight to see that the young people pretty much ignored the rules of the old ways. This would be great for book groups, young adults wondering what life is like. If nothing else, one grows up in the Peace Corps. We are on our own and what we did or said represented a whole country, a culture to these Asian people. We just hoped we were not messing up the image of the USA.
July 29, 2012
A surprisingly fast read about a Peace Corps volunteer who travels to China for two years and about his experiences. It was a really enjoyable read, although it was not quite what I expected. I thought his religion might play a little more into the narrative, but it wasn't.
Thankfully the author mostly steers clear from stereotypes and orientalism. Indeed, I think he did a pretty good job in showing what might seem pretty weird/oppressive/uncomfortable for Westerners, but was completely normal for where he was without coming across as judgmental or with the White Man's Burden. There are some passages that show that China is not so different from the US, especially in terms of economic mobility and availability of opportunities to those with money and/or education.
It's worth contrasting his experiences with the PC versus for when he returns to teach in Beijing, which seems to be an entirely different planet in some ways.
To be fair, some of the story really dragged along for me (especially his side stories about basketball and game tournaments). But I put that down to fact it just wasn't something I cared for.
An enjoyable read, definitely made my plane ride go by faster.
Thankfully the author mostly steers clear from stereotypes and orientalism. Indeed, I think he did a pretty good job in showing what might seem pretty weird/oppressive/uncomfortable for Westerners, but was completely normal for where he was without coming across as judgmental or with the White Man's Burden. There are some passages that show that China is not so different from the US, especially in terms of economic mobility and availability of opportunities to those with money and/or education.
It's worth contrasting his experiences with the PC versus for when he returns to teach in Beijing, which seems to be an entirely different planet in some ways.
To be fair, some of the story really dragged along for me (especially his side stories about basketball and game tournaments). But I put that down to fact it just wasn't something I cared for.
An enjoyable read, definitely made my plane ride go by faster.
May 9, 2012
For some reason I thought this book would be more about food? Doesn't the title just scream that to you or is it just me? Anyway, it mostly wasn't. And that isn't a bad thing! A Dude in his mid 20's heads of China to be an English teacher in the far west, the poorer part of the country and just his experiences there. I don't know much about China and learned a lot while reading this book. The names that the kids give themselves are too funny but sort of hard to keep straight. I like that this book was only about his time teaching and didn't get really into much personal. As a fellow Jew, it's always interesting to me what non-westernize countries think of us, how much do they know or not. I really liked those aspects and conversations the most. A very American point of view book but the whole thing took place in China. Not what I expected, but ended up being very good none the less.
June 1, 2016
The author meets a wide range of people in this book: some confident in finding their place in the Chinese economy, some thoughtful, some initially guarded but then suddenly willing to express vulnerability. It is a complicated society, well caught by Levy. Sometimes the people's utterances were so ridiculous or stereotyped that I wondered whether Levy had invented them, but an air of truth surrounds the book. China has no economic need for Peace Corps volunteers (because the government could pay for any training it wanted) but it seems that the country needs the volunteers for their fresh approach to teaching and interacting. Levy, although he presents himself as a goofy and even wimpy person at the start, fills the need for vigorous teaching superbly. The Jewish aspect plays a minor role--this is really a travel book.
January 5, 2013
The author tells of his experiences as a Peace Corp volunteer while teaching English in rural China. It is a humorous, serious and sometimes sad depiction of how minorities of China work, live, eat and think about their lives, and the rest of the world. The Chinese Way of teaching, controlling and guiding their citizens was fascinating as well as disturbing. The Chinese perceptions of education, religion, the US, capitalism, and race is so skewed it is comically sad.
He has a irritating habit of writing metaphors to help with his descriptions with science fiction, fantasy books and movies. If you are not familiar with books like Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and the like, the descriptions are useless.
He has a irritating habit of writing metaphors to help with his descriptions with science fiction, fantasy books and movies. If you are not familiar with books like Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and the like, the descriptions are useless.
January 6, 2013
Just ok. I was really hoping for some deeper insights into Levy's experiences in China, especially contrasting his Jewish culture with the Chinese culture, but overall it was "teaching in China lite". I read it quickly and haven't really thought of it since, although I will warn you there are a couple scenes of animal cruelty by Chinese nationals that were hard to read. The fact that Levy reported these scenes but didn't really comment on them was just another instance of the overview/lite approach to the book. China is a hot topic right now but this book didn't give me much insight into this country. See my review of Home is a Roof Over a Pig for a MUCH better book on teaching in China.
July 29, 2021
I wrote my senior thesis on Jews and Chinese food. It, and this book, were not good.
September 12, 2011
Entertaining and interesting to read. The author somewhat annoyingly and jarringly see-sawed between a frat boy tone with lots of "poo" jokes and brief insightful social and existential narrative. While I'm sure this was an accurate reflection of his actual experiences, in the book the transitions from one to the other were weirdly abrupt. Frustratingly superficial at times. I really wanted him to delve a little deeper into the lives of some of his Chinese friends, but he only provided very limited information about each of them.
November 4, 2014
I read this book as a recommendation from a friend. At first I was a bit disappointed, mainly because I run a bakery and was expecting a cookbook with some sort of Chinese kosher challah recipes. Nevertheless, soon the book became interesting as the narrative story was easy and just flowing through the pages. Some of my colleagues at Zomick's Kosher Bakery also read it and all of them liked it pretty much. - Zomick's
August 19, 2015
Interesting. I feel like I know a lot more about Chinese culture now. It's very well-written although I think some things should have been taken out because they were never resolved (and most likely never were in real life) and so didn't add anything to the book.
January 4, 2012
Maybe gave it another star than it deserved, but it made me nostalgic for Peace Corps.
July 22, 2012
What a joy to read! It is humorous, fun, and sad all in one.
August 3, 2012
“In September 2005, the Peace Corps sent Mike Levy to teach English in China’s heartland. His hosts in the city of Guiyang found additional uses for him…”
Those couple of sentences on the back of Michael Levy’s Kosher Chinese: Living Teaching, and Eating with China’s Other Billion were enough to make me feel that despite its Rp 175.000 price tag, this book was going to be worth all of it. I didn’t even think twice. There were two copies on the shelf; I decided on the one with less cracks on its spine. And with a swipe of my HSBC credit card, a copy of Levy’s biography/travel writing officially became the newest addition to the robust China Studies section of my personal library.
What a coincidence, I figured.
A week earlier, I had received an invitation to take part in a China-ASEAN Symposium in Guiyang. I had never been to Guizhou before; it never crossed my mind. I’ve had dreams of going to Tibet, Gansu (Tibet’s next door neighbor), or probably even Jilin in the northeast. But Guizhou somehow had never registered in my long “To Visit” list. And so, just like my decision to buy Levy's book, I didn’t think twice before accepting the invitation.
Like many foreigners living in big cities in China, my three and a half years there were spent mostly trying to discover Beijing (in itself a gargantuan city) and take trips to China’s coastal, eastern, and more modern parts. I did visit Chongqing and Chengdu, but these were hubs of China’s western economic development. So, while the pace of life there was slower than in Beijing or Shanghai, there were enough Starbucks, McDonald’s, and Audi dealerships to make sure that I always felt strongly the imprint of westernization, or globalization, if you may. Probably my trips to Xinjiang and Ningxia would be the furthest I’ve ever been away from the glitzy glamour of China’s “peaceful rise” and economic prowess.
And so, what should I expect from Guiyang? I’m willing to let myself be surprised next week when I actually set foot there. Then again, there have been many times when nothing could’ve prepared me for any particular trip in China. I remember the time when I went on a familiarization trip (paid for by the Chinese Ministry of Trade) to Xuzhou in Jiangsu Province, thinking all the time that I was going to Suzhou, the more popular city of the same province. I can’t forget the shock on my face when discovering this the next morning. The funny thing was that I would later find out that I hadn’t been the only foreigner in the group to make this mistake.
Therefore, I made the choice to seek guidance from Levy’s book, which described the lives of “the other billion” Chinese. Which other billion? The other billion whose lives rarely make it to the western media. These are the people who, in 2005, remained beyond many western pundits’ frame of reference. They are not whom we refer to when describing China’s economic boom and reform. We know little about them; and thus, it is almost certain that they would most likely know little about us. Of course, that’s until one of them show up to a coffee date wearing the latest Prada knock-off, putting away her iPad, while humming to Justin Beiber’s “If I Was Your Boyfriend”.
Indeed, during my stay in China, I experienced enough of this supposed gap between globalization and tradition, between modernity and backwardness, between those who continue to live by Mao’s tenets and others who prefer to realize Deng’s vision. I only had to turn the corner from my apartment to understand the stark contrast in livelihoods between my perfume-smelling neighbors and those living in makeshift houses in the outskirts of Beijing. However, in spite of all of this, I knew very well that I lived within the comforts of Beijing’s abundant resources, facilities, and services. I had in my power to turn away from discomfort if I ever wanted to. And I knew enough foreigners to live in a bubble and be shielded from China’s other reality.
However, looking back, I do realize that I’ve been in too many foul-smelling toilets and seen too many scary traffic accidents to know that China is a place of two faces. And that, while there is a Shenzhen that is as modern as any city in America, there is also a Guiyang that is probably a few light years behind. Realizing this, I felt that Levy’s book would somehow provide me with yet another eye-opener into the Chinese way of life.
Kosher Chinese was an easy read; I finished it in 3 days, mostly during breaks at work. It was a fun and insightful account of life in a part of China that I don’t really know. Levy lived a life completely immersed in Chinese. He spent days after days with his students, who would confide in them the many challenges they faced in life. He ate many local delicacies, which I never dared going near. And although he never mentioned any romantic episodes throughout the book, I find it a bit difficult for anyone to have never been in any way allured by the beauty of almond-shaped Chinese eyes.
I may have travelled to more places in China and lived there longer than Levy, but I enjoyed each and every one of the stories Levy recounted. Probably because Levy never tried to sound smart, teaching his readers in a patronizing way. His humor seems to come from the views of a generation of westerners that I feel a belonging to. A couple of times, I couldn’t help giggle to myself while reading the book on my taxi rides to work. Sure enough, the book was as much a lesson on the Chinese people as it was a confirmation of the similar experiences I had lived through before.
One of my favorite chapters talked about Levy’s frustration when trying to communicate in Chinese, particularly with those who just didn’t seem to have any patience in understanding his non-native accent. No matter how hard he tried to churn out the tonal sounds of each syllable, the Chinese people would simply respond with ta ting bu dong, he doesn’t understand. That encapsulated part of my life in Beijing, one of the most frustrating things about living in China. Of course, that was until I began to learn the local drawl; something that I learned during drunkard nights coming out from Vics Nightclub. Yet, somehow I have a feeling that the people in Guiyang would hardly understand my poor, accidental lao bei jing accent.
I also enjoyed Levy’s account of the ignorance, or lack of knowledge, that many Chinese seem to suffer from. Yes, many know about Celine Dion and Arnold Schwarzenegger. And yes, many know how important China is becoming in the global community. However, many also believe that life in the West is simply decadent, dangerous, and unfulfilling. Many generalize about things outside of China, like how Jews are superior in many things, and that Africans are not in many others. Not many either knows the difference between Indonesia and India, or whereabouts Indonesia is in comparison to Malaysia. Whenever I meet people like these, I instantly recognize that maybe those westerners preaching about the dangers of China’s rise is probably over-shooting their calculations.
All in all, as I finished reading the last emotionally charged chapter, I was happy to reconfirm that, yes, it was a book worthy of its price tag. And as I pack my clothing for that trip to Guiyang, I realized that I would never be able to experience Guiyang the way Levy did. I will be staying in Guizhou University’s accommodation for foreign visitors, probably a far cry from Levy's local apartment. I will most likely be chauffeured around, and shown the nicer places in town. And I will be surrounded by foreigners (as lost I would be) and locals who’d probably bend their backs over just so that my 5-day stay would be comfortable.
Nevertheless, I am happy for this introduction to the city. And that maybe, while seeing the city differently, I’ll be able to take in as many lessons as Levy had during his two year stay there.
Those couple of sentences on the back of Michael Levy’s Kosher Chinese: Living Teaching, and Eating with China’s Other Billion were enough to make me feel that despite its Rp 175.000 price tag, this book was going to be worth all of it. I didn’t even think twice. There were two copies on the shelf; I decided on the one with less cracks on its spine. And with a swipe of my HSBC credit card, a copy of Levy’s biography/travel writing officially became the newest addition to the robust China Studies section of my personal library.
What a coincidence, I figured.
A week earlier, I had received an invitation to take part in a China-ASEAN Symposium in Guiyang. I had never been to Guizhou before; it never crossed my mind. I’ve had dreams of going to Tibet, Gansu (Tibet’s next door neighbor), or probably even Jilin in the northeast. But Guizhou somehow had never registered in my long “To Visit” list. And so, just like my decision to buy Levy's book, I didn’t think twice before accepting the invitation.
Like many foreigners living in big cities in China, my three and a half years there were spent mostly trying to discover Beijing (in itself a gargantuan city) and take trips to China’s coastal, eastern, and more modern parts. I did visit Chongqing and Chengdu, but these were hubs of China’s western economic development. So, while the pace of life there was slower than in Beijing or Shanghai, there were enough Starbucks, McDonald’s, and Audi dealerships to make sure that I always felt strongly the imprint of westernization, or globalization, if you may. Probably my trips to Xinjiang and Ningxia would be the furthest I’ve ever been away from the glitzy glamour of China’s “peaceful rise” and economic prowess.
And so, what should I expect from Guiyang? I’m willing to let myself be surprised next week when I actually set foot there. Then again, there have been many times when nothing could’ve prepared me for any particular trip in China. I remember the time when I went on a familiarization trip (paid for by the Chinese Ministry of Trade) to Xuzhou in Jiangsu Province, thinking all the time that I was going to Suzhou, the more popular city of the same province. I can’t forget the shock on my face when discovering this the next morning. The funny thing was that I would later find out that I hadn’t been the only foreigner in the group to make this mistake.
Therefore, I made the choice to seek guidance from Levy’s book, which described the lives of “the other billion” Chinese. Which other billion? The other billion whose lives rarely make it to the western media. These are the people who, in 2005, remained beyond many western pundits’ frame of reference. They are not whom we refer to when describing China’s economic boom and reform. We know little about them; and thus, it is almost certain that they would most likely know little about us. Of course, that’s until one of them show up to a coffee date wearing the latest Prada knock-off, putting away her iPad, while humming to Justin Beiber’s “If I Was Your Boyfriend”.
Indeed, during my stay in China, I experienced enough of this supposed gap between globalization and tradition, between modernity and backwardness, between those who continue to live by Mao’s tenets and others who prefer to realize Deng’s vision. I only had to turn the corner from my apartment to understand the stark contrast in livelihoods between my perfume-smelling neighbors and those living in makeshift houses in the outskirts of Beijing. However, in spite of all of this, I knew very well that I lived within the comforts of Beijing’s abundant resources, facilities, and services. I had in my power to turn away from discomfort if I ever wanted to. And I knew enough foreigners to live in a bubble and be shielded from China’s other reality.
However, looking back, I do realize that I’ve been in too many foul-smelling toilets and seen too many scary traffic accidents to know that China is a place of two faces. And that, while there is a Shenzhen that is as modern as any city in America, there is also a Guiyang that is probably a few light years behind. Realizing this, I felt that Levy’s book would somehow provide me with yet another eye-opener into the Chinese way of life.
Kosher Chinese was an easy read; I finished it in 3 days, mostly during breaks at work. It was a fun and insightful account of life in a part of China that I don’t really know. Levy lived a life completely immersed in Chinese. He spent days after days with his students, who would confide in them the many challenges they faced in life. He ate many local delicacies, which I never dared going near. And although he never mentioned any romantic episodes throughout the book, I find it a bit difficult for anyone to have never been in any way allured by the beauty of almond-shaped Chinese eyes.
I may have travelled to more places in China and lived there longer than Levy, but I enjoyed each and every one of the stories Levy recounted. Probably because Levy never tried to sound smart, teaching his readers in a patronizing way. His humor seems to come from the views of a generation of westerners that I feel a belonging to. A couple of times, I couldn’t help giggle to myself while reading the book on my taxi rides to work. Sure enough, the book was as much a lesson on the Chinese people as it was a confirmation of the similar experiences I had lived through before.
One of my favorite chapters talked about Levy’s frustration when trying to communicate in Chinese, particularly with those who just didn’t seem to have any patience in understanding his non-native accent. No matter how hard he tried to churn out the tonal sounds of each syllable, the Chinese people would simply respond with ta ting bu dong, he doesn’t understand. That encapsulated part of my life in Beijing, one of the most frustrating things about living in China. Of course, that was until I began to learn the local drawl; something that I learned during drunkard nights coming out from Vics Nightclub. Yet, somehow I have a feeling that the people in Guiyang would hardly understand my poor, accidental lao bei jing accent.
I also enjoyed Levy’s account of the ignorance, or lack of knowledge, that many Chinese seem to suffer from. Yes, many know about Celine Dion and Arnold Schwarzenegger. And yes, many know how important China is becoming in the global community. However, many also believe that life in the West is simply decadent, dangerous, and unfulfilling. Many generalize about things outside of China, like how Jews are superior in many things, and that Africans are not in many others. Not many either knows the difference between Indonesia and India, or whereabouts Indonesia is in comparison to Malaysia. Whenever I meet people like these, I instantly recognize that maybe those westerners preaching about the dangers of China’s rise is probably over-shooting their calculations.
All in all, as I finished reading the last emotionally charged chapter, I was happy to reconfirm that, yes, it was a book worthy of its price tag. And as I pack my clothing for that trip to Guiyang, I realized that I would never be able to experience Guiyang the way Levy did. I will be staying in Guizhou University’s accommodation for foreign visitors, probably a far cry from Levy's local apartment. I will most likely be chauffeured around, and shown the nicer places in town. And I will be surrounded by foreigners (as lost I would be) and locals who’d probably bend their backs over just so that my 5-day stay would be comfortable.
Nevertheless, I am happy for this introduction to the city. And that maybe, while seeing the city differently, I’ll be able to take in as many lessons as Levy had during his two year stay there.
November 16, 2017
Bagel-less in Guiyang
Well, you know I'm a Jewish guy from the east coast of the USA and I graduated from Cornell University too, then joined the Peace Corps, so it's gotta be true that Michael Levy and I have more than one thing in common ! When a student of mine suggested I read this book, I agreed, though I'm not into that many memoirs to tell the truth. But there was one big difference between Michael and me. Like 41 years. I went to India with the Peace Corps in 1964. The Gulf of Tonkin incident that ushered in America's Vietnam disaster took place while I was in training. The world was really different. India is an old civilization with its own ways too, but not like China. Some years later, but still before Michael appeared on the planet, I visited China, then when he was around 6 years old, I taught English in China, but only a short course in Xi'an, not for two years. I tended to compare India and China. Still, I can definitely identify with his experiences.
China changed a helluva lot between 1982, when I taught there, and 2005, when Michael arrived in Guiyang to teach English at university level. Walmart, Macdonalds, and Ray-Ban sunglasses (fake or otherwise) were totally unknown when I worked in China. My students had suffered during the Cultural Revolution; been sent down to shovel manure in distant villages. He had to deal with a China which proved a whirl of extreme materialism combined with a totalitarian tradition and an ancient culture, which had always seen itself as the center of the world and all outsiders as basically `barbarian'. (Yet their products were eagerly sought.) How to wend one's way through this ? Culture clash, culture shock, the question of 'how far am I willing to change?' Though being Jewish excused him from some predicaments, it really didn't play much of a role. He was an American in China. His views, his feelings, and his self-questioning are all typical of what many Americans and many Peace Corps Volunteers would go through in the same situation. His is a book about being foreign in China----not the big east coast cities, but in an inland metropolis not much used to anyone different. Though he seems to have made friends easily and played on a university basketball team, he also had to grapple with the preconceived notions about the US, the West, or "foreigners" (they are all alike) that are widespread in China, often gleaned from propagandistic textbooks. For obvious reasons, I found this book both sympathetic and familiar. I liked it a lot. A Peace Corps experience changes you forever in that part of you always remains with that other world that you once inhabited. KOSHER CHINESE is a heartfelt, honest memoir of an experience that only very few Westerners will ever have, unless they do similar work. It is easy to read and will keep your attention. For an account of a modern Peace Corps experience in a still-strange land, you can't do better.
Well, you know I'm a Jewish guy from the east coast of the USA and I graduated from Cornell University too, then joined the Peace Corps, so it's gotta be true that Michael Levy and I have more than one thing in common ! When a student of mine suggested I read this book, I agreed, though I'm not into that many memoirs to tell the truth. But there was one big difference between Michael and me. Like 41 years. I went to India with the Peace Corps in 1964. The Gulf of Tonkin incident that ushered in America's Vietnam disaster took place while I was in training. The world was really different. India is an old civilization with its own ways too, but not like China. Some years later, but still before Michael appeared on the planet, I visited China, then when he was around 6 years old, I taught English in China, but only a short course in Xi'an, not for two years. I tended to compare India and China. Still, I can definitely identify with his experiences.
China changed a helluva lot between 1982, when I taught there, and 2005, when Michael arrived in Guiyang to teach English at university level. Walmart, Macdonalds, and Ray-Ban sunglasses (fake or otherwise) were totally unknown when I worked in China. My students had suffered during the Cultural Revolution; been sent down to shovel manure in distant villages. He had to deal with a China which proved a whirl of extreme materialism combined with a totalitarian tradition and an ancient culture, which had always seen itself as the center of the world and all outsiders as basically `barbarian'. (Yet their products were eagerly sought.) How to wend one's way through this ? Culture clash, culture shock, the question of 'how far am I willing to change?' Though being Jewish excused him from some predicaments, it really didn't play much of a role. He was an American in China. His views, his feelings, and his self-questioning are all typical of what many Americans and many Peace Corps Volunteers would go through in the same situation. His is a book about being foreign in China----not the big east coast cities, but in an inland metropolis not much used to anyone different. Though he seems to have made friends easily and played on a university basketball team, he also had to grapple with the preconceived notions about the US, the West, or "foreigners" (they are all alike) that are widespread in China, often gleaned from propagandistic textbooks. For obvious reasons, I found this book both sympathetic and familiar. I liked it a lot. A Peace Corps experience changes you forever in that part of you always remains with that other world that you once inhabited. KOSHER CHINESE is a heartfelt, honest memoir of an experience that only very few Westerners will ever have, unless they do similar work. It is easy to read and will keep your attention. For an account of a modern Peace Corps experience in a still-strange land, you can't do better.
December 24, 2018
Cried from laughing in some parts and cried from sorrow in others. As a Jewish woman who majored in Chinese, I often wondered how the Chinese would view Jewish practices. The fact that most of the people the author encountered revered Judaism for its connection to Marx and Einstein was a bit surprising to hear, but I guess it makes sense.
I appreciated Levy’s insight into life in rural China. I have read a lot about life in the coastal cities, most of them only briefly mention people from the countryside.
Rural China seems like a hard place for anyone vulnerable, not just animals. It also seems like the only means of rising up and out of poverty is by stepping on the necks of others. Is the point of guanxi to benefit those that have it, or to exclude and punish those without it? Maybe both. The coastal cities seem to represent those with ultimate guanxi, and the other billion are those without it. The haves and the have nots. China may be more capitalist than it thinks it is. Is it possible for minorities in China to have guanxi? It doesn’t seem so. In a few points in the story, locals asked the author about race in America, but they didn’t seem to see the direct correlation with their own minority groups.
I wonder how Levy’s life changed, if anything, when he came back home. Did he do anything to bring his Chinese experiences into his Judaism? I’m trying to find ways to incorporate my love of Chinese language and culture into my Judaism; so far I just make 饺子 from scratch for Shabbat dinners. I would love to hear how others are melding Chinese and Judaism into their lives.
I appreciated Levy’s insight into life in rural China. I have read a lot about life in the coastal cities, most of them only briefly mention people from the countryside.
Rural China seems like a hard place for anyone vulnerable, not just animals. It also seems like the only means of rising up and out of poverty is by stepping on the necks of others. Is the point of guanxi to benefit those that have it, or to exclude and punish those without it? Maybe both. The coastal cities seem to represent those with ultimate guanxi, and the other billion are those without it. The haves and the have nots. China may be more capitalist than it thinks it is. Is it possible for minorities in China to have guanxi? It doesn’t seem so. In a few points in the story, locals asked the author about race in America, but they didn’t seem to see the direct correlation with their own minority groups.
I wonder how Levy’s life changed, if anything, when he came back home. Did he do anything to bring his Chinese experiences into his Judaism? I’m trying to find ways to incorporate my love of Chinese language and culture into my Judaism; so far I just make 饺子 from scratch for Shabbat dinners. I would love to hear how others are melding Chinese and Judaism into their lives.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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