2012 Blogs By Western Women Who Love Chinese Men

John and I kissing at our wedding
It's the 2012 list of China blogs by Western women who love Chinese men

It’s March and just days from International Women’s Day — time for an update to my list of blogs by Western women who love Chinese men.

Last year, I had over 30 on my list. This year, it’s over 40. I’m psyched to see the growing number of voices in the community. I also decided to take a stab at grouping the blogs this year — authors, let me know what you think.

So without further ado, here they are:

Authors/Books
Family and Kids
Food
Language
Personal Stories
Relationships

Authors/Books

My Half of the Sky. Jana McBurney-Lin, who has a Chinese husband and children, penned the novel My Half of the Sky, which also is the namesake of her writing- and family-focused blog. But as a Tai Chi enthusiast, I loved this older post about trying out this venerable martial art.

[Insert Suitably Snappy Title Here]. Kathmeista is a New Zealand woman living with her husband in Taiwan — with an appetite for the written word, so her blog focuses on great reads. She does, however, slide Taiwan into the stacks here and there, including this entry on a Taipei book expo.

Susan Blumberg-Kason. Once upon a time, Susan was a yangxifu, living in Wuhan with her Chinese husband and first child. She’s since moved back to her Chicago roots, remarried and added two more children to her family, but is forever connected to China. She offers tidbits of everything from Jewish Asia to raising multicultural kids, as well as regular reviews on Hong Kong/Shanghai/China-related books. If you’re living in or near Chicago, or passing through, check out her book, All the Tea in Chicago. Also, congrats to her for getting an agent this year for her forthcoming memoir about her marriage in China!

Sveta’s Book Review Blog. Sveta still searches for her true Asian love, but currently pours her passion into reading and sharing her latest reads on this blog. She reviews a variety of books, including reads that might interest followers of this blog, including The Girl from Junchow by Kate Furnivall.

Family and Kids

A Round Unvarnish’d Tale. This Lutheran mom of three with a Chinese husband — and a residence somewhere in upper Midwest of the United States — blogs about literally everything under the sun (her tags range from “Mitt Romney” to “Sylvia Plath” to  “Theology”).

American Family. An American woman with a Chinese husband, a hapa daughter, and an adopted daughter from China, living in the US — and blogging about it since 2003. While it’s not all Chinese culture, all the time, you have to love a woman who writes about things like learning how to cook good Chinese (for her husband, of course ;-)) and death rituals in Taiwan.

Beijing Mom. I knew Jenny Lin many years ago when we were both on Candle For Love, working on green cards for our Chinese husbands (at a time when her twins were still in utero). Finding her blog was like rediscovering an old friend — one with a great sense of humor (see My Kids are Failing School (And I’m Proud of Them)). Glad to see you’re still out there writing, Jenny.

College Baby Bump. Samantha never imagined that an unexpected baby, one she had with her Chinese husband, would be included in her college education. She wrote about her experiences during her pregnancy and after, and continues to share what it’s like to parent her child. Love her wedding photos from China. (P.S.: Also read her love story in my Double Happiness archives)

The Downtown Diner. Melanie Gao has no pretensions about her — and her blog is a homey, welcoming little slice of the China blogosphere. She used to live in Beijing with her family, but now shares stories from their new life in Nashville. She’s also my unofficial twin in the China blogosphere (we really do look alike). Thanks for keeping it real, Melanie.

Happy in Asia. Elise is a French-Canadian woman with a Chinese husband and a 1-year-old girl. She previously lived with her family in Beijing, but they’ve since returned to Canada to continue their adventures on the other side of the pond. Wish you and your family the best in Canada, Elise.

Julie K in Taiwan. This Taiwan-based mother of two children has a Chinese husband and a thing for scrapbooking. If you’ve ever wondered how to get your scrapbooking groove back in Taiwan, you’ll love Julie’s post on scrapbook stores in Taiwan.

Lin Family. She’s from Minnesota, but now lives in Taiwan with her Taiwanese husband and two children, and blogs about her life as a mom and more. My favorite posts? One about a lovely wedding between an white American woman and Taiwanese man, and another on a wedding in Taiwan, which covers traditions even I didn’t experience (the tea ceremony, for example).

Mighty Maggie. Maggie lives with her husband Phillip, the Devastatingly Handsome Chinese Man, in Seattle with two kids. She’s a stay-at-home mom who blogs about everything from religious issues to parenting. This is an older post, but she brings up an interesting dilemma when she writes about the problem of sending a child to Chinese language school, when she and her husband don’t speak the language well.

Not that AMWF Blog. Juliet, an American woman, and David, a Chinese man decided to start their blog to show the world that couples of Asian Men and White Women really do exist. They share their very normal life — everything from family and children to their marriage.

Wo Ai Ni. Rhiannon, an American woman who met and married her Chinese husband in the US, creates a whimsical collage of an intercultural family on her site. It’s a snapshot of daily family life — including two blonde-haired children from a previous marriage, and four young half-Chinese kids. Glad her newest addition to the family is doing well.

Food

Out to Lunch. Carolyn J. Phillips doesn’t just have a Chinese husband. She loves to eat too, and shares her passion with the world through some of the most authentic and mouth-watering recipes for Chinese food on the web. Don’t read on an empty stomach, and be on the lookout for her upcoming books, “Simple Pleasures from a Chinese Kitchen: Authentic Seasonal Recipes from Every Region of China” and “Culinary Goddesses: The Women Who Changed Our Dining Landscape… Recipes Included.” Also, check out my interview with her earlier this year.

Rice and Pasta, Please. “‘Rice and Pasta.’ That’s what I tell people when they ask what we eat at home.” This blog is a fusion of two cultures, her husband’s Shanghai background and her American one, and covers everything from their family’s love to their love for food. The recent yuanxiao posting has me longing for my mother-in-law’s homemade ones.

Taiwan Xifu. The Taiwan Xifu dishes out posts on some of the best eats in Taiwan, with a dash of Chinese culture thrown in for good measure. She’s even got some fantastic recipes and lists of where to eat on the treasured island — I’m bookmarking it for my next journey to Taipei.

Language

Living A Dream in China. Sara Jaaksola, who has a Chinese boyfriend, writes with a lot of heart and soul as she works on her Mandarin Chinese (something that she’s focused on even more in the past year). But what I really love about this woman is her support to the community — she started the Foreign Women in China discussion forum (any woman anywhere is welcome to join).

Personal Stories

Aorijia. Our only blogger en espaňol, Aorijia (also known as Olga) is a translator with a Chinese husband and a daughter who, as she describes, “has the good fortune of living in an intercultural family.” Aorijia, you had me when you recommended studying Mandarin Chinese through five Taiwanese soap operas (including my favorite Meteor Garden). Hope her move to Norway went smoothly.

My Beijing Survival Diary. I’ve enjoyed Michelle Chu’s blog even more in the past year, as she’s opened up about why she loves her Chinese fiancee, a man from the Henan countryside, and even shared his dramatic proposal in the Beijing subway. Michelle, wish you both a beautiful wedding!

Celestereille. This new blog is another proud example of beautiful Blasian love in China, right down to this gorgeous photo of the author kissing her Chinese beau, and this lovely Valentine to him. Inspiring.

China Excerpts. Christense Anderson Jiang has turned her life — as an English teacher, and the wife of a Chinese national — into a delightful series of mostly dialogues, hence the title “China Excerpts.” English teachers will smile at posts like geaughgraphy, while those of us with a Chinese boyfriend or husband will laugh at her conversation on infidelity.

My Dear Shanghai. She was born in Hong Kong, grew up in North America, and returned to China — Shanghai, to be exact — where she also found love with a Chinese man. She writes mainly about her life in Shanghai, and many of her Luwan District haunts (like this Xiaolong Bao shop) remind me of when I used to walk those streets with John, my husband.

Foreigner in the Family. Elliot, an English woman with a Chinese husband, writes about her ‘ordinary’ Chinese family — with an extraordinary sense for character. Her thoughtfully written blog feels more like a novel about Chinese women, whose portraits come to life with each paragraph, such as this entry on Meimei. The blog hasn’t been updated since March 2010, but it’s still worth reading.

Hello China! elo China! Elodie is married to a man from Nanjing, and has the only blog on this list written in French. She covers everything from student life at Nanjing University (where she reached HSK level 7) to travels around China. Love her header photo on top, where she is wrapped in China’s national flag.

Hot Asian Men. This Jilin-based woman, who calls herself “the ham hunter,” is on a mission — to find the hottest men in China, and blog about it. While it’s not always easy (see this post on how some Chinese men want to rush into marriage), she’s still out there on the prowl. Check out her HAM wall of fame, and her advice to women looking for love with Asian men.

Hunli-ing. Alexandra is a West Coast Canadian girl engaged to a Chinese man who writes about their life, Chinese culture, and upcoming wedding plans. Alexandra, wish you and your husband an auspicious wedding!

Laurita. You can’t help but call Laura, a Swiss woman engaged to a Chinese man, super-cute after you visit her “pretty-in-pink” manga-inspired blog design (especially with a little heart-strewn graphic on the bottom that reads, in Chinese, “my husband”). But don’t underestimate all of that sugar and spice on those pages — she is, after all, on a mission to learn Korean and Japanese (on top of the English, Chinese, German, Italian and Spanish she already knows).

Life Behind the Wall. The first blog to make this list written by an African-American woman with a Chinese husband. Jo Kelly-Bai, who teaches English in Yuyao, Zhejiang, is one extraordinary woman, and her writing provides insight into a life rarely chronicled in China. I’ve enjoyed seeing her wedding photos last year, and those new to her will enjoy her love story. She also answers tough questions too. Can’t wait to read her upcoming book, also titled Life Behind the Wall.

The Local Dialect. Jessica is one unique yangxifu. She fell in love with and married a Chinese man who speaks no English. She also has two children, and is the primary breadwinner for her family, working as an English teacher at an international school. And, with no inlaws (her husband’s parents passed away), the couple has had to care for the children themselves. I admire Jessica for her ability to balance work and family in China — and that she shares her experience with the world.

Love Has No Boundaries. This girl adores Chinese culture, and has even shared her own personal story of long-distance love with a Chinese guy. I hope she finds her true love in the end.

Mandarin Stories. Orange rain’s blog has a dramatic backstory — even though she’s already married to a Chinese man, her family doesn’t know yet. What will happen with this Finnish girl and her husband? Let’s hope they get their own happy ending.

My Neon Sign Lullaby. Eileen’s blog is so lovely and touching, like her pictures of smiling, long-haired women in dazzling rainbow colors. She is married to a man from Taiwan, a place that inspires her art and her soul. Can’t wait to hear more about her forthcoming trip to Taiwan this year.

Next Creativity. Nathalie describes herself as so much “in love with the most wonderful Chinese man” and it shows. She shares so much of her relationship with the world, from meeting her Chinese boyfriend to meeting his family. Keep up the great work, Nathalie.

Rebekah Patton. Rebekah is raising an 11 year old boy while she dates a Chinese man, and she writes about everything and anything going on in her life, from love to generous helpings of her Chinese cooking. She’s one strong woman.

Shandongxifu. Ericka, who used to live in Qingdao with her Shandong husband, is better known to us through her posts at the Lost Laowai blog — where she confidently reminded us that Laowai Girls Love Asian Boys. I share her passion for Jay Chou and, yes, Meteor Garden (quiet sigh). Now in the US, she grapples with an issue all too familiar for me — reverse culture shock — and the fact that her marriage may have affected her career plans.

Tales from Hebei. Canadian Kelly Sandor has taken her marriage to a Chinese husband, and turned it into one of the funniest blogs on this list (her recent style guide left me in smiles). Kelly’s blog is highly addictive and relatable, and it even covers her wedding and wedding photos from last year, which are both worth checking out.

Tianjin Shannon. Before, Shannon’s blog mad me feel red all over — wedding red, that is — because she and her Hunan boyfriend had a wedding ceremony in Hunan in February. Since then she has blogged about the experience of re-adjusting to life in the US with her Chinese husband, something I know all too well, as well as how they made their way to Chicago.

White Girl in a Chinese-American World. This is the voice for the Western women in relationships on the opposite side of the pond. She’s a blond Southerner, he’s a Chinese American, and they’re in love in America. Yet, not even this melting pot will always understand relationships like theirs, as she wrote about misgivings from her grandmother. But she writes courageously about their love, and the cultural misunderstandings. She also just got married last year — congratulations!

Wrapped in a Chinese Leaf. Sarah is an Irish woman studying for her master’s in international business, but she also knows a thing or two about international relations, thanks to her Chinese boyfriend. She loves telling stories through words, and you’ve got to love this post about a Chinese feast, including her confession that she was clumsy with the chopsticks (been there!). Last year in October, she and her boyfriend celebrated their anniversary.

Yin-yang Jin Feng. Jin Feng (not her real name) discovered a passion for Shaolin martial arts, and after a trip to China, also discovered love for a certain Chinese man. She writes about Buddhism, spirituality and martial arts, and even shares the occasional poem.

Relationships

AMWF Love. Laura Nguyen’s husband is of Vietnamese descent, but she blogs with Brian, a Chinese-Canadian man, and supports the community with all her heart. She and Brian explore Asian male-White Female relationships with a psychological perspective, and they cover everything from being stuck in the comfort zone to women who say they only date Asian.

Asian Man White Woman Magazine. J.T. Tran, The Asian Playboy, may have founded this magazine, but its heart and soul are the women who love Asian men (Chinese included) — Heather, Sarah Ann, and Brooks. (In full disclosure, I’m a contributing writer too.) My favorite post is Heather’s take on why Asian men are better.

What do you think? What blogs did I miss?

27 Replies to “2012 Blogs By Western Women Who Love Chinese Men”

  1. It is nice that there are more blogs by Western women who love Chinese men and it is a good idea to list them under different groups. But unfortunately, some of the blogs aren’t so active now with few if no updates.

  2. Thank you very much for the mention! I find it amazing you took the time to compile such a detailed list of everyone’s blog and how the number went up from 30 to 40 this year! I will certainly keep it up and keep on reading everyone’s great posts. Ps: My name has an “h” in it; “Nathalie” insead of “Natalie”. I know, funny spelling – I’m another French Canadian, hehe! 🙂

  3. Thanks very much for mentioning my blog! 🙂 Really appreciate it and I hope that the readers appreciate my book reviews and personal opinions 🙂

  4. Thanks so much for listing my blog! You left out the premier Western women, Asian men blog–yours! You are an inspiration to all of us. I wish your blog were up and running when I needed it all those years ago! No matter, I know it willl help many women and men in the years to come. Thank you!

  5. I love the picture on top. Very nice wedding game. It’s more effective for women to write about love than men so keep up the good work.

    Bruce

    1. @J.T. Tran, LOL, your comment left me all smiles!

      @ordinarymalaysian, yes, it’s true some of the blogs haven’t been updated in a while — I leave some on just because the stories are still out there for those who haven’t discovered them yet.

      @KathLiu, my pleasure!

      @Nathalie, I am so sorry for that typo, I fixed it this morning the moment I read your comment.

      @Sveta, glad to mention it!

      @Susan, your comment made me blush (in the best possible way), thanks. 🙂

      @Eileen, I’m touched. 🙂

      @Bruce, thanks always for your support!

      @Juliet, it’s my pleasure to include your blog, glad to see you’ve revived it.

      @Soph, hey, thanks for the addition. I’ll try to add it into the list as soon as I can. Already added it to my sidebar links.

      @Rebekah, you’re welcome.

  6. Hi. Jocelyn. I enjoy your site, very 温馨 and relatable.
    I am from China with science degrees from China and the US.
    At a higher level, for the entire human history, we are at the beginning of the most important transition
    from Type 0 civilization to Type 1.
    See Dr. Michoio Kaku’s inspiring video:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdILmgJGuvw
    The current trend of racial blending is the natrual result of the true planetary civilation.
    Now is the golden pioneer time for western girls in China. 物以稀为贵.
    Thirty years from now, when we look back, we will be laughing at the rarity.

  7. Ni hao!

    Thanks so much for adding me to your list again this year! I love reading your blog and I often find more blogs through yours that I also enjoy. It def helps me through a boring Sunday or a night in during the week. XO H

  8. Thanks Jocelyn for your mention on this list! I’m so glad I stumbled upon your blog. I’ve enjoyed reading your posts and exploring the blogs you link from your site. So good to know that there are other yangxifu out there!

  9. Jocelyn: Thank you for taking the time to fix the typo in my name and don’t worry about misspelling it. It gets misspelled all the time but not everyone will fix it even after knowing it has an “h” in it so I really appreciate you going back to edit it.

    I will have some free time this weekend so I am going to use it and read through some of the new blogs listed here and catch up on the ones I regularly read but had not had the chance to get to in the past month. Keep up the great work everyone!

  10. Jocelyn I am a chinese man aware of the huge cultural and liberal oppression of my own government and society. You are an amazing person and a saint for writing this blog. In fact i think you should move into the chinese main stream cultural and entertainment business. I am also one of those chinese men that refuses to sell themselves short when it comes to my white girl here in Canada, but i know the real problems with communication and parental conservatism. Trust me , its people like you that make us Chinese men see the truth when our governent, parents and western men discourage it, but we are very similar, at heart and in our souls. After all this is 2013, not fu machu post ww2.

    P.s excuse my english lol exhausting win in soccer im about crash 😉

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