Dear Friends and Families, We’ve received notice from staff that the BYChina group has successfully boarded their international flight in Kunming. Just a note of gratitude for your support throughout this amazing and transformative nine-month......Read More
“我可以打吗?Wo keyi da ma?” Blank stares. It was my first day of work at HHCC’s children’s community center** and I already felt like the new kid in school. Characterized by popped collars, a reverence for the sport of table tennis,......Read More
“In order to make a beehive, you first have to…” The lights flicker out. The sound of rain pounding against the windowsill is overpowered by the strong clap of thunder still echoing through the mountain valley. Shushu, my host “uncle”......Read More
As our time in Danba’s Tibetan village draws to a close, we shift gears in preparation for the next couple weeks, which will be faster-paced. Our travels will take us northwest through Gansu province, known for its desert landscapes, and Xinjiang,......Read More
Dear Friends and Families, On Friday, May 4th, the BYChina group will close up their time at the Erfo Temple in Maitan old town and spend the night in the city of Chongqing. The following day, they will take a train to Chengdu and then a six to......Read More
Hello family and friends, The BYChina group has departed Kunming for their May travels. They left yesterday, 4/28, via train and after two long days of travel they have arrived at the Erfo Temple in Maitan old town. The group is currently located......Read More
This weekend, Bridge Year China is setting off on an excursion to Xishuangbanna! With its rich rainforests and sizeable Dai minority population, this prefecture in southern Yunnan province is considered a a cultural and scenic hotspot in China. By......Read More
As I stepped into the wu guan, or martial arts center, I was immediately greeted by Bruce Lee memorabilia on every corner, a testament to this martial arts legend. The ultimate testament to his legacy is the tapestry with a red-yellow yin and yang,......Read More
Tomorrow we’ll be waking up to a conductor’s shouts and the rumbling of train wheels slowly turning beneath our feet. Hopefully we’ll have gotten enough sleep, for immediately after disembarking in Lijiang we will be hopping from bus to bus,......Read More
“Stick your tongue out” the doctor directed. The patient, a pocket-sized septuagenarian, obediently let her mouth flop open. “So, what do you notice about her tongue?”, the doctor asked as she motioned for us to take a closer look. Each......Read More
Since childhood, I’ve had a special fondness for drawing. I would spend hours on end with pencil and paper, bringing to life adventures that played out in my imagination. Art was my gateway into a virtual world that knew no bounds. Little did I......Read More
Recently, during a commute to work, I heard a loud bang to my right. I turned to find two tipped motorbikes and two men sprawled on the ground, one with bloodied knees. I braced myself for the argument I was sure would ensue. However, there was no......Read More
296, 297, 298 … oh shoot, where was I again? My heart drops; I lost my place. The large pile of small, engraved silver beads that once sat in my right hand now sits in the plastic bag in front of me, the ultimate count unknown. I pause for a......Read More
I’m sitting here in Kunming, China on a chilly day, enjoying the warmth of “The French Cafe” on Wen Lin Jie (Often referred to as “Foreigner’s Street”) and sipping on my hazelnut latte while a relaxing, jazzy version of “Don’t Worry,......Read More
When I entered the commons of the Jiaxin Children Assistance Center, a much-anticipated ambush of children charged at me with smiles and laughter, each child eager to be the first to show me his/her new toys. Cheerful as the children were, their......Read More
Since day one, the belief that I am a unique being has been ingrained in me. I entered an ice rink at the age of 2 years old and discovered on my own a passion that has stayed with me ever since. At age 6, I learned how to perfectly tie my own......Read More