Impression of Ethiopia
January 27, 2014
Since I left Cameroon at the end of my Peace Corps service in 2010, I return to the continent for the first time. At the end of 2010, I did take a trip to Tunisia, which is technically in Africa. Though this time, nearly 4 years later, I feel like I’ve returned home. I took Qatar Airways & Emirates from…
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2013 Year-in-Review
January 23, 2014
The first month of 2014 is nearing the end, and I am just now writing my 2013 review. Better late than never? Probably not the best way to kick off the new year, but I simply couldn’t drop the ball on this tradition. January: Life in Shanghai was in full swing. I was juggling between private tutoring, translating for an online language…
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Shanghai Wanders
December 2, 2013
Ever since I started my Big Girl job, my waking moments are spent as follows: 70% office, 20% home (both locations are within 30-minute walk of each other), and 10% at some bar/club/restaurant/café in or around the French Concession. Gone are the days where I had ample time to walk around the city and appreciate its vivacity and uniqueness. My…
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Season of Gratitude
November 28, 2013
Yet another Turkey Day abroad! Unlike previous years, this is the first time that I didn’t get the day off. It’s strange to have to work right through the holiday, and went about the day as any other. Fortunately, since I do work for an American company with a good number of expats, the office unofficially organized a Thanksgiving meal…
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Witness Terracotta Soldiers in Xi’an
November 26, 2013
One of the most impressive aspects of my trip to Xi’an was witnessing the Terra-Cotta soldiers. I was quite mesmerized by this experience, and thought it deserves a separate post. Most people who’ve seen it says the experience is somewhat overrated, and I certainly can see why this may be. Nevertheless, I found the ancient relics to be most fascinating.…
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Xi’an Wanderings
November 24, 2013
Last weekend, I took my first overnight train in China to the ancient city of Xi’an. My friend Aly, who has lived in China for 4 years now, is a huge fan of train travel. It was her birthday weekend, and her only request was to take an overnight train somewhere for 14 hours. I happily tagged along. As someone…
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Halloweekend in Moganshan
November 3, 2013
Every now and again, a weekend trip is necessary for a Shanghai dweller to get some fresh air, to switch up daily routine, and obtain some fuel for the soul. This weekend, I was invited to a trip to Moganshan (莫干山), a popular getaway destination just 3 hours of drive from Shanghai. A girl whom I met recently invited me,…
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The First Chinaversary
October 27, 2013
Today, I celebrate my first Chinaversary. I am simultaneously amazed at how quickly time has flown by, and how much has happened over the past 12 months. As I look back upon my many, many photos, I decided to narrow down the year to the top 10 most defining moments. Here they are, in chronological order: First Day It was…
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Danba, China: The Valley of Happiness
October 21, 2013
Life of a globetrotter can be strangely disorienting. One minute, you are in the Tibetan village sharing roads with goats, the next, you are in Shanghai, sharing roads with cars and motorbike drivers who possess severe road rage. We live in the world where we can wake up in one setting and go to sleep in the next. Our minds…
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Muddy Road to Heaven: Hiking in Sichuan
October 13, 2013
Back in my Peace Corps days, I had the nickname of Posh Corps. Somehow, despite living in a village amidst the mountains of Cameroon, I managed a rather posh life (relatively speaking – Internet connection in a house without running water is pretty posh, no?). It didn’t take me long to acquire a personal moto driver who would come pick…
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