In this episode of the Level Asian podcast, we chat with YouTuber and Influencer Amy Lyons, aka Blondie in China (@blondieinchina).
Amy shares her incredible story - finding a second home in China, without having any Asian ancestry. We chat about her experiences learning the history and culture of a country whilst travelling and working in it, the reception of her content and how foreigner privilege has reshaped her current worldview.
Amy also reveals her hottest food recommendations, favourite travel memories and advice to budding vloggers.
Enjoy the episode!
00:00 - Intro
03:12 - Amy Lyon’s Backstory
04:23 - How Amy Found Her Passion for China
07:43 - Experiences in China vs. Australia
11:36 - Visiting Shanghai, Learning Mandarin, Being a “Chinese Bridge” Contestant, Getting a Scholarship to Tsinghua University and Growing Her Social Presence
20:36 - Navigating the COVID Pandemic Through Content Creation
24:34 - Why Amy Loves China So Much
30:54 - The Privilege of Being A Foreigner in China
36:27 - Rapid Fire Questions
39:17 - Most Memorable Travel Stories
43:09 - Amy’s Favourite Places in China
48:04 - Future Plans of Expanding Outside of China!?
51:43 - Amy’s Parents’ Reaction to Her Move
54:13 - Top Recommendations for First-Time Visitors of China
58:04 - Final Pearls of Wisdom
01:01:12 - Outro
Drop us your email for updates about the show and community we’re building!