In 2015, just after graduating from university, I left my home in the U.S. to go to China on a scholarship to study Chinese linguistics.

My interest in China started in December of 2008, when I visited my extended family in Northeast China and witnessed the transformation the country was undergoing. I’ll never forget the energy still lingering in the air (or maybe it was the pollution from all the construction) from the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, when China was “coming out” as a leading player onto the world stage. Every city I visited—from Shanghai to Jilin—was undergoing massive change; essentially, entire cities were construction sites (it’s estimated that from 2011 to 2014, more concrete was poured in China than in the entirety of the 20th century in the U.S.). I had a glimpse of China on the rise and wanted to learn more.

So, in the summer of 2015, I moved to China—beginning an adventure to learn the language and culture, and to deepen my understanding of the complexities of a changing nation. Over the years, through stories, audio recordings, and photos, I have captured some of my experiences interacting with the people and cultures of China. I welcome you to join me on my journey.