Blogs from Haidian district, Beijing, China, Asia - page 9

These are the pics which actually go with week one, for some reason they were not showing... read more

March 12, 2010 Ellen and I are nearing the end of our two week stint here at Beijing Normal University; classes have been completed and there remain some last minute add ons… meetings with some students seeking some help in planning their future, a session this evening with the social work students association, and the two way pass of paper between ourselves (we hand over notes from our lectures) and the administration here (they hand over an envelope of 100 RMB notes, with a youthful Mao’s visage.) And of course, the necessary farewell dinner, likely to be held at some nearby restaurant, in a private dining room with many plates on offer. The flight over went well, smoothed no doubt by the availability of 335 movies on the in-flight entertainment system. Watching Slim Pickens make his ... read more

What a time to arrive, the very beginning of the Year of the Tiger, so I can get my teeth into this adventure. Egg fried rice for breakfast, jasmine tea - and if you look closely at the pic you may see some of that food is still wriggling! Staying in a hotel to start with and flat hunting for my own little nest. But I already have a desk and an office and a new boss - Mr Guo. His first words were to remark that I looked too young for my age - flattering possibly but not very PC - they are very direct. His second question was whether I was good at drinking! I was given a very thorough tour of the offices and every picture, prize and poster was explained - don't ... read more

If You Won’t Go into the Tiger’s Lair, How Can You Catch The Cubs? HAN DYNASTY PROVERB, 202 B.C. - A.D. 220: “NOTHING VENTURED NOTHING GAINED.” As I wait for my connecting flight beneath the towering canopy of Dubai International Airport I welcome you to my Beijing blog, “He Who Dares”. Accompanied by an overpriced bottle of imported beer and the back of my boarding pass, I begin what I hope will be an honest and entertaining account of my pathway to China. Throughout the past six months family and friends have raised questions concerning my career path upon graduation, “Where and what next?”, they would ask candidly. My standard answer would begin by referring to arduous and lengthy graduate scheme applications within the banking and finance sector followed by, “the application process is very competitive, ... read more

We arrived at the train station, ready for a shower after our wading experience leaving Xi’an. All that stood in our way was a taxi ride to the hotel on the northwest side of Beijing. We followed the signs to the longest taxi line I have seen. And, of course, people were crowding in a large group at the end of the line, and then merging into two side by side lines. I was pushy. I learned you have to be to get anywhere in China. My Chinese friend Cathy taught me this while waiting for a table at a busy restaurant in Chinatown, Chicago. In this case, somehow, I was way more pushy than Eric because I turned around and he towered over a group of tiny women, about five deep behind me. There was ... read more