Water for the Weary

kindred spirits

  • Of Tissues and Toilet Paper

    My favorite tissue brand here in China has a lovely name. As the cover photo shows, the emoji leads consumers to add heart to heart (The first character also means “heart.”) and think of the phrase “心心相印,” literally “two hearts… Continue reading

    Of Tissues and Toilet Paper

  • Losing Face

    Before he retired, a dean at my university in China used to warn incoming freshmen, “To learn a foreign language is to lose face.” His intent was to inspire new students to persevere in spite of the inevitable humiliation they… Continue reading

    Losing Face

  • Kindred Spirits

    As I headed for China in the pre-digital days of the 1990s, one of my greatest fears was that I would not have enough to read. Books, words, and learning had been protagonists in my story up to that point,… Continue reading

    Kindred Spirits