Hi...thanks for stopping by. My name is Kristin Bair O’Keeffe. For many years, I was simply Kristin Bair, but back in February 2006, I got married and added the “O’Keeffe” to my name.

Anyway, that’s me up there...the one in the veil. And that’s Andrew, my new husband.

Six weeks after we got married, we moved to Shanghai, China, and I officially became what is known as a “trailing spouse.” Here, in this bustling hive, we’ll spend the next two years. Andrew will continue his work with the company that moved us here, and I’ll keep writing.

Oh yeah, I’m a writer, which is probably why this trailing spouse thing agrees with me. I mean, what writer wouldn’t want to be offered the chance to live in a new culture on the other side of the world with all the time in the world to write?

Of course, “trailing spouse” isn’t exactly a term that conjures positive thoughts.

“A what?” I said to Andrew when he first worked this term into a conversation.

“A trailing spouse,” he said, smiling. (He loves saying that out loud.) “It’s what they call all spouses who accompany their others on international assignments.”

I threw back my head and laughed. “Trailing is not an adjective that has ever, as far as I know, been applied to me. Quirky, different, creative, adventurous, brave, curious (even annoying, from time to time), but trailing?

Anyway, our adventure is in full swing. Check it out! Let’s see where this trailing leads me.

NOTE: Photos are now linked to corresponding blog pages. Just click on the

when you see it. (Click this one for a surprise.)