Happy new year friends,

In December I went to back to China for a few weeks. It’s almost been 10 years since I last visited, it’s been hard to find time with the pandemic and work.

I had a lot of waiting time in train stations, so I did some quick sketches in my phone’s notes app. I added some colour when I got back to Canada.

This was my first time being back on my own, and I brought my partner with me. Growing up in Canada, my only experience of Chinese culture was through my parents and grandparents and I wanted to see how I fared by myself. I have to say it was a bit of a shock without the buffer, along with bringing someone on their first visit. I set very high expectations on myself to know how to get around and get things done, just because I look and speak like everyone else.

A highlight was meeting my grandpa’s family in Yixing, a small city outside of Shanghai which is well-known for their purple clay pottery. They make and sell teapots and pots by hand, and my aunt showed us how to make a teapot.

This year, I’m trying to be more consistent with writing and drawing for myself. I think I’ve bogged myself down the past couple of years – thinking what’s the point, who will see this anyways, or that I’m just too tired.

I’m trying to see creating more as an act of resistance in this hellscape, and if I feel like making silly things, it doesn’t need to make sense to others. I don’t need to share everything, and that’s a relief!

I think this podcast episode from Anna Howard summarizes well the vibe I’m trying to keep this year.

How do you stay curious?

I hope you’re staying warm and taking care!