Wandering Reflections

Living in China, you learn to mark the seasons not just by the weather, but by the sights and smells on the street. And as the sticky, humid summer begins to fade, the lotus vendors appear. It’s a sight I’ve come to love. On my way home, or even just heading to the mall, there they are: men and women with buckets, holding up gorgeous, plate-sized lotus flowers and their strange, shower-head-like seed pods.

For the longest time, this beautiful, everyday sight confused me.

You see, I grew up wit...

One of the great gifts of living abroad is the chance to touch local traditions. Last week, here in Suzhou, I attended a Gongbi painting class (工笔)—one of China’s three classic styles, known for its microscopic detail and layered translucence.

What made it special was our teacher: a Chinese artist who teaches in Spain but returned home briefly. Generously, she shared this heritage with us—a true gift.

We painted Suzhou’s own flower—the jasmine, symbol of Jiangsu Province. Fitting, I thought, t...

• Part 1: My Vision Quest: Correcting Astigmatism in China
• Part 2: My Eye Surgery: An Overnight Stay in a Chinese Hospital
• Part 3: My Cataract Surgery Journey: Recovery, a Second Procedure, and a World in High Definition

Hello again! When I left off on my last post, I was just heading home from the hospital after having cataract surgery on my left eye. The first chapter of my journey was complete, but the story of my recovery and the second procedure on my right eye was just beginning. I’m ...

Part 1: My Vision Quest: Correcting Astigmatism in China

Part 2: My Chinese Hospital Experience: An Overnight Stay and Unpacking the Differences

Part 3: My Cataract Surgery: Seeing the World in High Definition

If you've been following my blog, you'll know I recently underwent eye surgery in China to correct my astigmatism. In my last post, I explained what was wrong with my eye and the journey to getting the surgery scheduled. Today, I want to dive deeper into the experience itself – specific...

Life has a funny way of throwing unexpected furry curveballs your way, especially when you're already navigating the complexities of international living with a beloved dog. My latest adventure didn't involve a new country, but a new, very unexpected, resident in my home: a little grey rabbit.

It all started like any other morning. My dog and I were enjoying our usual 45-minute to hour-long walk around our lovely neighborhood. My dog, bless her heart, has a peculiar hobby: she loves to sniff ou...