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...

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 ...