Jonathan Alexander Smith

Death and taxes. Taxes and death. Taxed until you die. Perhaps we don’t remind ourselves enough of Benjamin Franklin’s words; that these are the only two true things certain in life. Hearing this as a teenager, I recall wondering...

August in Nanjing defies expectations: extreme heat replaces mild warmth, disrupting normalcy and comfort. Nanjing's summer is unbearably hot, surpassing other global hotspots with its intense, humid 38°C (feels like 48°C). Winter in Nanjing offers little relief, as indoor heating makes...

The one overarching word that sums up my experience in Nanjing; convenient. A convenience that has its roots in speed. The Real Fast Life. Everything, everywhere, as soon as you want it. In essence; haste, hurry  and “fast-ness” (to...