Yeah, but that’s why he did it. He used his privilege for good! I hope others follow his example.

Thank you! I had no idea.

But yes, it is less smoggy than when I visited as a kid. Credit where credit’s due! :)

Compared to where I grew up in Upstate NY, it is very bad. I got ashthma and allergies after moving out here about 10 years ago.

Wow...that is really troubling. I don’t even know what to say about that.

Thanks for the info! These are all facts I have read before, but I am not a spatially-minded person so this doesn’t really register in my brain. I’m a language arts teacher so having a verbal comparison based in someone’s personal experience was really what drove it home for me.

I hope this doesn’t come off as…

It must be bad if raising the kid in LA is protecting him from noxious fumes. Oh boy. I mean, I’ve heard stories about the air quality in Chinese cities but that really drives it home for some reason.

this needs more stars.

This post has brought up the memory of my 9th grade boyfriend giving me a bouquet of my favorite flower at the time, iris. I was so blown away, like, how could he have known?! We had just started going out. After we got back from the movie his parents had driven us to (because 9th grade), my mom screeched at me,…

That peppercorns one reminds me of something that happened way more times than it should have during my 10 years as a barista.

Customer: I’m allergic to dairy, is that going to be a problem?
Me: No, we have a variety of substitutes.
C: Great, I’ll have a large latte.
Me: Soy, almond, or hemp milk?
C: What? No. I just want…

“Travel books make other countries seem like magical escapes, but they are really an endless stream of little puzzles of adaptability.”

Totally! Well said.

I am a teacher at a private institution with many hardcore christian parents who take issue with me casually dropping in lines about being polite and respectful of which pronouns people ask to be addressed by. Definitely stealing that line for the next complaint conference!

also, can anyone bring me out of the greys…

hahaha this is amazing. also, perfect gif.

exactly. i love this idea, but it needs a better word. “brelfies” is already my word for breaking & entering selfies, anyway.

That woman is an american hero.

Hesitant to share this because it involves misogyny — but I used it for good!

well said on the duality of being rich while singing the song of the long-suffering masses. i think this video would be more tacky coming from taylor, gaga, or bey even though i love them all. but it's really important that someone like rihanna is the face of it. there are so many stories of her keeping it real and…

I really love your interviews, Jia! Created an account just to say so. You ask good questions and keep the conversation flowing in an easygoing way. So yeah, keep being awesome. :)