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Leftover Monologues Part 2 (NYC)

Daisy Sun March 10, 2018

Four years ago, I sat in a theatre in Beijing watching this incredible generation of women share their personal stories of abuse, conflicts (internal and external), pained relationships, beautiful relationships, and growth. Last month, I found myself familiarly inspired, sitting before women with stories of determination and self-discovery, brought here again by Roseann Lake -- this time at her book launch in NYC.

When asked HOW this journey had begun, Roseann provided a simple thought. "I could not understand why the talented women looked so sad after returning from the long Chinese New Year holiday. And upon asking my boss, she replied as if telling me there was no more toilet paper in the bathroom to say, 'Oh, they were not married.'  And I thought "WHAT? HOW? How could these incredible (not to mention YOUNG, INDEPENDENT, BRILLIANT) women be so sad with something like this at this day in age?!" Thus, marking the start the "Leftover" Journey ―  consisting of over over a dozen monologues, a book, and 500 interviews including, but not limited to:

  1. A high-profile detective investigating affairs
  2. Ivy, a beautiful long legged mistress, with men on men on men
  3. A student with the voice to say "Why wouldn't I like other women? Someone who would know how to touch my body as she does her own?" ― in a place where homosexuality is not allowed. 

Roseann Lake, you are a force to be reckoned with -- a soul who not only inspires, but raises the ones around you. You lead us as individuals and as women to achieve what WE want, regardless of what society may dictate. You were fascinated by the incredible women in Beijing, and you have succeeded in bringing their stories to readers all over the world.  For International Women's Day, I'd like to give you a big up for your heart and your work in Leftover in China: The Women Shaping the World's Next Superpower.

Forty years ago, China enacted the one-child policy, only recently relaxed. Among many other unintended consequences, it resulted in both an enormous gender imbalance―with a predicted twenty million more men than women of marriage age by 2020―and China’s first generations of only-daughters. Given the resources normally reserved for boys, these girls were pushed to study, excel in college, and succeed in careers, as if they were sons.

Now living in an economic powerhouse, enough of these women have decided to postpone marriage―or not marry at all―to spawn a label: "leftovers." Unprecedentedly well-educated and goal-oriented, they struggle to find partners in a society where gender roles have not evolved as vigorously as society itself, and where new professional opportunities have made women less willing to compromise their careers or concede to marriage for the sake of being wed. Further complicating their search for a mate, the vast majority of China’s single men reside in and are tied to the rural areas where they were raised. This makes them geographically, economically, and educationally incompatible with city-dwelling “leftovers,” who also face difficulty in partnering with urban men, given the urban men’s general preference for more dutiful, domesticated wives. (Source: www.roseannlake.com/book)

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Tags womensday, internationalwomensday, girlpower, beijing, roseannlake, leftovermonlogues, nyc
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Once upon Peking

Daisy Sun September 2, 2016

Some time has passed since I left my home away from home.  Here are my last shots I dug up before coming to New York -- a smattering of usual faces from my daily routines -- work and weekend market trips.  Beijing will forever be the bustling city maintaining its charm through the haze and the horns. Thank you Beijing. Your faces, streets, and sounds are forever a part of me :)

hello friend.

hello friend.

Tags beijing, beijingdaze, peking, travel, streetphotography
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iriscrystal

Great Wall at Mutianyu

Daisy Sun July 30, 2015

I never would have thought that a part of the Great Wall of China would be a place I would ever consider familiar, but alas...after almost 3 years it is! And while I've gone up many times with my dear friends, this was the first time I was able to go with my sister, Iris. 8 years in difference can seem like quite a gap when you're young, and sometimes when you're old too.  I am lucky to feel the gap closing in as time goes on.  As my dad once said, may we grow closer as we grow older.  I'm very much looking forward to the years I have ahead with you Iris. Thank you Ba Ma for setting me up with this one ;)  And thank you to the whole gang for a lovely Saturday afternoon.

“As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was going to happen.”
— ― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

Love Always, 
Daze

Tags beijing, greatwall, china, siblings, weekend, mutianyu, hiking
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Children's Day

Daisy Sun June 1, 2015

It's natural that as we spend so much of our time collaborating on various projects at work, we grow to become friends; but when we're lucky, we also grow to become a family (some would call this 缘分 yuan3fen4 -- a mix of destiny, fate, and opportunity).  Perhaps part of growing so close also comes from being in a transient city like Beijing, where it's more common to meet someone from another city, than this one itself.  Whatever the reason(s), I am grateful everyday for my home away from home.  We learn together, we grow together, and at times say goodbyes to each other, but not today :)  In celebration of Children's Day, we did quite the opposite -- by expanding our family even further with the Lowe Proferian minions along with some bubbles, magic, a semi-scary clown, and of course CAKE!!!  

Here are some snaps from Children's Day at LPTech Beijing! Enjoy :)   

“Sometimes,’ said Pooh, ‘the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”
— ― A.A. Milne aka Winnie the Pooh

Love,
Daze

Tags childrensday, loweprofero, proferotech, beijing, peking, lptech
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Team (Panda) Building

Daisy Sun December 3, 2014

Our company, Lowe Profero is a digital advertising agency, but behind it all is supported by a strong tech team that consists of .NET, PHP, and FE developers.  Until now, our Profero Tech office in Beijing was the one focused on handling the development work coming in for various projects globally.  However, with the opening of our new branch in Chengdu, we are now able to work together on a number of projects with the new team.  ANDDD what better way to celebrate then to take a trip down south to the lovely Sichuan province and spend some time with China's Giant Pandas and the entire China team?  Below are some shots from the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Conservatory.  A big thanks for my awesome team and company in taking us on such a trip :)

Some Giant panda facts:

  • Giant Pandas are listed under the World Conservation Union's Red List of Threatened Species, with an estimated 1,600 left in the wild, and 300 in captivity. 

  • Giant Pandas have a similar body typical of other bears, but since they have a diet that consists of 99% bamboo (though carnivorous), and do not hibernate, they spend most of their day resting, seeking food, or eating food. 

  • Lifestyle: Consuming 20-40 pounds of bamboo/day; 10-16 foraging or eating/day.

  • Aside from marsupials, a Giant Panda is the smallest animal born relative to its mother at 1/900th of its size!

  • Giant panda babies are born pink, blind, and hairless, and rely considerably on its mother to raise it.  Though there are up to four cubs per litter, the considerable effort it takes to raise their offspring only allows one to be kept alive in the wilderness--not to mention, they stay with their mothers for up to three years. 

    • Pandas are quite lethargic creatures, who rarely mate.  Not to mention, females only ovulate once a year, which doesn't help their staggering population.  Pandas in captivity are almost always bred by artificial insemination.  (Imagine that..waking up and realizing you're having a baby. WUT HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? IMMACULATE CONCEPTION? AM I THE NEXT MARY?) 

Not only are pandas a universal symbol of China, but a universal symbol of preservation.  I think observing animals can produce fresh perspectives on life and human nature and all respect for living things teach us things we never knew about ourselves.  Love what you are given in this life. Respect all living things.

Here are some shots from the Chengdu trip--and some very special shots of Kerwin and his daughter (but mostly his daughter).  Protect what you love :) Save the pandas. 

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Late night snacks--not panda.

Late night snacks--not panda.

“The greatness of a nation and moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
— Indira Gandhi

Love,
Daze


In Travel Tags LPTech, beijingdaze, beijing, panda, conservation, travel, teambuilding, endangered
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