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.
Beijing Sights
Beijing is a weird city. Many of the buildings are plain, and when passing by them, you wouldn't think twice about taking a picture of them. Then, almost as if out of nowhere, you ride past buildings like these, that have probably been here for longer than most people in the city have been alive. For me, that's a definite plus to living in this crazy metropolis. There is such a mix of modern and traditional architecture which makes for a nice aesthetic when cruising through the streets.
Pollution Haiku
Dark, grey, and hazy
The sun isn't visible
Hello pollution
Just for the record, the Air Quality Index (AQI) goes from 1-500. Beijing consistently breaks it
Being Fat in China
I wrote an article for eChinacities titled, "The Trials of Being Fat in China". Check it out here
Prez For Life
So recently, during the Two Sessions here in Beijing, China changed their constitution, getting rid of term limits for the president. Originally established by Deng Xiaoping, the term limits, 2 terms of 5 years each, were set in place to avoid another Mao incident. It worked for a few decades, and then along came Xi. Consolidating his power, getting rid of rivals through "handling corruption", and now abolishing term limits, Xi is here to stay.
I've talked with many Chinese about their thoughts on this and they are all supportive of it. I can't be sure of the genuineness of their answer, or if they just don't dare speak their mind in a country where those who do tend to be met with consequences. "We're updating the constitution", "It's refreshing", "The modern age requires it" are all justifications for what has happened. For me, it's frightening. I don't trust China and now that the leader, one who has increased censorship during his time in office, has put himself in place to never be politically challenged, I think it's time for me to start thinking about my departure.
The United States is not perfect, and to be sure, there is a lot of political bullshit, but at the very least, we have a system of checks and balances. China's NPC is very much a rubber-stamp meant to approve whatever Xi and the Politburo place before them. I don't trust China because I think the country is very manipulative. One example of this is during the Two Sessions, many foreign press were invited and placed at the front of the room when the Premier and other ministers were scheduled for interviews. However, they weren't allowed to ask questions because questions needed to first be vetted (read: they wanted softball questions from domestic reporters). The only reason foreign journalists were invited was because when televised, it would make the Two Sessions look like it was important on an international scale because "Hey look, white people are here".
If all goes according to plan, I plan to leave China around July 2019. I don't know where I'll go, or what I'll do, but Beijing is wearing me out and I think it's important to make a change in my life before I turn 30. There's still a long way to go before then, so I'll wait before I get sentimental. For now, I'm keeping my eye on my goals, and the Chinese government. It will definitely be an interesting next couple of years in China, but I hope I'm not here to see them.
Happy Women's Day - 中国妇女日!
Happy Women's day to women all over the world. Mothers, sisters, daughters, friends, grandmothers, wives, and girlfriends -- much love for all that you are and all that you do.
Beijing Streets
A taxi driver slams on his horn as if the sound alone will cause the pile of cars in front of him to move. A group of middle-aged women dressed in 90’s style parkas inch their way across the street, causing the turning cars to slam on their brakes. The gaggle of women don’t have a walk signal, but wherever they’re going is surely more important than everyone else. The crosswalk begin to pile up with people on both corners, who, as a group, slowly begin to make their way onto the street in anticipation of the light changing. This, however, causes the cars who have a ‘right on red’ to blare their horn to no effect - the group is immune to such noises. The light finally turns to a green man and the mob makes their way across the street as small, rickety vehicles whiz by in search of the addresses where they need to deliver their packages. Welcome to a weekday morning in Beijing.
The streets are loud, unnecessarily so. People are yelling, radios are on full blast, horns blare out, and the sound of electric scooters, old bicycles, and motorcycles only add to the cacophony. Winter is the worst because on top of the traffic congestion, everyone is wearing big hats, mittens, scarves, and thick coats, essentially rendering them immobile on their chosen means of transportation. Before they turn a corner, there is no turn signal nor glance of the eye to see if it’s clear. It’s like playing Frogger, but your not only the frog, but also one of the trucks who needs to watch out for other trucks.
Huge busses swerve in and out of traffic to pull up to the bus stop, packing in more people than they had ever anticipated when building these things. With no regard for oncoming traffic, the bus jolts back into traffic while taxis and other cars slam on their brakes. For as integral as the public bus system is in China, it’s odd that busses don’t have their own private lanes yet. There also seems to be a hierarchy on the road, and that hierarchy is based on size. Busses rule the roads, with cars coming in second, followed by package delivery vehicles, motorcycles, electric scooters, bicyclists, and last, the lowly pedestrian. If you don’t yield to whatever vehicle is bigger than yours, you’re going to get hurt, because they most certainly won’t yield to you.
The streets of Beijing are a unique beast, but with enough experience and practice, they too can be managed. Through trial & error, yelling at other pedestrians, and discerning looks from cars, figuring out how to navigate through Beijing is unquestionably one of the many learning curves this city presents, but certainly not the most challenging.
Put It Out There
For whatever reason, I've always believed that if you put something out into the universe, it will respond. I see it more as an exchange of information. People will relevant information to your request will respond in kind. As such, here goes nothing. I have finished my 93,000 word dystopian novel, Contraception, and am currently seeking representation. I have started the query process, which so far has been tedious, but I've always been a fan of busy work. It is with high hopes that I aim to find a book agent and then a publishing deal, but if all else fails - I'll self-publish. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.
