Following a tradition that I practice in my normal, non-internet life, I’ve decided to write all of you a quick Christmas letter wrapping up the year 2009. It’s been an eventful year to say the least, full of surprises and quite a few changes, and it is one that I believe will forever be remembered as a turning point in China’s mysterious relationship with this region.

I began this year ignorantly optimistic about any reported problems or tensions in Xinjiang.  So convinced was I that I even wrote a post back in January attacking a Times Online article that had named the Xinjiang region as “potentially explosive” in 2009.  The writer (who I now deem a prophet – he even predicted the problem in the Philippines in that same article) said that an “ethnic rebellion” would probably “provoke a violent response from the Chinese government”.  As I re-read my article, entitled “Will 2009 be an Explosive Year for Xinjiang?“, I have to say that eating my own words never tasted so bitter.

This year there was also a lot of focus on the city of Kashgar.  I first described my visit to Kashgar’s Old City completely oblivious to its impending destruction, although a couple months later I hinted at the problems while contemplating the odd Mao Statue in the center of town.  Soon thereafter the bulldozers began their work and I tried my best to analize the aweful situation in one of this year’s most linked-to posts (Kashgar’s Old Town Bulldozed; Is Uyghur Culture in Danger?).  To my surprise, this story is still being written about and discussed even though the actual destruction is mostly finished.

On a lighter note I took the opportunity this year to dabble in photography.  I don’t have a nice camera and I’ve never taken classes but I believe it’s hard to mess up a place like Xinjiang.  My ongoing Picture of the Week series produced quite a few pictures that I think turned out well.  My favorite of all of these happens to be a shot of my home here in Xinjiang, a small city called Karamay that is located north of Urumqi.  Check out the incredible contrast between barren desert and booming city.

In July, as you should know, riots in Urumqi shut down the province and its internet.  The first few weeks of that entire ordeal were difficult but since then things have returned to normal (with the exception of the internet).  Despite pleas from friends back at home we are not anxious to leave the province.

Despite all of this Xinjiang still provides plenty of entertainment for my wife and I.  Whether its a funny health notice telling me how to avoid going bald, a kid mistaking a thermometer for a brainwasher, or our new dog becoming a legalized citizen, I have plenty to laugh about.

But best of all I’m happy about this year because it is ending with my family joining me for Christmas.  This would have been my 4th Christmas away from family, but they decided to travel all the way out to Xinjiang and visit our home.  For us, this is going to be the most memorable Christmas yet.  I hope that each of you is able to spend this holiday with people you love and I wish you a wonderful season and a happy New Year.

Thanks so much for reading and have a Merry Christmas!