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Unbound Feet: a memoir
There is no way that the thirteen-year-old wallflower me could have conceived of a day when I would dance—voluntarily—in the halftime show of the Chinese University Basketball Association championship that was broadcast to millions of people. But I did. While teaching at an international university in Henan Province, I took time to re-examine all aspects of my relationships, faith, and expectations. The journey wasn’t always smooth and sometimes I felt as if I was moving backward, but I was better and stronger for the experience. When I left China in 2011, I was ready to restart my life in the United States. However, I wasn’t ready to give up the lessons I’d learned or the freedom I’d attained while living there. While I haven’t danced as much since returning stateside, every now and then the spirit moves me, and this former wallflower busts a move.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 2, 2021
3 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Kim Orendor
4 books8 followersMy online profiles will tell you I'm a writer, but I see myself more as a storyteller. I enjoy weaving a tale with the spoken and written word.
The bulk of my career has been spent watching and reporting on sporting events. I've clocked more than twenty years of experience between The Sacramento Bee and The Davis Enterprise. At The Enterprise, I won state and national writing awards and was the sports editor in charge of multiple state and national award-winning sections. I even spent a summer writing greeting cards for African American Expressions.
My career path took a dramatic turn in 2006 when I began a five-year teaching stint at Sias International University in China's Henan Province. The administration took advantage of my experience and I taught newspaper and reading classes. I was later thrilled to get to teach American Culture Through Film where I learned the universal secrets behind storytelling.
Between the symbolism learned from films and the countless lecture hours, I was primed to become an Experience Expert (aka Tour Guide) for The Broad contemporary art museum in downtown Los Angeles. In my three years at the museum, I gave numerous public and private tours of the collection. Just as I had done with athletic contests, I broke down the artwork into understandable pieces, exploring the artists and materials. My favorite tours ended with someone telling me they never thought they'd "get" modern art but my tour helped them enjoy the work.
I returned to the Sacramento area recently to become a caretaker for my father. I am once again working at The Enterprise, this time as an associate sports editor, designing pages and telling stories.
The bulk of my career has been spent watching and reporting on sporting events. I've clocked more than twenty years of experience between The Sacramento Bee and The Davis Enterprise. At The Enterprise, I won state and national writing awards and was the sports editor in charge of multiple state and national award-winning sections. I even spent a summer writing greeting cards for African American Expressions.
My career path took a dramatic turn in 2006 when I began a five-year teaching stint at Sias International University in China's Henan Province. The administration took advantage of my experience and I taught newspaper and reading classes. I was later thrilled to get to teach American Culture Through Film where I learned the universal secrets behind storytelling.
Between the symbolism learned from films and the countless lecture hours, I was primed to become an Experience Expert (aka Tour Guide) for The Broad contemporary art museum in downtown Los Angeles. In my three years at the museum, I gave numerous public and private tours of the collection. Just as I had done with athletic contests, I broke down the artwork into understandable pieces, exploring the artists and materials. My favorite tours ended with someone telling me they never thought they'd "get" modern art but my tour helped them enjoy the work.
I returned to the Sacramento area recently to become a caretaker for my father. I am once again working at The Enterprise, this time as an associate sports editor, designing pages and telling stories.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 14, 2023
What a fantastic book! Orendor's memoir about her time living in China showcases honed writing skills while balancing love with frankness--it kept me engaged the entire time. While there is much about her story that speaks to me, I find her theme of embracing the unknown and taking chances to be the most striking. Well, that and the importance of stopping for an In-N-Out burger upon returning home. I can't recommend this read enough. Orendor's wit and humor will make you want to befriend her...and you'd be all the better for it.
April 24, 2024
Exploring the intersection of Communist China and personal freedom might seem contradictory at first glance. You might be surprised what you can learn about yourself when living overseas if you only keep an open mind. I so enjoyed following Kim's journey to China and what she discovered about herself, her faith, and her priorities while living there.
Through both humorous and uncomfortable moments, she never wavers in not taking herself too seriously and finding the important lessons that are just beneath the surface. She has a refreshing humility as she shares her genuine connection with her Chinese students, their families, and the community. Her narrative is sympathetic and warm, and she weaves in humor with a deft hand.
I love this author's writing voice and am so glad she shared her transformative journey with us. We're all so much more than what our governments do or don't do, and this is a good reminder.
Through both humorous and uncomfortable moments, she never wavers in not taking herself too seriously and finding the important lessons that are just beneath the surface. She has a refreshing humility as she shares her genuine connection with her Chinese students, their families, and the community. Her narrative is sympathetic and warm, and she weaves in humor with a deft hand.
I love this author's writing voice and am so glad she shared her transformative journey with us. We're all so much more than what our governments do or don't do, and this is a good reminder.
June 11, 2025
Is it possible for the U.S. and China to co-exist amicably?
While it may not be easy to move aside our very different forms of government, Kim Orendor's beautifully written memoir of her five-year teaching stint in China's Henan Province that started in 2006, gives me hope. And this hope springs from how she connected with her students building a foundation of mutual respect, honesty, kindness, shared humor, and curiosity. As a former teacher, what I most appreciated about Kim's book is all the different ways she created learning opportunities and engaged in social activities. Her students changed for the better as did Kim. And I personally had many moments of shouting 'Eureka!
THANK YOU KIM!
Carol Remz
While it may not be easy to move aside our very different forms of government, Kim Orendor's beautifully written memoir of her five-year teaching stint in China's Henan Province that started in 2006, gives me hope. And this hope springs from how she connected with her students building a foundation of mutual respect, honesty, kindness, shared humor, and curiosity. As a former teacher, what I most appreciated about Kim's book is all the different ways she created learning opportunities and engaged in social activities. Her students changed for the better as did Kim. And I personally had many moments of shouting 'Eureka!
THANK YOU KIM!
Carol Remz
January 31, 2023
Kim's story of teaching in China was a beautiful read. I got to know her heart, her passion for writing, and how she sincerely loves those that she is with, and does so with grace. Kim lives a faith in God that does not conform to a denomination, but is a personal relationship with her Heavenly Father. I highly recommend her book!
March 17, 2024
An impossibly strong and heartwarming voice, Kim shares her 5-year journey teaching at an international University in Henan Province, China.
Kim was as surprised as her friends and family when she applied (and was selected) to teach overseas. She hadn’t ever considered a career shift until the opportunity presented itself, and even then, she wasn’t quite sure what was pulling her to apply for the position. I think she would tell you she was drawn by “the father” even if she was uncertain of their relationship at the time. I was drawn into this story for a different reason: the life it breathes and the culture it shares.
Kim shares her journey in a way in which the experience feels personal between her and the reader, like we were sitting in the sunroom sharing stories over dumplings and tea (coffee for me please!). Oh, and there was laughing.
“I loved things like these…simple things in life that reminded us that we were not so different from each other.”
Not only did Kim’s story touch my heart, but I also lived the experience through her eyes. Every feat, no matter the size, I took them as my own. She encouraged me to push my personal boundaries and to not take life so seriously; sometimes it pays off to approach a challenge with a light heart.
“I don’t know if I believe in what you’re doing, but I believe in you.”
One of my favorite aspects of the book was Kim’s relationship with her students; it wowed me. None of my experience in various levels of education has encouraged me to seek out my teachers for anything except questions about class work. Kim created bonds with her students, she mentored them, and in exchange they trusted her, seeked her advice and experience on life, and then went on to invite her into their homes and treat her as one with their families. It takes a special type of person to affect the lives of so many others. She might drop a line here about being blessed by being God’s favorite. While I’m not religious, if she believes it, I believe it of her.
I honestly believe Kim is a beautiful person whose perspective on life is guided by the kindness embedded in her heart.
Kim was as surprised as her friends and family when she applied (and was selected) to teach overseas. She hadn’t ever considered a career shift until the opportunity presented itself, and even then, she wasn’t quite sure what was pulling her to apply for the position. I think she would tell you she was drawn by “the father” even if she was uncertain of their relationship at the time. I was drawn into this story for a different reason: the life it breathes and the culture it shares.
Kim shares her journey in a way in which the experience feels personal between her and the reader, like we were sitting in the sunroom sharing stories over dumplings and tea (coffee for me please!). Oh, and there was laughing.
“I loved things like these…simple things in life that reminded us that we were not so different from each other.”
Not only did Kim’s story touch my heart, but I also lived the experience through her eyes. Every feat, no matter the size, I took them as my own. She encouraged me to push my personal boundaries and to not take life so seriously; sometimes it pays off to approach a challenge with a light heart.
“I don’t know if I believe in what you’re doing, but I believe in you.”
One of my favorite aspects of the book was Kim’s relationship with her students; it wowed me. None of my experience in various levels of education has encouraged me to seek out my teachers for anything except questions about class work. Kim created bonds with her students, she mentored them, and in exchange they trusted her, seeked her advice and experience on life, and then went on to invite her into their homes and treat her as one with their families. It takes a special type of person to affect the lives of so many others. She might drop a line here about being blessed by being God’s favorite. While I’m not religious, if she believes it, I believe it of her.
I honestly believe Kim is a beautiful person whose perspective on life is guided by the kindness embedded in her heart.
Currently reading
November 8, 2022While I put fingers to keyboard, a large part of this memoir is due to the encouragement of friends and family.
It seemed with every gathering as I started to retell my exploits of living over seas, someone would sigh and say, "For the love of Pete, please just write a book." It is possible after several years of hearing the same tales that they had grown weary, but I like to think that they were just as excited as myself to read about my adventures.
They also helped by saving emails, letters, and photos that I'd taken. These aided my memory and kept the memoir firmly on the non-fiction side. There keepsakes and my own personal journal provide me with a solid base from which to write about my five years in Central China.
If you've already read my memoir, thank you. If you haven't, I'd be honored if you put it on your "to read" shelf.
And if you'd like it on your actual shelf, here's the link to Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Unbound-Feet-F...
It seemed with every gathering as I started to retell my exploits of living over seas, someone would sigh and say, "For the love of Pete, please just write a book." It is possible after several years of hearing the same tales that they had grown weary, but I like to think that they were just as excited as myself to read about my adventures.
They also helped by saving emails, letters, and photos that I'd taken. These aided my memory and kept the memoir firmly on the non-fiction side. There keepsakes and my own personal journal provide me with a solid base from which to write about my five years in Central China.
If you've already read my memoir, thank you. If you haven't, I'd be honored if you put it on your "to read" shelf.
And if you'd like it on your actual shelf, here's the link to Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Unbound-Feet-F...
March 21, 2021
A very interesting journal of Ms. Orendor's time in China. Very good escape and opportunity to learn about China in an easy-to-read, non-political, human way.
August 26, 2024
The title led me to believe it was more about the people of China than the fact that the author had not been accustomed to dancing and learned to love it while teaching in China.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews