When I started this blog, one of my hopes was to show a few naysayers that I was capable of living beyond the comforts of North America and Europe. From the wilds of the Cambodian jungle to the crowded Beijing metro, I have tried to make the most of every experience and tackle every challenge […]
Personal Reflections
The Big Reveal: We’re Moving to LATVIA!
As you may recall, a few months ago I mentioned that we would be heading overseas again later this year. Well, I just can’t keep the secret to myself any longer. We are moving to Riga, Latvia in June! You might be wondering where Latvia is. That’s the first question most people ask when they […]
Becoming a Celebrity in China
What happens when a blonde American with blue eyes and extremely pale skin moves to China? If my experience is any indication, she becomes an instant celebrity! To say that I stood out from the local population is a bit of an understatement. While China has a surprising amount of ethnic diversity, the society is […]
Saddle Up: My Revelations for the Year of the Horse
2014 is the Year of the Horse, under the twelve animal signs of the Chinese zodiac. Were I still in Shanghai, I would see red lanterns and giant horses strung up all over the city in celebration of the auspicious occasion. Last year was the Year of the Snake, supposedly a period of great change […]
Say What? The Best Chinglish from Two Years in China
One of the simple pleasures I enjoyed during my time in China was coming across delightfully confusing or inappropriate English translations, or Chinglish. Written Chinese can be very poetic and the intricate characters often convey more meaning than a direct English translation will allow. The garbled results and cultural miscues are guaranteed to make you […]