"Living here, I have become family with some of the best people I know, I’ve had surreal moments that I didn’t even think were possible, I’ve eaten amazing food, and my Chinese has improved beyond measure. If you come to Beijing, you will immediately see what is so special about this city; the way that both traditional culture and modern elements simultaneously exist so harmoniously here is mesmerizing, and I feel blessed to be in China at a time when I can watch this transition take place before my own eyes."

"My time in China is limited, but by taking careful notice of all the moving parts of the city that I witness every day, it’s as if I can slow the track of time—by just a single millisecond. Just enough to ease my restless mind and breathe and remember to take part in the life I am living—to not let it pass without making some effort to notice the details, everything that extends between and beyond my gaze. I won’t let this pass without trying my best in this regard."