I'll never have the China dream that I once wanted. And that's okay. Going back to Beijing has let me make peace with some of the choices I made in my career and life. Now, I can look foward to work and let this experience shape the way I show up: with drive, patience and kindness.

n/n

In 5 years, the world politics has changed as have Sino-Indian relations. It's not been the easiest of journeys to be a China watcher in India. But I'm learning that it's not that easy wherever you are in the world.

Of course my luck issued an orange alert for the heavy winds or 大风. Being a coastal Indian girl, I thought the hype was overblown (pardon the pun lol). But a pandemic takeaway has been to not worry much about out of control things. So I spent restful days shopping and even going to the theatre.

...ate food I dreamt about, strolled around old haunts, and rejoiced with old friends and new.

Being back at Beida was warm, and nostalgic and intellectually stimulating as always!

This spring, five years after I left Beijing abruptly, I came back to make peace with this part of my life. I climbed the Great Wall (though not in a graduation gown), went to temples Tagore had written about...

For years now, I've been listening to @jordanschneider.bsky.social's Chinatalk, @economist.com's Drum Tower, The History of China and @kaiserkuo.bsky.social's Sinica. Pretty much part of my weekly routine now to catch up on policy stuff.

Yes! I have lots of thoughts. Emotional yes but also found it frustrating haha. How did you find it? How did your sons like it?

Bridge 4!

Would you have a link for this? Sounds like a wonderful piece.