Getting towards the end of Jan 2021, and preparing for Chinese New Year (mid Feb 2021 this year). And, it is always our daughter’s birthday during this time. She was born on the coldest day on record in Shenzhen, China in 2016 (watch that vlog here) And her last 2 birthdays have been in lockdown up in cold Shenyang, China. …
New Year, New Covid Test
Welcome 2021! We are all adjusting to the new normal and here in Shenyang, China there is a new outbreak of COVID, some new strain. I’ll be honest, I am not following the news. But all I know is, New Year’s morning, we woke up to mandatory COVID swab tests in a vocational school turned COVID testing center. A bit …
My Son Wants To Become a Kung Fu Master!
We all have new year’s resolutions. My son, Miles may not even be aware of what those are yet but he has one: To become a Kung Fu master! All those Atom Man cartoons and toys combined with his love for Spiderman led him to want to learn Kung Fu. So Wendy found a nearby (well, 30 minute taxi ride) …
Merry Christmas From Shenyang, China
We are coming to a close this year! While no Christmas tree or Christmas “Culture” here in Shenyang, China – was able to get a “hong bao” from Wilson Blues and went to the mall to grab some books and dig through various markets to find some wrapping paper. Kids pushed to open on Christmas Eve – but we insisted …
Why Rico Moved to Asia
I caught up with my friend, Rico Ngoma, CEO of Source Find Asia, in Manila, Philippines early this year. This was before the whole COVID-mania took over most of our lives. We talked about why we moved to Asia, what made us take that leap from where we were and why we decided to stay. It was fun thinking about …
Staying Healthy and Fit (Positive) During Challenging Times
The year 2020 is coming to an end, and many of us have gone through dramatic changes. One small thing I have done – when I had to flee Philippines and left most of my possessions behind – one was a TRX set for my morning workout. Been doing basic stretches in the meantime – but then was lucky enough …
Mountain Hike During Golden Week Holiday in Shenyang
Yes, been a while since the last vlog – but hope you are enjoying the shorter more focused videos on a specific topic or thing we are working on here instead. Those who miss these vlogs, here we go – finally leaving the house again (seems whenever I leave the house I have to take the camera!) for an extended …
Family is an Investment
While all of us are talking about business and sales – what is a real investment? Family. My kids are getting into kindergarten now – and spending time teaching them, giving them ideas and guidance, has had real impact. And that is a lifelong investment. Watching them grow up, learning, forming their ideas and personalities has been life changing. My …
Catching up With Old Friend Talking E-commerce Re-Kindling
Those who read this blog maybe 5-10 years ago may have seen quite a few posts of Marie. I first met her in Shenzhen, China in 2009 when she applied to work with my crazy e-commerce and SEO office and it was my first time to work with a Filipina. She had been living in Shenzhen for some time and …
Transitioning Kids To Full Time School (Retiring as a Home School Teacher?)
2020, what a year. Entering into September and there was a family dinner and discussion about the Fall semester. Home schooling has been taking a lot of time on the family – from meal preparations to 3 of us sharing full day classes (Wendy morning Math, Grandpa Chinese in late morning, and my English classes in afternoon) – so we …
Bro Night (A Match Made By Our Families)
Been less active on the v-logging – just because it would be a bit of a repetitive one of me walking between 3 apartments each day doing my morning work (on Loadpipe, online marketing) to afternoon home schooling and dinner at the in-laws. Today – we have a “match making” session – my mother in law is an acupuncture specialist …
Reducing Our Requirements for Material Things (Living with Less “stuff”, more Love)
Minimalism is always something I have been fascinated with since I moved down to Manila, Philippines from China in 2009/2010 for an interesting year of commute between the countries. Moving always makes us realize – why do we need all this stuff. I’m blessed my wife is on the same page – and while we have just moved into a …
Becoming a Homeschooling Teacher
Guess it was inevitable to be in China and become a teacher. But this is different, Doing this for my kids. With schools shut down now until at least the fall here in China (they just announced in early May 2020 that schools will be further delayed from opening until the Fall) – I have to finally take matters in …
The New Normal – Searching For An Apartment Back in China
Can you believe we are almost halfway through the year 2020? Still feel it is January and preparing to fly to Philippines for a few months. Sitting in the same desk and chair in my aunt-in-law’s spare bedroom that is a makeshift home office, the same spot I booked a flight to Manila in January. But we are approaching mid-May …
Digesting and Processing and Transforming in Shenyang
Well, after the “music stops” and the pursuit of getting to a ’final” destination has been reached – there is the “morning after”. I mean I am so happy to be re-united with my wife and kids, but now the next big adventure and question is – where do we go from here? No one knows how long the world …