Oh how I love Chinese New Year, a festival that has blown out the cobwebs in Guangzhou, brought sweet rain and fresh air, and given the grimiest street corner to most sparkling skyscraper a new clarity and shine. Chinese New Year festivities last 15 days, beginning on the first day of the new moon and... Continue Reading →
As I reflect on my experience celebrating Chinese New Year in Guangzhou this past week, I've been contemplating the many times I've felt nervous and overwhelmed by crowded places and local customs only to find joy outside of my comfort zone. I carry my past experiences with me as I continue to delve into the... Continue Reading →
For a beautiful period of my life, I lived in Bologna, Italy. During that time, back in 2013-2014, one of my favorite things to do was simply walk through the old city center along the cobbled streets and through miles of porticoes, soaking in its history, warm earth-tone colors, and hidden treasures. I particularly loved... Continue Reading →
Guangzhou is abuzz with anticipation for Chinese New Year. Personally, it reminds me of the feeling the week before Christmas when looking forward to the day is almost better than the day itself. People are out washing the streets, the windows, the storefronts; planting new trees, flowers, and installations celebrating the year of the dog; selling... Continue Reading →
"B liù shí èr! B liù shí èr!" The automated ticket counter yells "B62" in high-pitched nasal Mandarin, as the five of us stand near the restaurant hostess willing the number to turn over to our ticket, B63. We have been waiting for about half an hour to try a new Uighur restaurant in the downtown... Continue Reading →
When I found out that my husband and I were moving to Guangzhou, the first thing I did, after saying "Wow! We're going to China!, was to look up Guangzhou on Wikipedia, because I'd never heard of it and had no idea where it was. Which is crazy when you consider that it is the... Continue Reading →
Happy Wanderings 