2013 Blogs by Western Women Who Love Chinese Men

It’s March 8 — International Women’s Day — and time for an update to my list of blogs by Western women who love Chinese men!

Last year, I had a little over 40 on my list. Now we’re up to over 50, so the community keeps growing! I’ve still grouped the blogs loosely according to their focus, and I also added a *NEW* tag to denote all new additions to the list.

And 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.

*NEW* Kylie Chan. This Australian author who married a Hong Kong national channeled her passion for Chinese mythology, culture and martial arts into writing novels, which you can learn more about at her site. She also blogs on her site, and I love her recent post talking about how her books exemplify the diversity we need more of in our literature.

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. Susan, we all can’t wait to read your forthcoming memoir, Good Chinese Wife!

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 and Han Han’s book.

Family and Kids

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.

The Downtown Diner. Melanie Gao has no pretensions about herself — 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 2-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 three kids. (Just welcomed a new baby recently) 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.

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.

Food

Madame Huang’s Kitchen (Formerly 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 last 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 Anhui bing has me longing for my mother-in-law’s homemade bing!

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 has blogged a lot in the past year about foods that are great for zuo yuezi.

Language

Living A Dream in China. Sara Jaaksola 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). Thanks for sharing your thoughts on dating Chinese men, Sara!

*NEW* Menglelan. American Menglelan (not her real name) is a teacher and currently the only blogger on this list who maintains a blog in traditional Chinese. She writes about eclectic topics (including the occasional post on guys!), but the Chinese-language nature of her blog makes it worthwhile reading for anyone studying the language.

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). For those of you who missed them, check out her wedding photos!

*NEW* Becky Ances. She teaches English in the outskirts of Hangzhou, and writes heavily about her travels around China. But many of you will appreciate her take on dating Chinese men.

*NEW* Beijing: the Heart of China. Nicole Rowley minored in Chinese, traveled to Beijing and is dating a Chinese guy. You’ll love her post titled “Why Not an Asian Boyfriend?”

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. She’s expecting a baby this year!

*NEW* Chinese Potpourri. This blog offers a mish-mash of postings from an American woman with a Chinese husband and two small children, living in a small town in China. Check out her cute family photos!

*NEW* Chocolate Chick in China. This African-American blogger is an English teacher based in Nanchang, and you’ve got to love a woman who writes this in her About page: “I have  always been fascinated by the 5000 year old culture and also all the handsome single Chinese men that may never find love due to the fact that they overpopulate the women. so off I go to China to find a different way of life and  maybe a husband too.” Check out her post on Chang Min, her boyfriend!

Chopstickler (Formerly China Excerpts). Christense Anderson Jiang has turned her life — as the wife of a Chinese national — into a delightful series of mostly dialogues. 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. (Note that they now live in the US.)

*NEW* The Crush Chronicles. Samantha, who formerly blogged at College Baby Bump, is now turning her attention to crush-worthy topics — as in, stories about all the loves in her life that failed before she finally met her Chinese hubby. But don’t miss her post on dating Chinese men! (P.S.: Also read her love story in my Double Happiness archives)

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.

*NEW* Ember Swift. This Canadian woman is a singer-songwriter, musician, writer and blogger who writes some of the most fascinating and powerful posts on this list about her life (from her marriage to a Chinese guy to raising their baby daughter). Don’t miss the interviews (one and two) with her that I posted up just before Chinese New Year.

*NEW* Exploring the Orient. Anna Darnley, a British woman who blogs about studies and life in China, recently garnered lots of attention for her cover of a song that went viral on youtube and beyond, leading to television appearances. But you’ll enjoy her post titled, Are Asian guys good enough for you?

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 woman, who spent time in China and calls herself “the ham hunter,” is on a mission — to find the hottest Asian men, 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. This has long been known as one of the cutest blogs on this list — but after 3 years of blogging, this Swiss woman with a Chinese hubby has shifted her focus to more on travel in Asia and personal stories.

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 Business and Communication at an International College in Hangzhou, 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 and has even backed me up when I called for bloggers to write about dating Chinese men. Thanks Jo!

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. While she hasn’t updated in nearly three years, this blog still remains a favorite of mine.

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. She does a lot of posts w/ photos from their trips — such as Paris — so this is a great blog for all you armchair travelers!

*NEW* Marsha in Asia. This young African-American woman — a political science major also studying Mandarin Chinese — spent a year in China, which included some flirtations with local men.

Michelle Guo (Formerly My Beijing Survival Diary) . Michelle Chu got married last year to her Chinese beau from Henan and became Michelle Guo. While her blog topics remain eclectic, she shared a lot about her own wedding and also on being helpless in love with her Chinese husband.

*NEW* Mingbai. A Dutch woman with a Chinese husband runs a China consulting and travel business, and maintains a blog written in Dutch mainly about travel destinations in this great country.

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. They were living in Taiwan, but recently moved to Shanghai, my old stomping grounds. She also shared her story with me for Double Happiness.

Mandarin Reflections (Formerly 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. Love her post on signs that you’re dating a Chinese man. Congratulations on your recent engagement, Nathalie!

Rebekah Patton. Rebekah is raising a 12 year old boy and she writes about everything and anything going on in her life, from love to generous helpings of her Chinese cooking. Read the story she previously shared for my Double Happiness series.

*NEW* Selly’s Little World. Sarah Heintze is a German gal residing in Dublin, Ireland, but her heart belongs to “the fish,” her sweet Chinese boyfriend who lives in Shanghai, and who she often writes of in her blog. Love her recent post which highlights many of the things she cherishes about her guy. But her writing will also resonate with those of you who have had to manage a long-distance relationship.

Shandongxifu. Ericka, who used to live in Qingdao with her Shandong husband, was known by many of 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 post on strange things about English definitely made me smile). 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 made 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!).

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. Now based in Beijing, she writes about Buddhism, spirituality and martial arts, and even on dating Chinese men.

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. While they haven’t updated in nearly a year, it’s still worth a read.

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. My favorite post is Heather’s take on why Asian men are better.

UPDATES: Fixed inaccuracies in Life Behind the Wall, added Menglelan, added Chocolate Chick in China.

What do you think? What blogs did I miss?