About
My Story
Hello there, I'm Crys. As a first-generation American with Chinese roots, I spent my childhood amidst the hustle and bustle of New York City. Now in my thirties, life remains an intriguing puzzle that I piece together day by day. My professional path has zigzagged from the structured world of corporate life to the energetic pulse of start-up and back again, each turn teaching me that my true calling is still out there, waiting to be discovered.
Admittedly, there's a vast expanse of things I'm still learning, and I embrace the journey with open arms. What I do bring to the table is a wealth of experience and a heart open to sharing and growing together. Let's embark on this journey of mutual discovery and spread a little joy along the way. xx
A little more about my journey of how I got here....
Expatriate
"Do you really want to tell your grandchildren that grandma was born, raised, and lived her whole life here?" - A friend said that to me and it hit me really hard.
I've lived in NYC my whole life up until then. So I decided to pack up and try somewhere different - I chose a city on the other side of the world: the vibrant city of Hong Kong.
I quit my job in November 2016 with no job lined up, told my family and friends, bought a one-way ticket and officially moved there in January 2017.
It was the best decision I ever made.
Hong Kong allowed me to learn to be independent, immerse into different cultures, experience being the 'majority', meet new people (who have become my lifelong friends), see the world from a different perspective, and travel... A LOT!
Transplant
When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.
In 2020, I went home to visit my parents in NY and I found myself locked down and quarantined with no flights back to Hong Kong.
So just like that, I unintentionally moved back to NYC with most of my life packed in a storage facility in HK. It took some time to adjust back to the American life. After the reverse culture shock settled and about 2.5 years later, I met my Midwestern boyfriend who, thankfully loves to travel almost as much as me.
We decided in early 2024 that we would take a hiatus from the city's hustle and bustle and move to his countryside hometown in Southwest Indiana. (And to note, up until meeting him, I had never been to the Midwest, let alone Indiana.)
And so this site was formed - kicked off the heels, bought some boots and continue to plan our next travel adventures together.
I still bounce back and forth between the city and the countryside - I am a city girl at heart after all, but a little fresh air is good for the soul too!
Travels
Don't count countries, count the experiences.
My love affair with travel began in the cradle, fostered by my parents who loved to travel and instilled in me the value of worldly experiences. From an early age, I've been a companion of the road, a tiny traveller in the making, if you will.
There was always a taboo of travelling alone, so up until I was in my 20s, I was either on trips with my family or friends. When it started to get harder and harder to plan around everyone's schedule, I decided to break free from the constraints and set out solo. Paris and Amsterdam were my first escapades on this new path, which left me hooked on the thrill of solo travel, a passion that propelled me from the cobblestones of Europe to the sands of the UAE and the vistas of Asia.
Travelling alone, with a partner, or amidst a group, each holds its own charm. I've wandered through the same cities by myself and with others, finding fresh wonders each time. For me, the essence of travelling isn't in tallying countries but in cherishing the lessons learnt, the friendships forged, the myriad flavours savoured, the cultures embraced, and the clever little travel tricks discovered.
My bucket list of destinations continues to grow, and with it grows the possibility of once again embracing an expatriate life. As I go through this journey, I hope that I can share my stories to help inspire other travellers to realise the beauty this world has to offer.