In 2008, I quit my corporate job, sold off everything I owned and moved overseas with my husband Drew. Since then we've traveled around the world, started our careers over as creative types and nurtured our love of sleeping in late. Oh and we had a baby. Cole, our almost 2 year old has been traveling since he was four months old and probably knows more Thai than me (not that he brags).
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Starbucks in Beijing
I’ve been meaning to do a post on the supermarkets here in Beijing but I haven’t been brave enough to haul my big-ass camera around the teeming multi-level thunderdome of shopping known as my local Lotte’s. There’s a lot of foreign brands in Beijing, like Walmart (same as the states except completely different products/brands) and Carrefour (a French supermarket chain) and Lotte’s (South Korean – Japanese conglomerate) and from the inside all three of them look almost exactly the same to me — but...
read moreThe Great Internet Opt-Out
This is an open letter to social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google and Tumblr. Dear Internet, I love Pinterest. I love the concept, the pinning, the inspiration, the sharing, and above all, the beautiful photography. However, recently I’ve become aware of the fact that many professional photographers are quite angry that Pinterst is essentially using their images without permission. At first I thought, “Wait, what’s the difference between Pinterest and Google Image Search, Facebook...
read moreWinter at the Summer Palace
Weekly photo: Where is Cole? Location: The Summer Palace (Yíhé Yuán, 颐和园) Beijing, China I love the way the Summer Palace looks in the winter. I feel like Cole should be marching out to Bjork’s Army of Me. It’s my favorite place to bring Cole in Beijing so far, he can run from garden to garden, stepping through thresholds and running along ledges. He’s getting even more brave. On this day, a Chinese woman was cooing at him, so he grabbed her hand and brought her over to the souvenir stand. When that...
read moreWhat It’s Like To Live Abroad
Couldn’t resist participating in the What People Think I Do / What I Really Do meme, although I adjusted it a little from my job to living overseas which fits, I think (besides someone already did funny ones for writer and photographer). Wee! Here you go: (If you’re in email or RSS and can’t see the image above, try going to this link.) Share...
read moreFound In Translation: Week 3 (VIDEO)
Two weeks into Mandarin study, Christine takes a cooking class and discusses some big changes going forward. Total study time this week: 24 hours Overall: 51 hours (average: 25.5 hours/week) Written characters memorized: 33 (unchanged) This week’s big test: translating recipes into Mandarin If you are unable to see the video, click here. Share this:EmailFacebook
read moreNothing Says “I Hate This Stupid Holiday But You’re Pretty Great” like Steamed Pork Buns
Drew and I aren’t much of a Valentine’s Day couple. But this year, I saw something Drew would really, really want: for me to have the cooking skill to whip up his favorite dish in the world — steamed pork buns. It’s basically airy, light buns that are soft and moist, filled with pork or veggies or whatever you want. Peanut butter and chocolate? Okay, go for it. Salty, garlicky shredded beef? Why not. If you can scoop it, you can fill a baozi with it. This is probably the first V-day gift I’ve given Drew, maybe...
read moreThe Little Things and The Big Things
There was a moment last week where I was sitting on the couch with my tutor and the Ayi. I know just barely enough Mandarin that when I hear people speak it, I don’t just glaze over, my mind is trying to pick out recognizable words. It’s like reading license plates as cars speed past in the opposite direction on the highway. I catch a ‘hao’ or ‘da’ or ‘shenma’ and just like that, an entire sentence has flown by before I’ve pieced together what I’ve just heard. It’s like trying...
read more“I Put Pants On for This?”
Weekly photo: Where is Cole? Location: Hou Hai Lake, Beijing, China I had this vision. I’d take Cole out into the wintry wonderland and show him how to make snow angels and throw snowballs. We’d go ice skating and drink hot chocolate (hot milk tea for me). His cheeks would get ruddy from the cold but he’d be happy and we’d laugh and laugh and… Okay, so there is no snow in Beijing this year and my son is too little for the cold. Still, I thought pushing him around Hou Hai Lake might be a suitable middle ground....
read moreFound In Translation: Week 2 (VIDEO)
After my first week of Mandarin study, I give an update on how it’s going and Cole does his best Tigger impression as he leaps from couch to coffee table and back. Total study time this week: 27 hours Written characters memorized: 33 This week’s big verbal test: hiring a nanny in Mandarin If you are unable to see the video, click here. Share this:EmailFacebook
read moreHow to be Zen in China
Okay, so I’m really beginning to enjoy China but these things keep happening to me. I’m fully aware of how stupid it sounds. I mean how many times can I say, “I swear it’s not me but…” before even my in-laws are emailing me travel advice? When people who have never left the US think they could handle China better than you, then maybe you should stop being so honest. “Maybe I could just write a post about dumplings or something,” I wonder. Dumplings! They are seriously wonderful pillows of heaven,...
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