Barbara and Stuart Strother first visited China in 1993 on a study abroad trip, and have been traveling and working in China ever since. While the rest of the world counted down to the new millennium, the Strothers were counting the days until their big move to Shanghai with their twin two-year-olds. The foursome arrived late on the eve of the Chinese New Year to a city exploding with celebratory fireworks. In Shanghai, they taught at a private Chinese school, an American international school, and local colleges, while also running a teacher recruitment business.

Today, the Strothers split their year between teaching at Azusa Pacific University in Southern California and leading a variety of travel-study programs to China for MBAs and undergraduate business majors. Stuart is a professor of economics and Barbara specializes in global business topics.

Barbara's passions include photography, world music, and reading travelogues. Stuart's hobbies are surfing and shooting hoops; he has been rooting for Yao Ming ever since watching Yao play for the Shanghai Sharks.