About
I’m Marta, I’m from Spain and I went to China for the first time in September 2006. Back then I wasn’t planning on staying very long. However, 2 universities, 3 cities, 3 jobs and 13 years prove that I was wrong. I currently live in Suzhou I am currently in Spain with my Chinese husband and our son. I work as a translator and tester for a mobile games publisher. In my free time I like blogging in English and Spanish. You can check my blog in Spanish here.
If you want to send me an email you can write to wordsforsnow (at) gmail (dot) com
Bored as hell? That means you will stay forever in China?
I will start considering moving back after you come to visit :D
Can we take you out for dinner in Shanghai this week?
We’re DiDi’s English version here (the ride-hailing app). Get in touch if you’re intrigued ; )
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Hi Marta, I just nominated you for a Liebster Award. For more information about this award and what to do when you accept it, you can look here: http://thingsonfeifeismind.wordpress.com/2014/02/15/liebster-award/
Hello Marta,
How are you. My name is Yang and I am a native Chinese:)
We have started a website: http://www.mynewchinesewife.com. It’s a resource for foreigners on finding a Chinese wife and dating Chinese women. Right now we have native English writers that provide articles for us.
I found your website today and it’s really interesting and I like what you are talking about the China. I am wondering if you are interested in the idea that we could provide a guest post of Chinese story in your website or link exchange? If you are interested it, we could talk more in details maybe?
Thanks and look forward your reply.
Yang
Hi Yang, thanks for your message! I had a look at your website, I don’t really know how I could help, I don’t know anything about dating Chinese girls ;)
Hello Marta,
Thanks a lot for your reply:)
Currently we have foreigner writers who have been living in China provide articles for us. Are you interested in the idea that we can provide a guest post to your website? The article can be funny story about international couple, tips/advice to live in China etc. So it’s not dating specific.
We can send you some of guest post example for you to read. Is there email address that I can send to?
Thanks a lot and look forward your feedback.
Yang
Hey, I have nominated you for the Liebster Award https://themandarinduck.wordpress.com/2014/08/27/ive-been-nominated-for-the-liebster-award/
nice to meet you ~~~
Hey! I’ve just nominated your blog for a Liebster Award — you can find out more about it (if you are interested) at http://theloveblender.com/2014/11/15/liebster-award/
Hi Marta! Well, I didn’t do my research since I see you’ve had quite a few Liebster nominations but here’s one more since I appreciate what your do here. http://japancanmix.com/2015/02/03/liebster-award-acceptance-and-nominations/
Thanks a lot, Hilary! It is an honor that you thought of me :)
No worries! I really enjoy what you do and look forward to getting caught up after my drought. :D
Hello Marta,
How are you?
I sent you an email about Chinese learning last week. Not sure if you have received it?
Either way, thanks Marta and have a nice week:)
Yang
Hi Yang,
I don’t think I received it! I just checked the spam folder and it wasn’t there either :/
Hello Marta,
Thanks! Just sent it again to your email: smartita (at) hotmail (dot) com
Hope you receive it this time?:)
Yang
Hello Marta,
How are you? This is Yang. For some reason I could not connect to my google plus account to leave message here(don’t know why)…
I want to let you know the infographic about Mandarin learning is completed. Thanks for the contribution! I sent two emails to you in a past few days. Not sure if the email is too big and you did not get it. If so, please let me know and I am happy to send it again.
Hope you enjoy it. Have a great weekend, Marta:)
Cheers,
Yang
Hello Marta,
I really enjoy reading your blog :) I was wondering if your accept guest posts? Would love to write something for your blog and if you want to, you could also write a post for my blog.
Let me know what you think.
Best,
Anna
Hi Anna! Thanks for the kind words! I’m sorry, I don’t do guest posts, I consider this like sort of a personal diary :) I guess you have already asked her, but you should totally do a guest post for Speaking of China!!
Hi there! I just nominated you for the Freestyle Writing Challenge (5 or 10 min writings on the topic of love). See my Tuesday (May 26th) post on https://ddominikwicklesromance.wordpress.com and have a great day!
Thanks a lot for the nomination, Dominik! Not sure I can do this though, I am not very good at impro writing :D
Your welcome Marta. Even if you don’t post it, try it out just for the fun of it :)
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Happiness and joy!
I’m nominating you for yet another bloggers award. This one is for supercool women bloggers around the globe…
Yay! Thanks a lot :)
Hey, I have nominated you for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award: http://crazychinesefamily.com/2015/11/22/the-sisterhood-of-the-world-bloggers-award/
Oh darn, I just see that Carissa has nominated you already!! I am just too slow :p
Marta, Couldn’t get through to your email listed on you About page. However, would be interested in the article in the NYT, an elsewhere, about new and fancy toilets with ATM, free wi-fi etc. Have you seen any first hand?
Hi Susan, I just looked up that article. No, I haven’t seen those toilets. It seems they are only in one place close to Beijing. To be honest I would be happier if they managed to keep their public toilets clean, with toilet paper and hand soap available. No need to put atm, wifi, and other fancy things, haha.
Hey, I have nominated you for the Blogger Recognition Award :)
Hi, Marta:
I am very glad to have stumbled into your blog and really enjoyed your stories. I wish my Spanish is better so that I can read your spanish version — for this reason, I admire that you seem have mastered the three most used languages in the world, it is very cool! Since, as far as I know, Spain is also a relationship-oriented country as China, I wonder if it is easier for Spanish people to live in China than, say people from North America or Northern European countries? One thing for sure, you are the only westerners I known who devour chicken feet dish :)
Best,
陈岗
Thanks a lot for your nice message! Well, I don’t really devour the chicken feet haha, but I can totally eat them. I just think they are 麻烦 to eat because you have to spit all the small bones!
To be honest, I’m not sure being Spanish helps to get used to live in China. I have met MANY Spanish expats who are complaining all the time, only want to eat Spanish food, etc, so I think it goes with personality, not nationality!
Is wordpress allowed to be used in China? :)
I think right now it’s not censored. But even when it is, there are ways around it ;)
Nice blog Marta! Good to see that there are so many of us WWAM blogging about our everyday challenges and experiences.:)
Thanks, Judith! I wish my Dutch was not so rusty so I could read your blog :P
Hey Marta! Just came across your blog and I found it very interesting! I came from China but now am working in Belgium, I also like to blog things that came to my mind but I blog more about Chinese things(in English) because I would like more people around me getting to know more about Chinese culture(not only the food, but also the history, language ..)
Do you speak Chinese there?
If you are interested, don’t hesitate to check out my blogs too! :)
http://www.linjiang-online.com
Lin
Hi Lin! I’ll definitely check your blog. As a foreigner in China writing mostly about Chinese things, I’m definitely interested on the point of view of a Chinese living abroad, haha. Thanks for your visit! And yes, I speak Chinese :)
Great blog. I was directed there from Autumn’s blog and her’s from another AMWF blog. I’m a Chinese born guy who moved Texas when I was 5. I have a white girlfriend and can’t wait to take her to China to visit and show her things about China that you’ve talked about.
Thank you! I hope you have the chance to bring her soon :)
Marta I love your awesome posts about your travels and experiences in China! Just to let you know I’ve nominated you for the Bloggers Recognition Award – I hope you will accept this nomination, more information at https://aikaite.wordpress.com/2017/02/06/bloggers-recognition-award/
Wow, thanks a lot!!
You’re welcome! I thought it was a lovely way to say “thank you” for your fantastic posts and share my favourite bloggers to new readers :)
Hi, l am a blogger myself. Currently, I am writing a blog about the Hologram Protest in Spain and the Citizen Security Law. I would love to have your input on my blog because you are a blogger and you are from Spain. Let me know if you would be interested in answering just a couple short questions. Either way, I have followed your blog. Can’t wait to have time to read through it more.
Hi Chrissy, I’m not sure I can help. I haven’t lived in Spain for years! About the “gag law” I only know what I’ve read in the news, and I didn’t even remember that demonstration with holograms! I had to look it up! Sorry…
Still looking forward to reading your blog.
Chinese American who got frustrated with LA and moved to Mexico, met my future wife who is of French descent mixed with Spanish and some native Mexican. After having a boy in Cancun and another in Taiwan, I moved the family back to LA. Happy family so far in a stressful city. Add me on FB if you would like. :)
Hi Eddie! What a very international family :D My FB is basically dead but I saw you on Instagram!
Hi Marta, I´m from Cuba, I´m a professor of English and I want to work in China, please write me back asap to my email I want to move and work there with my wife and kids.
Hi Yasmani, sorry but I don’t know how I can help you, there are many agencies in China hiring English teachers, you can try searching for one.
Hola Marta, mi nombre es Adolfo, alguien en youtube te recomendo para conseguir trabajo en china dando clases de español o ingles a traves de internet, soy de venezuela y quisiera por favor que me confirmaras que tan cierto es esto, de antemano muchas gracias y espero su respuesta.
Hola Adolfo, pues me temo que eso no es cierto. Vamos, sé que existen plataformas tipo VipKID para dar clases de inglés a niños, y otras como italki que también son para adultos, pero ni he trabajado para ellas ni tengo ninguna información especial.
hello Marta, we are headed to china soon, what is your favorite parts and where are you at, and those favorite parts.
Hello David and Laura, I live in Suzhou, you can find some posts about the city under the Suzhou tab on my blog. Which areas will you visit? China is huge so it’s hard to give general recommendations!
We will be there in march of this year, and in your town for one day
Ah, one day is too little time! You can visit one of the gardens, or maybe Tiger Hill. Are you coming on your own or with a tour group?
With a tour group, but I think we have a lot of alone time.
Hi David & Laura Speer,
It’s nice to meet you here too. All the best to your trip to China, which you have been planning for months.
Hi Marta,
You have a very nice blog here and I have become your new follower. Please kindly allow me to wish you a belated Happy Chinese New Year with my new post at https://soundeagle.wordpress.com/2020/02/02/soundeagle-in-chinese-new-year-celebration-spring-festival-lion-dance-food-ornaments-traditional-culture-and-architecture/
Hi SoundEagle, thank you and wish you a happy new year too. Even though the year of the rat didn’t have a great start in China so far!
You are very welcome, Marta. :)
Please be informed that my blog will benefit from being viewed on a large screen of a desktop or laptop computer, because many of the multimedia posts published on my blog could be too powerful and feature-rich for iPad, iPhone, tablet or other portable devices to handle properly or adequately.
I would love to know what you think of my post about Chinese New Year, and look forward to receiving your feedback there.
garbage sorting in China. I can’t find your post. The separate bins are still there but for at least the large 6 months, in Suzhou all garbage is lumped together, and recycling has totally disappeared,
Really? So now it’s worse than before recycling, because before at least the people picking the trash with those little carts would separate the things they could sell…
Like before, old people are still going thru the garbage and collecting cardboard and plastic bottles. But whatever shows up at the community trash collection sites is all dumped together again.