Introducing my book - 

"Chicken Same Duck Talk - Diary of an Australian Teacher in China" (鸡同鸭讲 - 澳洲老师的日记)

The book has a long history.

The book started life as emails to family and friends. Fourteen years and 300,000 words later, I published a vastly edited version under my own publishing company, Non Sequitur Publishing. 

 

The book gives useful insights into their language, culture, cities, customs, food, education system and business ethos. I knew NOTHING about China before going – therefore, you learn it all with me, as I did, discovery by discovery. Also, very importantly, I didn’t just go to metropolises like Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou, but also dozens of smaller cities, towns, and villages, and made local friends, not just expats. I had the best jobs I’ll ever have, and met some of the most beautiful people I’ll ever know.

 

Very personally written, this is an average Australian’s reaction to street-level life in contemporary China, laced with a somewhat absurdist sense of humour. Everything I thought I knew about China was wrong. Come discover China with me, and get laughs throughout.

 

Oh, and what does "Chicken Same Duck Talk" mean? It's from a Chinese expression, ji tong ya jiang (鸡同鸭讲), meaning "I might as well be a chicken talking to a duck"...however, it literally translates as "Chicken Same Duck Talk". It's a wonderful, and wonderfully appropriate, bit of Chiglish.

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Want to know more?

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You can read sample chapters

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You can read reviews of the book

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You can see photos from the book

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Also, I've had photos from the book featured in art galleries and cafes in inner Melbourne, Australia, over the past few years, and you can see photos from these exhibitions here. 

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I hope you enjoy what you find! 

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- Ash 

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