Following a Century-Old Path to China: Ben Lee and the Legacy That Led Him Back

<p>What does it mean to walk in the footsteps of an ancestor whose life connected China and America more than a century ago?</p><p>In this episode, Ben Lee shares how moving to Wuhan in 1992 pushed him to learn Chinese for survival—and eventually led him back to a remarkable family legacy. His great-grandfather was part of the Qing Dynasty’s Chinese Educational Mission, became an early voice in Chinese American literature, and even crossed paths with Mark Twain.</p><p>Ben and Jared explore heritage, identity, education, and the lifelong rewards of learning Chinese. Ben also shares practical advice for learners, including why the best approach is simple: start, keep going, and accept that there will always be more to learn.</p><p><strong>Links from the episode:</strong></p><ul><li><p>“When I was a boy in China” by Yan Phou Lee | <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/74717"><u>Project Gutenbert</u></a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DNB499MM/?tag=wwwmandarin00-20"><u>Amazon</u></a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://mandarincompanion.com/products/"><u>Mandarin Companion Graded Readers</u></a><br></p></li></ul>