Hello everyone,

My name is Madeleine Dawson. I live in Sausalito, CA, which is geographically right next to San Francisco.

I am incredibly excited about this trip! Since my mother’s side of the family is originally from China, I have always been interested in learning more about the country. Part of my family is actually descended from areas in Xinjiang Province and Mongolia. I have been to Beijing, Shanghai, and Taiwan, so I only know China through the lens of those places. From research, it is pretty obvious that West China is nothing like the places I have been in the country. That being said, I hope that my perception of China can be broadened during this trip. I also hope that this trip will give me more insight into what it means to be Chinese.

See you all soon!