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Published: February 28th 2008
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Auvergne mountains
Soft and golden hills of our Auvergne paradise Hello family, friends and blog readers of the world,
Apologies first: it has been almost…7 months (hum) since my last note on my blog, but we are still here in Beijing and doing well.
Last summer in France, we celebrated my inlaws 50th wedding anniversary with brothers, sisters and cousins. On the warmest day of the summer, the 5th of August 07, we went to the 'Château de Codignat' a castle near Courpière and enjoyed great surroundings and especially good french food. Beautiful landscapes, great pure air, Saint Nectaire, tarte aux myrtilles, freshly picked mushrooms did the rest and we were ready for a new year in Beijing! (let's be positive!)
September came and a new school year for kids. Still at the 'Lycée Français International de Pékin', Marie doing her 2nd year of Junior High (5ème), Leila her last year of primary (CM2) and his 2nd year of Primary (CE1). Marie and Leila are the usual independent and dedicated students; Léo made lots of efforts with concentration. And from the day he turned 8, he seems to have understood which way things have to go! Now all cruising towards the end of the school year... The new thing for
Marie, Leila & Léo
Our kids cycling through Tiana'men Square them was to have their mum (me!) in the school with them very often: I am teaching English and geography in English to primary kids (6 to 11 years old). It is a lot of fun and I really enjoy it! Of course, it is very French to French relationships and I don't have much time and opportunities to walk about in Beijing, but the students here have travelled a lot around the world, so it is fun to share this experience with them. And I get to be at home in the evening and on holiday with my own children, which I think is worth more than anything!
I thought I would share with you my interest in construction sites...I bring you some of my favorite pictures...If you want to know Beijing, well THIS IS IT! Construction sites are all over! There is one building site which I call 'MINE': it stands right in front of the window where my desk is (50 meters) and I have been following closely the changes happening there. Fortunately, my windows are sound proof! It is called changing a enemy into a friend! I like to see the buildings coming out and shooting
'My' construction site 4 months
The building suddenly appeared from underneath the ground! towards the sky, this is what is happening here! All over! They are all supposed to be finished for the Olympics! Will they??? I have doubts. The facades will be done, nice and shining...but not much done inside! That is something quite common here: outside looks smart, inside well...!!!(I'm sure I'll get some comments by readers on this one, I don't mind, I quite like them actually).
Coming back to last fall, we made two family excursions to the mountains north of Beijing. First of all to Xian Tun, where Leila and her class (and me as an accompanying parent) went on a school trip last year. The place is very rural, a tiny village with a few houses, no shops, and a small ecotourism project just starting. Local people are farmers, they grow chestnuts, apples, pick up mushrooms and breathe nice clean air! The other excursion was to one of the mountain gorge where they have built a dam, a ski slope and a bundgy jumping tower over the water...Marc and one of our friend did it! Not for me, my legs were shaking just because of watching it! Also we had a walk on yet another part of
'My' construction site 10 months
It is now a 15 storey building, not yet finished, on time for the Olympics??? the Great Wall (there are so many bits and pieces all over), also crumbling down.
Then came Halloween, time for a long evening fun for kids. We let them 'go out' and do their 'treat or trick' bit, but they did not have to go very far: 35 floors times 3 towers, it took them a long time and did not leave the building!!! They got loads of sweets, apples and strange enough: cash money!
Then winter came in seriously...my mother stayed with us for a while and we did a lot of cycling around old Beijing, great to be with her, great to discover Beijing on a bike, in the snow! Many of old Beijing lanes (Hutong) with traditional houses have already been destroyed, some are still being turned down, but some are also Beijing restored. Of course, it won't be hosting the same people once it is done! On the eastern outskirt of the capital, one of its new landmark has come out: the 'to be' CCTV tower...amazing architecture, I'm quite glad we don't live just under it, but a few hundred meters away! Also needs to be finished on time for the Olympics!
We could not help
'My' construction site today
Workers pour in more concrete...endless pouring! paying a visit to local Ikea store; during nap time (after lunch), people take over the bedroom and sofa sections and get into bed: shoes off, under the blankets...you have to see it to believe it! After nap, there is a lot of tidying up to do! My mother had a go at it...
Visiting the 'Panjyayuan' flee market is always fun, some real antiques and lots of fake ones, lots of interesting items like these clay figures souvenirs of the cultural revolution... not quite handmade but anyway, if you fancy one on your coffee table, let me know!...This guy selling framed paper cuttings (a tradition here) falling asleep right there on his frames...ha ha!
Then, in early February came Chinese New Year, Rat took over Pig, which is not exactly good...the Rat years are said to be full of disasters! Let's hope for the best...Let's hope no recent construction (built in great hurry) collapses...Let's hope more traditional lanes are saved from destruction...Let's hope the air gets cleaner and cleaner towards the Olympics...
Meanwhile spring is coming...it is warming up, old men come out to the parks with their birds in cage and wild birds are enjoying the sunshine!
Will
Kids in Ritan Park
Ritan Park is safe, no destruction, no construction site inside! But not far behind, the highest tower in Beijing (not finished yet either!) write soon again!
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