Our last month in China was spent doing the time-honored Beijing Expat tradition, the frantic dash to see all the Chinese sights you somehow forgot to see during the last four years. Week one of this cram-it-all-in fest was spent…
Trip Report: India 2012
This trip report doesn’t involve the kids, so I have hesitated to post it, but in the end I decided — who doesn’t want to hear about a trip to India? Nobody, that’s who. As soon as we found out…
Highchair Travelers: Holi Festival Cards
The Holi Festival in India is a celebration of Spring and a commemoration of some major events in Hindu mythology, but it’s known to the rest of the world as the Festival of Colors. During Holi, large groups gather to…
Things I Learned in . . . China: Ayi’s Top 5 Kitchen Tips
Some of the best and most lasting lessons learned overseas are usually about food. Recipes, techniques, and new ideas about what food means and how it interacts with your life can become your favorite “souvenirs” of your time in another…
Highchair Travelers: Beef Chinese Dumplings
Dumplings, called jiaozi (jaow–zuh) are one of the most important parts of a traditional Chinese New Year celebration. Luckily, they are also delicious and easy to make. This recipe is the one we learned from our Ayi (nanny) in China,…
Highchair Travelers: Chinese New Year
Wu Fu Lin Men! Five Happinesses Bestowed on Your Household. January 31st, 2014 [edit–Feb 8, 2016] marks the first day of the Chinese New Year. As you might guess, Chinese New Year is a pretty big deal around our house.…
Highchair Travelers: New Year’s Eve Around the World
How does the rest of the world celebrate the New Year? Well, first of all, a big chunk of the world does not celebrate it on January 1st. But those countries that do (mostly in the Western Hemisphere) have a…
Highchair Travelers: Kid Friendly Sushi
When my Japanese friends offered to teach me to make sushi a few years ago, I was really excited. Not just because I love sushi, but because when most of your family is gluten-free, new lunch options are really, really…
Highchair Travelers: Diwali
[Thursday, October 23rd] is Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights. Celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, Diwali is a celebration of the victory of Good over Evil, Knowledge over Ignorance and Light over Darkness. Traditionally, Diwali is celebrated by lighting…
Highchair Travelers: American Mooncakes
This weekend is one of our favorite Chinese holidays, the Mid-Autumn Festival. This festival is celebrated on the eighth full moon of the Chinese calendar. It’s popularly known as the Moon Festival, and is a celebration of family togetherness and…