It’s the Gas
Second I came out of my bedroom this morning, Serena tells me there’s no hot water and the stove is unusable. I contacted Mr. Lim, the company’s housing coordinator, via WeChat. He messaged back within 1 minute: Hi，You need to take the gas card to recharge. There is a recharging machine at the entrance of…
A Heavy Price?
Yes, I DO live in China. Sometimes, running freely hither and yonder, prancing around Disneyland, eating at wonderfully cozy vegan cafes, drinking tea in little tea shops, it’s easy to forget we are living within a non-democratic society (choosing my language carefully there). Then, as I’m heading out of my apartment on this beautiful day…
A Question
Running down a country road today, past the strawberry farm, a pretty 30-something year old lady stopped her car and invited me in for a ride. Dressed fully in black—from my black BRONX beanie, to my all black Hokas, I was trotting along in the rain. I thanked her and told her this was my…
Live Out Your Imagined Dreams
686 days away from Serena. I never gave in, I never gave up. Believe
21 Days: COMPLETED!
Quarantine Day 21: Quarantine COMPLETED! Had to do 2 Covid tests since departing hotel one week ago. Final one was this morning. I ran to the local hospital where there’s a testing trailer set up out front. So, since departing Kentucky on November 21st, I’ve been tested 7 times: Once in Renton, Washington at a…
REUNITED
Serena & Kyle are back! 686 days apart.Now, REUNITED. The last time we saw each other, January 21st, 2020, no one knew a thing about any COVID-19 or pandemic. Don’t give up, don’t ever give up…
687
Quarantine Day XIV: Day of Hotel Departure & Day of REUNION! 687 Days separated from Serena In 5 hours, I step outside this hotel room for the first time in 2 full weeks. Then, I head home…home at least temporarily being my girlfriend’s studio apartment in Jiuting! Fun Fact: Jiuting is a large neighborhood (such…
HOPE
Quarantine Day XI 685 days since my girlfriend Serena & I were last together. Approximately 75 hours until we reunite. BELIEVE
The Triumphant Return, Part II (November 26th)
Quarantine Day III The Triumphant Return, continued from yesterday Pudong Airport Pandemic Protocols 8.Pre-checkpoint for “Health Quarantine” zone (right where we used to all shoot down escalator to show passports) >> lab results checked 9.Checkpoint for Quarantine —15+ thermograph temperature check cameras in front of us. Every single airport employee from customs and immigration to…
The Triumphant Return
November 25th, Thanksgiving Day Quarantine, Day I Sometimes, 1 minute changes the course of your life. After all this—674 pandemic days away—Operation Triumphant Return begins bearing fruit. My girlfriend is no longer 8,500 miles away.Now, it’s more like 8-10. Yet, the separation continues for two additional weeks. Much, much more to come. Patience, Daniel-san. Patience.
Don't Let My Parents Read This 