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.
Smog is back
With no leaves on the trees, unsettling gray smog everywhere, and Santa pictures posted on shop windows, Christmas 2015 is off to a creepy start
Tsinghua University
I'm currently studying my Masters of Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy at Tsinghua University, located in Northwest Beijing. The campus is huge, known as China's MIT, and has an interesting mix of architecture. Above is a campus map and thankfully, also has a high rank of employability. I'm sure it's only because Xi, a Tsinghua grad, is currently the president of China. Regardless, Tsinghua stacks up well with other universities here in China as well as on an international level. I'm proud to have been accepted to this school and although the next 2 years will be challenging, I'm excited for what the future holds.
Shmog
Beijing air quality yesterday broke the index, coming in around 650 or so. Today it's all blue skies. I wonder if it has to do with Xi coming back from Paris. Yesterday, to prevent further smog, factories were shut down as well as restrictions on driving (through license plate regulation)
Thanksgiv...Fail
As the only American spearheading a potluck before our poker night, it was clearly a fail. I bought stuffing, which ended up being cubes of white bread with some herbs. Thanksgiving 2015 was 'lacking' to say the least. At least there was a nice sunset
OneFC
Buddy hooked it up with OneFC tickets the other night. We walked in, got handed VIP passes, and were 3rd row from the cage. Incredible experience. Main event was a Russian vs. a Mongolian and the hundreds of Mongolians in attendance were wild. Russian got him in a rear naked choke and Mongo, refusing to tap, passed out. Intense to say the least
