Drift to Shift

We didn’t exactly sit down and plan a 1.5-month adventure. It started with a problem: we couldn’t move into our new rental in Singapore until mid-February, thanks to the joy that is international relocation. With two kids who’d never been to China, Spring Festival just around the corner, and a restless mom (me) itching for movement—it turned into the perfect excuse for a grand detour. When my parents offered to drive their car from Henan to join us in Yunnan for part of the trip, it felt like the perfect setup—I could travel, the kids could explore their roots, and I’d have some much-needed help wrangling a toddler and a baby. Initially, Yunnan was a weather-based decision. Traveling with two little ones is chaotic enough—I didn’t want to toss winter sniffles into our travel chaos. The promise of sunshine and mild weather made Yunnan an obvious choice. After enjoying Yunnan's natural beauty and delicious food, we didn’t want the adventure to end just yet. So instead of flying bac...

Change has been a constant theme in my life, shaping who I am and where I stand today. Growing up in a densely populated, historic city in northern China, I always dreamt of exploring the world beyond my hometown. My journey took me from Sun Yat-sen University in southern China to the United States, where I pursued my passion for biology and eventually found my calling in bioinformatics and data science. Each step was a leap into the unknown, fueled by curiosity and the desire to grow. Relocating to Singapore with my family felt like another chapter in this journey of change. It wasn’t just a physical move; it was an opportunity to reassess my priorities and explore new possibilities. After years of dedicating myself to a career I loved, I found myself craving something different — the chance to travel, spend more time with family, and embrace the unpredictability of life, even if that meant occasionally forgetting what day of the week it is. Drifting isn’t about being lost; it’s a...