Comments on: Yuan Fen

By: FlyingHoboGirl

FlyingHoboGirl — Wed, 02 May 2012 22:09:58 +0000

It takes all the angst out of trying to figure out what went wrong with a relationship … simply “thin yuan fen.” Love it.

By: Willow

Willow — Wed, 02 May 2012 19:19:53 +0000

This concept exists in Japan too. You have an ‘en’ with certain people. This is what kept me in japan for so long–the people I connected deeply with and the culture that embraces this concept. Great writing.

By: mariabitarello

mariabitarello — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 19:07:39 +0000

I really love this concept, too, Chris… I had never heard of it before, and indeed it does fill a grammatical gap…. It’s a beautiful essay. And as has become quite common now that I’m reading through all of your biotruck blog posts, you’ve moved me, yet again. It usually catches me off guard. I sense you going one way, suddenly you turn around and are standing right behind me. And I feel my eyes flooding. It’s no easy feat, bringing this kind of emotional reaction upon your readers…. it’s a privilege for us. Thank you again.

By: Glenn A. Whittington

Glenn A. Whittington — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 01:11:40 +0000

I happened on your essay by chance. Because I have suffered my own “fate without destiny”, yuan fen fascinates me. I am American, and I met and married a beautiful Chongqing girl. It took us over two grueling years to navigate the U.S. immigration morass, and we finally got her visa. Six weeks before she was to fly to me, she suffered sudden cardiac arrest, and she never regained consciousness. We were married two and a half years, and we only got to physically be together (before her cardiac arrest) for nine glorious weeks. I spent two months with her (as she lay comatose) at hospitals in Chongqing. She has been gone for a year and a half now, and I still grieve. I wanted to expat to China, but Hongmei insisted she experience living in America. It was yuan fen that brought us together to love each other. It was fate without destiny that ended our love (and Hongmei’s life) prematurely.

Your essay touched me.

You are gifted.

Sincerely yours,

Glenn A. Whittington

By: elizabeth bretko

elizabeth bretko — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 18:16:00 +0000

I love this one, warm tears of love on a very snowy day here, thanks!

By: Brandon Breen

Brandon Breen — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 02:45:25 +0000

Excellent essay, Yuan Fen, beautiful. It’s fascinating how through conversation with newly met people from another culture you can come across a nugget of truth like “have fate without destiny”, so succinct, so real.

By: Trey Hackney

Trey Hackney — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 23:33:39 +0000

bravo Chris! as always, beautifully written. thanks for sharing your heart, experiences and talent. reading your words is like getting on a really fun ride at an amusement park: the flow, the twists and turns, the surprises, and it all comes around in the end and leaves me with a sense of thrill, and a smile. thanks friend, and keep peeking around every corner you can find, living, loving, and learning. hats off to you. proud to be your friend, and always a fan, trey

By: Nagaji

Nagaji — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 20:04:17 +0000

One of your best essays ever. I’ll forward it to Don George, maybe he’ll have some ideas wher it might be published….

Yours in Yuan Eel Fen, J

By: jeanine sturm

jeanine sturm — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:29:05 +0000

The glory of adventure written succinctly into an essay! It’s like throwing yourself toward your fate. I’m grateful to have yuan fen with you, my friend.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 07:42:08 +0000

I want to wrap this story up with a bow on top and leave it under a Christmas tree as a gift to make someone else happy the way it’s made me happy. You’ve captured a great travel adventure-made friendship.