Comments on: 16 Candles x 2 = Some Serious Wax

By: elvina

elvina — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:01:57 +0000

Happy Birthday again, Ryan. Having been home for nearly 3 weeks now, getting a visit from G and visiting him, I completely understand this sentiment. As much as I describe China in words and pictures, people here will never fully understand our experience there, and vice versa.

It’s really special to have someone from back home visiting. I hope you and Cory are having a great trip. I’m not sure if you have your laptop along with you there, but I was wondering if you were in Shanghai the day you drop him off at the airport. G is coming to meet me in the city. A mini reunion would be fun. If not, Maggie and I emailed about meeting in Suzhou a few days later.

By: Nicoleta

Nicoleta — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 02:47:44 +0000

Hi Ryan,

Happy birthday! Hope you and Maggie and doing well.
We are waiting for a nanny we hired from Suzhou. We found her online so I never met her in person. She is waiting for her Canadian visa as we speak (write). Since you are living in Suzhou and know life there could you please tell me if I you met anyone with a chinese nanny and if they were happy with her. Here is Toronto area everyone seems to favour filipinas as nanny but we loved the idea of someone teaching Mandarin to the kids.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:39:35 +0000

Hey everyone, thanks loads for the birthday wishes. Much appreciated!

By: Kellen

Kellen — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:46:17 +0000

happy birthday man. may you see many more in the years to come

By: Victoria Steele

Victoria Steele — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:56:14 +0000

Hey Ryan,

Happy Birthday! I hope you guys have a great time travelling. We’ll be up in Dalian when you’re in Shanghai unfortunately. Anyway, a little word of advice…when in Nanjing stay away from Castle Bar! (See I knew this would intrigue you a little, so really if you’re both up for some badass random Nanjing styles, have a few then check it out). Have fun!

By: ChinaMatt

ChinaMatt — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:16:25 +0000

Happy Birthday! Really cool that an old friend is visiting you…I still wish some of my friends could’ve visited while I lived over there.

By: Gin

Gin — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:26:13 +0000

Happy Birthday, it sounds like it should be a fabulous day! Coming back to visit Canada has been great, but I do wish more people could make it over the Pacific to see us. I realize that my life in China will never really make sense to them unless they can see it for themselves. Hopefully Sea Monkey will help get a few people over to the Middle Kingdom! I hope Inca is well, and Maggie and Button too, talk to you soon.

By: shalini

shalini — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:49:34 +0000

Happy Birthday friend… Was searching for a chinese blog and landed on your blog..to my surprise or luck its your day.. have a great day… visit my blog too friend…

By: Little sister

Little sister — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:46:57 +0000

How exciting that Cory is visiting! Word of advice I’ve learned from various parties – don’t let Cory use your camera! Haha, you can ask him about that one…

You’re right, in more or less words it sucks to live so far apart from family, you know they have their own things going on but it’s difficult to relate when you’re not closeby or just there for support, etc. At least with you we have this blog to stay a little more connected but it doesn’t take the place of hanging out in person and seeing how you live, which was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had I still learn a lot from you and hope you continue to enjoy living in China with your beautiful wife – see you sooner than later I hope also! Have a fantastic birthday, ge ge.

By: John Biesnecker

John Biesnecker — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:34:47 +0000

Happy birthday, man!

I know how you feel about life back home not having any real physical sense of reality. In a lot of ways my memories of people and places are stuck in 2003, and I’m sure there’s of me are as well. I know at very least after my parents visited it 2005 it became a lot easier to explain things to them, because they could at least attempt to visualize it.