Of all of my trips to China, no picture has elicited more comments and envy than this one of me with a panda. For context, I was in Chengdu for an academic conference to present a scholarly paper and deliver a guest lecture.  Before I left on my trip, my son asked if I could bring him back a panda — a real one.

I told him that this would be quite impossible, but that I would do my best to talk to one while I was in Chengdu. After I got my opportunity to sit with a panda, I e-mailed the picture to my wife and son.

My son reiterated his demand that after my conference that I somehow find a way to bring a real panda back home. I again reminded him that this was impossible, but that I would bring home a stuffed panda bear and panda gifts. 

He reluctantly agreed to this compromise. His stuffed panda bear still sits on a shelf in his room today — next to a picture of me the day that I met a panda in Chengdu.