Writer. Traveler. Tea Drinker.

Got your hiking boots on? Good, you may want to make sure your laces are tied tight because we have quite a ways to go. There are over 6000 steps from the bottom to the top. Why are you looking so pale? Don’t worry, we’ll take the bus to the halfway point. It’s already 4:00 [...]

Originally our plan was to go back to the US for three weeks this summer. We had everything planned and organized except for one teeny-weeny little detail: the plane tickets. I kept my eyes on them for months, but the prices were outrageous. I tried every trick I know and everything was exorbitant. Over $1700 [...]

We have now officially been here for six-month and it feels equal part much longer and much shorter. In a short half a year period I have taught my first semester of school ever, traveled hundreds of miles all over China and managed to feel comfortable in a culture which is completely different from my [...]

This website will be pretty quiet for the next month as we are packing up and heading out while we are on holiday break from school. We’re traveling “old school” style which means that we won’t have a laptop so I don’t expect I’ll be able to do much updating here until we get back. [...]

Organization is my middle name. And when it comes to packing I don’t like to leave things for the last minute. (You’ve probably figured that out since I’ve had my toiletries bag packed for over a month now.) We are each bringing two bags with us; One big backpack for all our clothes and stuff, [...]

As of today we have one month and 14 days till our plane takes off. On one hand this summer is flying by (I have so much to do!) on the other hand, it’s a slow, painful crawl. Last month I got laid off from my job, but I was able to go back to [...]

“I’m looking forward to living in a small space and not having so much stuff to worry about.” My husband Ryan said this to me the other night at dinner and I agreed. Saying goodbye to our stuff won’t be sad. It will be a relief. It’s not like we live a huge expensive lifestyle. [...]

Last week, at lunch, a friend of mine asked a questioned in a way that no one else had, despite months of planning, saving, and talking about it.

“Why China?”