The Beginning – The Rise of a Family.

I think I'll begin this blog series by telling you how my family came to be. I'm not talking about parents and siblings here, but rather how I met my wife, and about our first (and until now, only) child.

Having had a keen interest in China for a long time, I started writing with native Chinese through the Internet and made many friends in various Chinese cities. I wanted to experience the “real” China, its people and customs and not just be pulled around by a guide in some pre-packed deal.

Storm in the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan

So in 2006 I started my Chinese adventures and traveled to China for the first time to meet with some of those friends. At first, I didn't have a plan, just a ticket and a hotel reservation. My first destination was Wuhan, where my Chinese cultural horizons expanded exponentially.

Boy's night out in Wuhan

Meeting with the friends I'd been writing with was a great success and I learned a lot about Chinese hospitality and customs.

My other trips to Beijing and Guangzhou were also good, but not as successful (friend-wise) as my trip to Wuhan. But at least I got to see some magnificent sights.

But it was on my visit to Shanghai in 2008 that I met my future bride. I was at a birthday party when I got to talking to this girl and we just hit it off right away. Her personality pretty much mirrored my own, and the rest of my stay in Shanghai was mostly spent with her.

I came back to Shanghai in 2009 to be with her. We had been communicating with each other, through webcam, on a daily basis, and had grown very fond of each other. So fond, in fact, that when I came back in 2009, I proposed to her. She said yes.

My Wife and I on our honeymoon to Hainan

We agreed on a simple and quick wedding and got married shortly after. We had talked a lot about where we should live and agreed she would come to Denmark to live with me. Four months later I picked her up in the airport and she has been living here ever since. My wife's name is JunYan Yang, by the way, but her nickname is Juju – More easy for Westerners to pronounce.

My mother and I before my trip to Beijing

2011 was a turbulent year for us. I lost my job early in the year, but it gave me the chance to delve down into my writing. Later in the year, Juju got pregnant, but it was a joy overshadowed by my mother's cancer. My mother passed in late October, 2011, just two weeks before her 81^st birthday.

I was crushed. My mother was a big part of my life and suddenly she was gone. Had it not been for the strength and support of my wife, it would have taken me long to recover.

But slowly, I did recover. I resumed my writing and counted the days until the day arrived when our son came into this world. Monday the 14^th of May 2012, our son Draco was born. According to the Chinese Zodiac, it was the Year of the Dragon, which was the reason we chose the name Draco for him.

He was (and still is) a beautiful little boy, who would soon prove to be the bringer of great joy and laughter in the time to come.

Draco grabbing daddy's lip (and pulling)

My next blog will focus on Draco, highlighting a few of his greater moments. It will be studded with pictures and a few videos as well. See you soon and welcome to my family blog.

#family, #travel, #china, #shanghai, #marriage, #love, #baby, #writing