The day I took flight, on an ostrich

In terms of time, BC - before China - there were many things I never expected I'd do; each expat has his or her favorite story. Mine is the day I perched myself on an ostrich's back.

On my third weekend in Zhengzhou, Henan province, I found myself in an ostrich farm, or more accurately, a rural outcropping resembling an adventure park an hour outside of Zhengzhou proper.

My tip had come from a little blue book passed down from the previous teachers at the school where I teach in Zhengzhou. There was not much by way of tourist information there, but on the list of the city's attractions, the ostrich farm ranked No 2 and cost 40 yuan ($6.15).