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 week is APEC
Apec is an economic conference of sorts, where businessmen come to Beijing to discuss how to make more money. Because of this, Beijing has put big floral arrangements around the city, signs on bridges welcoming everyone, and has somehow managed to keep the skies blue. There are rumors of rockets being shot into the sky dispersing some sort of chemical. The movie “Snowpiercer” comes to mind. With all the buzz about APEC, Chinese social media has created the acronym “Air Pollution Eventually Controlled”. I suppose there should be an asterisks stating ‘for now’
De Niro in Taxi Driver
Only foreigners understood the costume but I wouldn’t expect Chinese people to have seen a Scorsese classic. For as much as people say that Halloween isn’t celebrated in China, it was a wild night in Beijing
Halloween week started today and as always, they were pretty excited about it.
Due to the fact that I have to radically cut my hair for my costume, I just stuck with casual attire until Friday
Noodles. A staple in many Chinese dishes, and often served as a main course, have always been an important aspect of Chinese cuisine
So, on a smoggy Wednesday my buddy tells me that he knows the best noodle place in Beijing. After stumbling upon it while drunk, he claims that this is the end all of noodle joints and that we HAVE to go. So on the outskirts of the hutongs we find it, a small place that seats maybe 25 people and smells of garlic, vinegar, and cigarettes. He orders for us, winking while he says, “Extra meat, like it’s a choice…” We pay the $7.50 grand total and casually take our seats as we are stared at for being the only foreigners in the place. We’re used to it. We watch the guy in the back masterfully work the dough as he strings it out and begins to boil our noodles. Served in a semi-spicy broth, these were hands down the best noodles I have eaten in Beijing. Shoutout goes to Jarrod for sharing this treasure of a restaurant.
Beijing can be nice when it wants to be
The weather is no longer warm and fall is quickly moving on as winter creeps in. So far, gym shorts, a soccer jersey, and a North Face shell seem to keep things comfortable.
Today’s shout-out goes to Miguel in Arequipa
It’s been over a year since I last saw my buddy Miguel, but at least he knew which team to support in the World Cup. Perhaps his German girlfriend had some influence on his decision. We used to live together in Peru and we had some wild times. Because gambling is illegal in China, I often think about our trips to the Peruvian casinos, mostly losing money but loving every minute of it. Miguel is the type of guy you can rely on, always there when you need him, like taking you to get ceviche after a long night of drinking. My year in Peru wouldn’t have been the same or nearly as fun without him. Much love mano!
