About Me
This blog originally focused on US-China business and political relations. I now include posts on Southeast Asia and explore sustainable and innovative opportunities and trends— development that embraces the human face— as well as writing on media, technology, communications, and the environment.
My connection to Asia began around the age of five with a father who told tasty tales about his entrepreneurial adventures in the Far East, a Chinese auntie who liked to dress me up in cheongsam, Hindu godparents, a Thai goddess, and the unshakable belief that it was indeed possible to dig a hole to China. I tried often, and eventually I made it there. After failing miserably in Spanish, I gave Mandarin the old college try and a year later, in 2001, decided to put my education on hold and trade in New York City for Shandong Province.
I am now a freelance writer/editor and small business owner based in Singapore who has focused on East Asia’s development experience for over a decade, both on the ground and in the classroom. I studied creative writing, ethics and political science at The New School, where I also earned a graduate degree in International Affairs with a focus on socioeconomic development in East Asia. You can learn more about my professional background via my Linkedin profile. I live with my tech wizard husband and our cat from the Bronx.
If you’re looking for definitive answers, you’ve come to the wrong place. I am an ideas person— hardly an expert on anything— and the views expressed on this blog are solely those of one fallible individual. Comments are always welcome; please keep them respectful and constructive.
“We have to choose between a global market driven only by calculations of short-term profit, and one which has a human face.”-Kofi Annan
Very interesting blog. I’m glad I found it, because, let’s face it–the vast majority of blogs out there about China is the same, tiresome, useless ramblings from dopey expats who think they’re being so insightful when they comment about how things are weird in China compared to the U.S.!
@Steven
Thanks, Steven (I think!) It’s always nice to hear that people find this blog interesting- the last thing I want to do is put my readers to sleep! There are several other wonderful and unique China blogs to check out; a few of my favorites are China Law Blog, China Translated, and Beijing Barefeet (if I’ve listed a blog on this site, then I’m a fan and regular reader). Let me know if there’s a particular topic that you would like to read more about and I’ll do my best to incorporate it.
Hey Aimee,
Thought I’d mention but I noticed you’re using WordPress (I do too) and if you are looking for a good anti-comment-spam solution, there’s a Disqus plugin for WordPress (very nice commenting plugin which I use on my own blog) which has its own built-in anti-spam .. and there’s also Defensio, a startup my current company acquired; their detection rate is one of the best out there.
Keep up with the “tall order”
cheers!
Jay
Hey Aimee! I’m glad I found your site, your thoughts as well as the links on the side are really interesting. I’m a male Chinese-born student who grew up in the States, going to school there studying economics, but am now in Beijing for study abroad. I’m glad I found your blog because I’m particularly interested in learning more about US-China relations, China’s economic development, and US-China personal relationships as well. I’m new to the Beijing scene, and was wondering if you had time to grab coffee and share some words of wisdom with a youngster?
Aimee, I too have a life-long interest (obsession/karmic debt/whatever) in China. It’s been 30 years now and I’m still here! I’ve waded through business to music to religion and now to I’m immersed in leadership issues. Oh, and sci-fi, travel, and the usual wild characters met in China every day.