Lona Manning

I am a Canadian and I have lived and worked in China for three years now. Canada is a very young country so it's amazing to be in a country with such a long history and rich culture. I teach Business English and Medical English at Zibo Vocational Institute in Shandong Province.

I will be sorry to leave Zibo and all the friends I've made here, but now that I've turned 60, I can no longer work as a foreign expert in this district. My husband and I love being in China -- we have met so many interesting people and seen so many unforgettable sights.

People ask me, "Do you like Chinese food?" and I always say, "Do I LOOK like I like Chinese food?" Indeed we do. We also like to ride our bicycles around the neighbourhood -- it's easy for me because there are no hills around here! Before my mid-life career change, I worked in non-profit administration for charities such as Habitat for Humanity. I hope to have more time for writing in the future; I am the author of a novel, "A Contrary Wind: a variation on Jane Austen's Mansfield Park."