What’s in a name?

My childhood nickname is “jiajia”, the me my extended family knows. In China, many families give their kids a small name，“小名” and also a formal name，“ 大名“. The small name is used with endearment and embodies you in a nutshell.

Jiajia is a version of me that was born in Tongren, China, and grew up surrounded by extended family who loved me, doted on me, and put up with my mischievous antics.

That part of me exists in my childhood memory but lives on distinctly with my relatives. She also exists in a time where my maternal grandparents continue to laugh and exasperate.

Now I live in North America and this is my creative outlet. I believe in the power of long format writing, exploring food culture as a doorway to identities, scent as a pathway to triggering old memories, and embracing dialogues with people from all walks of life.
My motto is to be curious, stay curious, and explore.

Molton would never give up or stop exploring, so neither should I.