Longji titian—the “dragon’s spine rice terraces”—are one of the most impressive sights we ever found in China.
Tag: China
Where Red Meets White: A Chinese Wedding in 2020
Seven years ago Jarek and I were just married and living in Xi’an China as exchange students. One evening as we sat studying in our cramped, dusty apartment, we heard a knock at our door. We opened it to see a bright-eyed Chinese girl with beautiful high cheekbones and a contagious smile. “Hello! My name…
Camping with Chinese Characteristics
Not your usual “Way out West” experience.
38 Hours: A chronicle of our grueling journey home
Home. What would you give to keep it? Your comfort? Your peace of mind? Your DNA? We chose to give all three of those things in order to get back to our home in China. We did all we could think of to prepare mentally and physically for the trip back home, yet at some…
Evacuated. (2)
If you missed the first part of the story, be sure to check out Part 1 here. As I walked down the hill leaving the temple, I felt more strength and power than I ever thought possible. Yes, I thought, I am going to take my boys back to China and everything will be okay….
2019: Lots of tears, a really expensive piece of paper, and a squishable bundle of love
My 2019 can be divided into three phases: Getting my master’s degree Having a baby Moving to China (again) Each phase brought me to tears more times than I expected, but each was more rewarding than I ever imagined. Here is a rough overview of my year in words and pictures. Please forgive my complete…
Can I have my nose back?
I was laughing out loud as I left the music studio, wondering if I would even get one decent picture out of the “photo shoot” I had just experienced. I looked at my reflection in my phone. The red apple lipstick that I tried to hide was still as bold as ever, my eyebrows were…
For the Love of Food
It has been a few weeks since I’ve posted and I apologize. Between a sick baby and a three year old, there hasn’t been much time to write. But I want to introduce one person who has saved me this month: our lovely cook, Xiao Li. Xiao Li comes twice a week, but she has…
Home: My toilet, the robots, and that blasted water show
Have you ever moved somewhere new, gone on vacation, and returned only to find your home feels more “home-like” than ever? Something magical happens when you go home. All of the sudden, the things that were once so unfamiliar, and perhaps even strange, become beautiful reminders that things are back to normal. Of course, for…
To the Roof of the World
After lunch, we set out for the first park of our trek. The trail is a loop around the tallest of three peaks, Chenresig (6032 m or 19,790 ft). The two other peaks, Jampelyang and Chane Dorje, both top out at 5958 m (19,547). Just one would be breathtaking, but all three…