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

What does it mean to walk in the footsteps of an ancestor whose life connected China and America more than a century ago?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.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.Links from the episode:“When I was a boy in China” by Yan Phou Lee | Project Gutenbert and AmazonMandarin Companion Graded Readers