As a way to fund my travels around the world and to give me a valid reason to be overseas working, I decided two years ago to study for a certificate that would enable me […]
Returning Home to Small Town Iowa
For the first time since graduating from high school seven years ago, I was excited to return home to Greenfield, a small town of less than 2,000 people in southwest Iowa. I had been away […]
5 Reasons You Know It’s Time to Go Home
The list of amazing reasons why you should live abroad is never-ending. Some days I think I want to live abroad forever, worried that the lack of cultural, foreign language stimulation in the United States […]
China in Six Words
I was once posed a question that left me speechless. My friend leaned over to ask, nonchalantly, as if proposing we order another beer, “If you had to describe China with six words, which would […]
The Nonexistent Driver’s Education in China
As I speed around Chinese cities everyday on my scooter going to wherever I need to go, I’m constantly fighting back the anger flames from bursting out of my ears. The stereotype of Chinese being […]
Being Fat in China
“Whitney is the fattest person in our class.” Bill didn’t even glance at the crinkled paper atop his desk. He spoke loud and clear, chin up, and with a pronunciation quality high above the rest. […]
Learning to Appreciate My Country
Two months ago I suddenly lost more than half my non-contractual, lucrative income because, when induced with boredom, Chinese people often make quick, inexplicable choices without ever considering the repercussions of their decision. In a […]
A Lesson in Chinese Culture
In the United States, I rarely use my horn while driving. Unless I can foresee something fatal or if I really need to communicate something to someone, I never use my horn. When it is used, it’s often considered […]
A Cultural Performance
In China, I’ve seen several cultural performances. Some interesting, others boring, and a couple rendering me speechless. In Yangshuo the show is set on the river with the karst mountains towering behind, and the performers […]
Controversial Photography
Of the fifty-six minorities present in China, thirty-five of them are located in Southwest China in the Yunnan Province. When photographing people, I’m often pulled toward the small babies with bare bottoms and adorable smiles, […]
