Alexandra Sieh,
American living in the Haidian District of Beijing, China
From her childhood home to the apartments of her college and post-graduate years, Alexandra toted a wall world map with her. She'd pin it up and while away the hours daydreaming about what adventures she would take when she had the money and the time. Through organized high school programs, she had traveled through Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic, and then traipsed around Ireland and England a few years later. Canada was crossed off the list thanks to her sister's conveniently located home in Bellingham, Wash. (just a quick drive from the northern border).
The passport was filling up, and after graduating from a Colorado university with degrees in journalism and English literature, she signed on for a few years with a newspaper company in Boulder, Colo. She designed front pages for various newspapers and wrote columns about nightlife specials and brewery events. A Coloradan born and raised, Alexandra was a bit late to the outdoors scene, having rarely hiked before the age of 22. But once she hit the trails, it was hard to keep her from a quick jaunt of to Bear Peak or setting out on I-70 for her next 14er climb in the Rocky Mountains. The beauty of the struggle and the serenity at the summit were the natural highs that kept her sanity in tact. That and craft beer, of course.
Asia, though, was never part of the plan until one of Alexandra's close friends invited her to join a start-up English school he helped run in Beijing, China. The timing was perfect – with no mortgage, no relationship and a growing desire to travel, Alexandra was ready for a change. So she packed up life in Colorado, wished her family, friends and beloved mountains a fond farewell, and headed out on a new adventure. Daily life has gone from routine to unpredictable, and Alexandra is excited to share her experiences from a district nestled in one of the world's largest cities.
Connect with Alexandra:
a[email protected] (email) || @BASEDhaidian (Twitter) || ansieh (Instagram)
The passport was filling up, and after graduating from a Colorado university with degrees in journalism and English literature, she signed on for a few years with a newspaper company in Boulder, Colo. She designed front pages for various newspapers and wrote columns about nightlife specials and brewery events. A Coloradan born and raised, Alexandra was a bit late to the outdoors scene, having rarely hiked before the age of 22. But once she hit the trails, it was hard to keep her from a quick jaunt of to Bear Peak or setting out on I-70 for her next 14er climb in the Rocky Mountains. The beauty of the struggle and the serenity at the summit were the natural highs that kept her sanity in tact. That and craft beer, of course.
Asia, though, was never part of the plan until one of Alexandra's close friends invited her to join a start-up English school he helped run in Beijing, China. The timing was perfect – with no mortgage, no relationship and a growing desire to travel, Alexandra was ready for a change. So she packed up life in Colorado, wished her family, friends and beloved mountains a fond farewell, and headed out on a new adventure. Daily life has gone from routine to unpredictable, and Alexandra is excited to share her experiences from a district nestled in one of the world's largest cities.
Connect with Alexandra:
a[email protected] (email) || @BASEDhaidian (Twitter) || ansieh (Instagram)
#BASEDtraveler || Follow Along on Instagram
Alexandra is always on the go. One day, she's hiking in the mountains north of Beijing. The next, she'll be exploring the hutong, snapping photos of the beautiful urban decay. When she's saved enough, it's off to Hong Kong or Vietnam, exploring all Asia has to offer. Follow along with her adventures on Instagram. Better yet, add #BASEDtraveler and join our expat-local community. You - along with other expat-locals living abroad - will come together in a stream of gorgeous photos sure to inspire our next plane ticket purchase. (Connect with Emily in Malta, too.)