CHINA
Country Overview:
"A land of contrasts, where ancient traditions meet rapid modernization, and delectable cuisine coexists with complex political realities."
My seven-year journey in China, from May 2013 to August 2020, was a whirlwind of experiences. I taught English, pursued my Master's in Politics & Foreign Policy at the prestigious Tsinghua University, and immersed myself in the media landscape at China Today and Xinhua News Agency. Beijing was my home base, but my travels painted a vibrant tapestry of China's diverse landscapes and cultures: the bustling metropolis of Shanghai, the historic city of Xi'an, the tropical paradise of Sanya, the unique blend of East and West in Macau and Hong Kong, and countless other destinations in between. From savoring the exquisite flavors of regional cuisines to navigating the intricacies of daily life under a distinct political system, China left an indelible mark on me.
Subway - Line 15
This is one of the newer subway lines at 3pm on a Saturday. It will be packed by 5-6pm
Give it a rest
As I sit in Subway (restaurant), multiple people, when at the veggie stage, are saying "I want this, I don't want that", which is completely unnecessary. Just say what you want and move on! I could understand if they said "I want everything, except_____". But no, they are going row by row and choosing yes or no. If this doesn't explain Chinese people's inefficiency, I don't know what does
I just moved apartments this morning and then headed to work leaving a mess of a room. Please excuse my irritability.
So the pin is where I’m at in Beijing. I live in ‘Sihui Dong’, which is a transfer station between Line 1 and the Batong Line. I work in 'Shuangjing’ which is on line 10. It’s about a half hour subway commute, which isn’t so bad, but it’s going to get boring real quick. Beijing is huge. I often look at the subway map and realize that between only 3-4 stations is a matter of 25-30 minutes. As soon as I get paid, I’m off to the motorcycle market.
First few days in Beijing, China
Guy in my training class is from Cuba and of course, he only wants to speak Spanish with me. He’s been in and out of China for quite some time, speaks great Chinese and has taken it upon himself to be my official city guide. Rode a subway for the first time today after getting directions in Spanish from a girl from Spain. What are the odds? The Subway system here is phenomenal. I can get anywhere I want to go in a matter of minutes for around 30 cents. I don’t think I’ll ever take a taxi again.
I’m definitely spelling this wrong but Beijing has really old parts of the city called ‘Hu-toons’ (?) and they are exactly what you would imagine when China still had emperors. It was cool to see a different side of Beijing rather than giant skyscrapers and loud streets.