The celestial event as viewed in this part of the globe My boyfriend and I got out early to play frisbee at the park before sunset, then grabbed our camera gear and set up near an old stately house. His camera was able to include the house. My camera, a simpler point-and-shoot, couldn't handle the sky for that, so unfortunately I cannot post anything that dramatic. Interesting to note that some film students were out in the fields with a light meter when we arrived at the park; and judging from the over-baked screams and shouts of "NO....GET AWAY FROM ME!!" that we heard on towards sunset and dark, I think it's safe to say they were filming a werewolf flick. Good fun. Hope you enjoy the (subpar) pics and the possibly amusing footage of our ... read more

Exploring New Zealand, December 2010 Having recently returned to the States from working in China for a year, I knew I would have only a couple of months to get my system back into the Western Hemispere, before not only returning to the Eastern but also visiting a new one, the Southern. My family had long been planning an epic adventure for the holiday season: a trip to New Zealand, where we have friends and where Mom fell in love on her first visit with the unique biodiversity of this island nation. We left "sunny" Florida, which was actually turning quite cold, flying and transiting for 27 hours, and arrived at 7:30 in the morning on a Saturday in Auckland. Once through customs and "biosecurity" (intense, I might add), and reunited with ecstatic friends, we ... read more

What should I expect? The accounts all differ. Some new American fellow-expat friends, who have lived and worked overseas for many years, tell me to expect to get bitten by the travel bug very soon after returning home. To find dating more difficult than before, because my perspective and lifestyle are very different from what they used to be. To discover that I have changed in ways I don't even suspect yet. From my Chinese friends who live Stateside, however, I have heard that living abroad for several years is bittersweet, for the simple fact that home will always be home. One craves foods that are not to be found without some difficulty, one misses family; and these dear friends have been away from their families for years, while as for me, it has only been ... read more

The work retreat that really took me out of my comfort zone "In order to promote better communication and understanding among our workers, we are sending you on a roadtrip to the scenic area of Beidaihe for this year's 'Worker's Travel Retreat.'" Roughly translating, this was the notification we all received in the hotel computer system two weeks ago, after a couple weeks' anticipation and speculation as to where we would be headed. I admired the purpose of the retreat, and I thought I would save what little face I had by going, so long as I didn't do anything fool-hardy along the way. But truth be told, I didn't want to go. Not at all. Because, while I might make a few new friends and get to know my coworkers better, this was truly an ... read more

Why China always surprises me Right now I am reading "The Member of the Wedding," courtesy of the care-package of books my Mom brought for me when she visited China. So far the book is exceedingly odd, but it's one of those books you can't put down. The protagonist desperately wants to be part of something, to be a member somewhere, in some club of life; to belong. I often have that longing too, as I am living abroad; perhaps it is a longing we always have in some degree, but being a foreigner obviously would heighten the feeling. Today I went out in the morning with the modest plan of some shopping and lunch with my friend Lulu. When we met at the mall downtown, she told me that her Dad had invited me to ... read more

China Trip 2010: Hohhot and Grassland We arrived in Huhehaote on the morning of the 19th, having flown in from Shanghai. First order of business: relax! It was the first time since Beijing that we didn't have to hail a cab at the airport; my working at a local hotel has some nice benefits (including free airport pick-up service for me and my parents!) The airport representative, a pal of mine, was cheerful and curious to see my parents. I got my parents settled into the hotel, a little bit nervous as many of my coworkers were looking on or helping with the luggage. It was interesting to hear their impressions of my family later. We were engaged that evening for a dinner with one of the managers in a hotel restaurant; I would hear from ... read more