China 2014

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I made it to Beijing without any major hiccups. I did get a shoelace stuck in the people mover while my hands were full with coffee and an egg McMuffin. Knowing how clumsy I am, it seemed appropriate. I also almost missed my flight to Beijing. They never announced that they were boarding everyone in English, and they didn’t change the sign from Business Class to Coach. It didn’t help that everyone waiting at that gate must have been waiting for another plane, so there was never a queue to line up for the flight. The flight was barely half-full, and they were waiting for more passengers to board, so I think some of the Westerners sitting at that gate were in the same predicament as me.

I successfully navigated the subway to my hotel. It was easy, and it wasn’t any more crowded than any other big city. I imagine rush hour is awful, though. I found my hotel, checked in, got unpacked, and took a nap. Once I awoke, I went for a stroll to get the lay of the land. The hotel is on the outer edge of Peking University, and there is a large park across the street. As you walk into the park, there are thousands of bikes along the street. Some of them locked up, others not. I saw some Westerners just walk up to a couple bikes and hop on them, so I’m not sure if the unlocked bikes are just there for anyone to use. I didn’t see a rental shop or anything. The park is multi-faceted – it had beautiful newer buildings with large open spaces, there were older buildings that looked traditional, there was an aqueduct where men were fishing, apartment homes lined the other side of the aqueduct, hidden by a row of trees. I found Bank of America’s partner bank in the middle of the park, along with a few other banks. There were a few merchants along that street, and around the corner was a ‘farmer’s market’ where vendors had their fruits and vegetables displayed on a blanket on the ground. There was a restaurant that looked like a KFC, except ‘Colonel Sanders’ was an Asian man.

I travel to experience something new, something different. There’s a sense of adventure anytime I go to a foreign place, but the more I travel, the more I realize people are more similar than they are different. Walking through the park, there are young people courting each other on a park bench; older couples quietly discussing their day on the next bench; couples sharing a bike, with the girlfriend riding side saddle on the back in a pastel skirt, tights, and adorable flats, with the wind blowing through her hair as she laughs; girlfriends walking arm in arm gossiping and giggling; parents and grandparents playing with their kids on the playground; two 10 year old boys, running out of their house with a stick and a ball to play after dinner; people walking their dogs through the park.

People are the same everywhere in the world – we seek love, close relationships, recreation, a safe place to live. I haven't met my roommate yet - she arrives this morning. I met a few fellow students at the bar last night, and it sounds like weekend side trips are already in the works - some are going to Tokyo, others to Shanghai. We'll see where I end up on Friday.

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Photos

Our Room
This could make for an awkward roommate situation...