Lu-Hai Liang

Let me try and define it.

You go to a country. You might stay long. Or not for long before returning ‘home’.

You’re in China. In Beijing. And you explore the society and journalism topics about it all, and you pitch and write about them, about China. You grow your list of clients. But you’re also interested in South Korea. About their hi-tech but traditional society. So you read up about it. Maybe make some Korean friends. To ask questions.

Then maybe you hit on something you find fascinating. And salable. An idea you can sell. So you find contacts and maybe a Korean translator with journalism experience. You sell the idea. You book a ticket to Seoul. You find other ideas to make it worth your while. And you do your reporting while gazing at the skyscrapers and wacky advertisements and strutting South Korean girls in their converse shoes, miniskirts and perfectly arrayed hair.

Yes, you look a lot at those girls. Somehow exotic and yet familiar.

You do your reporting and you jet back ‘home’.

You become known for your interesting subjects and your unique take on China. You are also noted for your diversity (South Korea, maybe Japan and south-east Asia too).

You stay a year in China.

You become ‘famous’.

You decide to go to Brazil.

Because why not.

It’s lovely, the sand is warm. And heard you something about the…

For part two in this series go here