I’m compressing week 3 & 4 simply because week 3 was pretty boring apart from visiting an overpriced flower market. As last Friday came to an end, so did my first month as a member of the working force in Beijing, so I thought a review of my acquired love-hate relationship would be most appropriate. Starting off on a positive; I got paid, and better yet, it qualified as minimum wage in most respectable developed countries, so I didn’t need to contact the union… not that there are any in Beijing. And to bring equilibrium to this, I must mention the bad, the very bad… I’m sick of the ‘pleasant forest harmony’ song that gets repeated over and over again in the lobby of my office building. This prompts me to get from the entrance door ... read more

The disturbingly loud woman on her cell phone really ruined my meditative state under the watchful eye of the mermaid woman sitting in the Starbucks sign. I really should have given up after the wakes of a burp had hit all my senses. What do you expect in your lunch hour off in Beijing? I have to admit it was a pretty sad lunch I had going with my friend globalization; subway sandwich in front of me, and being the cheapo that I am, deferring to the elite starbucks lounge once my purchase was made. Don’t know why no one else does that instead of sitting in the way too crowded canteen. Jordan 1- rest of society nil. But then something hit me. I was comfortable, yes, but I felt uncomfortable with it, if that makes ... read more