America is a casino and I am still here rolling the dice.
On witnessing and embodying history.
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I write about many things personal: growing up in China and finding home in the U.S., the bittersweetness of a life between two cultures, and the stories that gave me strength along the way, from books, films, and real life.
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The Election Tuesday was a remote work day for me, but I came into the office. I couldn’t bear spending the day sitting alone at home.
That evening, I baked for the first time this year, to distract myself from the results. I didn’t plan, so I just went with my go-to yogurt cake recipe, using the simplest ingredients: olive oil, Greek yogurt, sugar, salt, baking soda, baking powder, vanilla extract (optional), and flour.
The cake came out of the oven around 9 p.m. Pacific, just as the results became clear. The recipe says to let the cake cool to room temperature before eating. I left it on the counter for 10 minutes, then cut a small slice to share with my husband before going to bed.
Coming from a country where political campaigns do not exist, watching the U.S. election is always exhilarating - from the news and analysis leading up to it to the post-election commentary, and then the primary cycle starting all over again. It’s like watching the World Cup or the Olympics. I am on the sidelines, but it’s exciting nonetheless.
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