She said:

“…but anyone can write a book about their experiences and include pictures of China.”

He said:

“True, but can they capture shocking experiences in the moment, before they have become desensitized by years of exposure? You wrote, photographed, and lived….in the moment. You took the time to compile it. Only a few can do that, and now, you should share it with others….with the world.”

This conglomeration of information is not intended to demean or belittle life as it is lived in China. On the contrary, This Is China seeks to uncover the complexities of humanity as well as expose the lenses through which we view cultural norms. Even after living in China, we would never attempt to claim that we have fully discovered or can adequately display the deep historical and cultural influences that present a true picture of an entire nation. On the contrary, the exigencies of life in China are as unique as the DNA that identifies each of us.