About

I’m an American currently living in China. I first arrived in Shanghai pre-pandemic to attend university, but left for Christmas break and didn’t return until fall 2023 for my final semester. I liked it here and ended up sticking around. Before 2023 I did a semester in Italy and traveled around Europe a bit. I also lived in NYC for a year. Since 2023 I’ve traveled to many places in Asia and around China.

Throughout my travels I made countless itineraries and thoroughly researched these places—or so I thought. Every time I go somewhere, there’s always something left out, something I missed, or something no one mentioned.

As for traveling in China, much of it remains a mystery to the English-speaking community—there isn’t much readily available information online. Most info is published on WeChat or 小红书 (Little Red Book), platforms many foreigners aren’t used to.

To help people avoid these small hiccups, I started Realist Abroad so you can skip the headaches. I keep it real (and biased)—hence “Realist”—based on my experiences. I hope this blog helps you avoid mistakes so your trip is more enjoyable. I’ll share what I truly thought was worthwhile, what wasn’t, and what you should be aware of so you can make smarter decisions planning your trip. I also share a bit about traveling within China—the things I discovered and what you should know—as well as small daily-life tips about being an expat.

This blog is just a hobby but, I hope it helps someone in need!