Wandering Reflections

My Cataract Surgery Journey: Recovery, a Second Procedure, and a World in High Definition Aug 17, 2025

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 excited to share how it all unfolded.

The recovery for my left eye was, thankfully, very uneventful. The strangest part was simply getting used to my new vision. For years, I had seen the world through a blurry lens due to a ...

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My Chinese Hospital Experience: An Overnight Stay and Unpacking the Differences Aug 03, 2025

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 – specifically, what it was like to be an overnight patient in a Chinese hospital for the first time, and how it stacked up against my experiences in American hospitals.

Let me tell you, it was an eye-opening (pun intended...

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My Vision Quest: Correcting Astigmatism – My Surgery Experience in China Jul 20, 2025

One of the things I cherish most about my life is the opportunity to live overseas. I've called China home for quite a few years now, embracing the vibrant culture and unique experiences that come with it. But alongside the adventures of expat life, I've also carried a very personal, long-standing challenge: my astigmatism.

For those unfamiliar, astigmatism is a common vision condition that causes blurred vision due to an imperfectly curved cornea or lens. For me, it's been a part of my

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My Accidental Rabbit: A Tale of Unexpected Pet Parenthood and a Happy Ending Jul 06, 2025

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...

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The Accidental Adventurer: Finding Joy (and an Unusual Drink) When Utterly Lost in China Jun 22, 2025

There’s a certain thrill in wandering off the beaten path, a delicious freedom in letting curiosity guide your steps. I’ve always been one to peel away from the group, to explore that intriguing alleyway or follow a winding road just to see where it leads. Sometimes I’d get a little turned around, a pleasant disorientation that was part of the adventure. But there's a world of difference between being pleasantly disoriented and being utterly lost, especially when you’re alone in a country where ...

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The Art of Dining Alone: How Solo Travel Taught Me to Savor My Own Company Jun 08, 2025

The clatter of cutlery in a bustling restaurant used to sound like a symphony of judgment to my solo-traveler ears. Every shared laugh from a nearby table, every perceived glance in my direction, seemed to confirm my deepest fear: "Oh, look at that person eating all by themselves." That wave of intense self-consciousness was an unwelcome, yet familiar, companion to many of my early solo meals. The thought that people were watching, perhaps even pitying me, was almost enough to make me retreat to...

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