I am a waiguoren in Shunyi. My name is Dana.

Just like a lot of you residents of the Beijing ‘burbs, I have moved here with my family for my husband’s job. We came to China nearly two years ago. China is home – for now.

Home is shared with P, my husband of eighteen years, our two sons G (15) and P (9). There is also Rusty, the dog, who moved with us.

Beijing is not our first experience of living away from home.Since 2000, we have lived in four countries, have had five international moves (twice to the same country), set up six homes, are now in our seventh school, and (among the four humans) try to stay standing on eight legs.

My boys and I are huge fans of music, photography, film and theater. Oh, and good food.

Let me introduce myself further:

My name is Dana
That rhymes with banana
I am Filipina
True blue Manileña

Halfway across the world
We found ourselves hurled
And living in Paris
Where I was swamped with worries

The only French I knew was "bonjour"
And even back then I was pretty sure
I would need to know much more
Just to navigate the grocery store

But the language wasn’t all
We endured a mighty fall
From a very pampered life
I had to learn to be a housewife

Thank goodness for croissants
They kept me cognizant
That there was still a lot around me
And finding happiness was key

To have a semblance of a home
So your heart doesn’t always roam
In that awful, awful space
Where you are in neither place

Both cities are now yours
And accepting this opens doors
To so much that can be done
And knowing you are not the only one

We all have gone through this
Frustration, then hope, then bliss
And let’s not fool ourselves one moment
That all days will feel heaven-sent

It will always be a jumble
We’ll be happy and we’ll grumble
But it’s all a part of the life
Of the expat trailing wife

So where was I? Oh yes
This crazy, mixed-up mess
Of who we were and who we are
And who we will be in years afar

We’re putting it all together now
And learning and growing somehow
And one day we’ll pack up and move on
And start all over from square one

My name is Dana
That rhymes with banana
I work damn hard on finding my bliss
You’ll find yours too, I am sure of this

Photo by Paolo Mercado

Dana is the beijingkids‘ Shunyi Correspondent. Originally from the Philippines, she moved to Beijing via Europe in 2011 with her husband, two sons and Rusty the dog. She enjoys writing, photography, theater, visual arts, and trying new food. In her free time, she can be found exploring the city and driving along the mountains roads of Huairou, Miyun and Pinggu.