Author Archives: bradleyjburgess

How to Let an Old Wound Heal?  Still not Sure如何让旧伤痊愈？依然迷茫

My DEI experience in China 我在中国DEI的经历 I will sometimes tell a story to people about my experience waking up to the flaws of DEI thinking. I will never forget receiving an email from my alma mater sharing how the school would “address a whiteness issue” in the school faculty. Ironically, when I was there I don’t actually remember thatContinue reading “How to Let an Old Wound Heal?  Still not Sure如何让旧伤痊愈？依然迷茫”

To the Undecided: 10 Reasons Why I’m Voting Republican

…and why you should too. I somehow can’t believe I’m writing an article advocating for you to vote Republican in this year’s general election. I’ve never done this before. Instead of firing off random responses to what I see in the news or see on social media and attracting controversy, I thought it would beContinue reading “To the Undecided: 10 Reasons Why I’m Voting Republican”

Letter from Shanghai: Did COVID actually happen?

We’ve recently returned to Shanghai after 8 months in the US. In the past nearly two decades, this has been the longest period of time I’ve been away from China. I think it was needed. I don’t know how to put it or what phraseology to use. But I think it’s possible that I haveContinue reading “Letter from Shanghai: Did COVID actually happen?”

Happy Holy Birthday 圣诞节快乐！

My Chinese father in law sent me a WeChat message on Christmas Day addressing his grandkids saying something to the effect of “when you get gifts today, remember to ask your dad and mom the origin of Santa Claus, Christmas trees, why it occurs on December 25, etc and have them tell us.” 我的中国岳父在圣诞节当天给我发了一条微信转给他的两个孙女儿大意是“今天收到礼物的时候，记得问爸爸妈妈圣诞老人、圣诞树的由来，为什么在十二月 25Continue reading “Happy Holy Birthday 圣诞节快乐！”

Shanghai Lockdown: Second Time Around 

While Frank Sinatra and Henry Mancini crooned that “love was lovelier the second time around” I’m not sure there are too many sentiments worth celebrating when a lockdown comes around again. But, if experiencing things the second time around raises the level of intensity, this may be true whether in love or under lockdown.   IContinue reading “Shanghai Lockdown: Second Time Around “

Shanghai Lockdown: Covid Tests and Hamburgers for Easter

Growing up, I remember Cadbury cream eggs at Easter. I used to love those things. A hollow shell of chocolate with a creamy yellow and white nougat center oozing all over my hands. Some kids may remember Paas fuzzy rabbits or jelly beans. Those are good too. I also relished the vinegar-smelling liquid we’d dipContinue reading “Shanghai Lockdown: Covid Tests and Hamburgers for Easter”

Belonging and Identity: Internal Dissension and Purpose 归属感与身份：内部纠纷与目的

Warning: this is a bit of a personal reflection piece. 注：这篇文章主要是以自我思考为主。 I wrote about Belonging and Identity last year in April here: 去年4月份时，我在这里写了关于归属和身份的文章： https://starkdiscussion.com/2021/04/01/belonging-and-identity-being-an-outsider/ It’s a topic I’ve been extremely interested in for a very long time, and I know it is highly relevant for many of us around the world, in particular for thoseContinue reading “Belonging and Identity: Internal Dissension and Purpose 归属感与身份：内部纠纷与目的”

Longevity and China’s Aviation Pioneer found in the City of Grace and Peace

Very few of us live to be 100 years old. Something like 2% of us perhaps will make it. So, it was rare to celebrate my Chinese grandmother’s centenary this past month. The actual date of her birthday, according to my cousin, is 农历四月初六。This is the fourth day of April in the lunar calendar, or MayContinue reading “Longevity and China’s Aviation Pioneer found in the City of Grace and Peace”

Having Kids in China, Part Two: Chinese love kids, and children provide access to the good ‘ole days

My sister still laughs when this memory comes up. I was back home visiting my mom at her lake house in Michigan years ago. With floor to ceiling windows facing the small and peaceful lake, I couldn’t think of a better place of respite from bustling Beijing. Newspaper in hand, yanking back the lever ofContinue reading “Having Kids in China, Part Two: Chinese love kids, and children provide access to the good ‘ole days”