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.
This was undoubtedly the biggest LED screen I have ever seen. It’s located in Guomao in a shopping center called ‘Shi Mao Tian Jie’ but I think foreigners just call it 'The Place’. You can send text messages to the screen and they will show up along with 6 digits of your phone number so people can read them. The screen also had a huge display (light show?) of the solar system with a phoenix flying across it. Impressive to say the least.
Picked up a white chain today and got her cleaned up. For as dangerous as it is to ride a fixed gear in China, it’s worth the adrenaline rush.
Al Azar
Saw a guy throwing knees in the gym and asked him if he fought Muay Thai. Yes indeed he replied. So I asked him if he wanted to spar, we laced up, and went at it for 3 rounds. After we fought we shook hands and parted ways, without ever asking each other’s names. Nothing like sparring with random dudes at the gym. On a side note, my jaw hurts.
Went to Wangfujing today and ate some fried scorpion
Offered one to my buddy who said, “Eww, gross”. On the contrary brody. Visited what I can only describe as ‘A China Town in China’. Red Chinese lanterns, fake jade bracelets, people yelling at you to eat barbecue, the whole 9 yards. It’s nice to leave Shuangjing, an upscale area, and visit a dirty, albeit more exciting place every once in awhile.
Kids from my PK1 class, ages 3-4
Had a birthday party which explains the poorly made birthday hat that Michelle demanded she wear for the entirety of class. While Julie thought it was important to inform us every 10 minutes that she had a pink sticker on her forehead. And as for my man Pipi in the 1st picture, I have no idea.
I’m teaching a summer class in 2 weeks and on the last day, I’m taking my students to the zoo
So to prepare, my school sent me and my assistant teacher to the Beijing zoo for a day to ‘get ready’ for our class. A lot of people say it’s a shitty zoo, but I enjoyed it. We saw a dolphin/seal show at the aquarium, and tried to explain to my assistant that in America, people eat deer & sturgeon, and that I ate Alpaca in Peru. She was confused, this coming from a girl who admitted to eating dog. Also learned that it’s illegal to hunt in China, but fishing is ok. Overall, the Beijing zoo is legit.
The buildings are in a place called ‘Sanlitun’, which is a big open mall/plaza
There are a ton of bars, a huge shopping area filled with every imaginable name-brand store and it’s always busy. Located next to this nice shopping district is a dirty old building called “Ya Show” where they sell fake everything and everything is negotiable. I love it. I bought some soccer jerseys and a new pair of kicks for real cheap, only after fuddling around with Chinese numbers for a good 5 minutes trying to 'negotiate’.
By homemade do they mean firework?
I can just imagine the guy setting off the ‘bomb’, followed by a small boom and people looking at the cripple like, ‘what is wrong with you bro?’
The essentials for Chinese dudes at the gym
These guys will sit on the bench press for an hour, and have a smoke break after each set in the hallway. This probably explains why they are so skinny. I’m pretty sure that grits aren’t going to help them really pump out that last set of 20 kilos. GO HOME CLOWN.
Give it to the gringo..
I somehow ended up with a fake 50 RMB. It’s for sure fake, the texture, the weight, but I’m not about to just throw it away. I’ve gotta figure out how to get it back into circulation. If I use it alone, it will be under close inspection, so my plan of attack is to pay a large sum of money for something and slip the fake into the pile. Foolproof, right?
Mickey thought he was the funniest kid putting stickers on his face
Dong Dong couldn’t quite get the hang of a foot roll up without a little assistance.
Drivers in Beijing are CRAZY
The part about the group of bikers is so true. Always trying to sense for a “weakness in the lane”.
You tell the guy what type of meat you want and how many
Sooo good. I’ve gone with my Chinese friends before and there was A LOT bigger selection than just pork, chicken and lamb. Buuuuut, I can’t read Chinese, so it’s either point and pray (as in, “I want this, but I hope it’s not intestine”) or stick with what I can pronounce.