Back to America

For the first time in over four years, I’m going to back to America for my father’s wedding in San Francisco from September 27th to October 2nd. Am I nervous? Sure. Here are some things that I expect to be bothersome or what I think I’ll find strange:

1. Using American money, and for that matter, money. Everything I pay for, including groceries, my rent, utility bill, drinks, I use my phone. China is truly transforming into a cashless society.
2. Listening in on other people’s conversations. If I don’t listen carefully, then I can’t understand Chinese people, which makes sitting in a restaurant or bar with my English speaking friends feel very comfortable. But when I occasionally hear another foreigner speak English, I automatically hear and understand what they are saying, which is annoying. 
3. Not being able to get around on my scooter. I ride that thing around 25km per day. To work, the gym, a bar, a date, to the grocery store. Best thing I’ve bought in China. 
4. Seeing so many white people. In Beijing, I stand out. At times, most of the time, I’m the only white person in an area. 
5. Chatting with people whose native language is English, but aren’t my friend. I casually chat in Chinese to the taxi driver or the lady at the bank, but the only English I speak in China is with my friends, girls I know, or the people I work with. There aren't any day-to-day formalities using English
6. The structure and rigidity of America scare me. The police, people following the rules of the road, no electric scooters, people wait their turn in line. It’s annoying that people here in China don’t do it, but at the same time, that’s what I’ve become accustomed to. 
7. Shopping. I’m on vacation; I’m going to shop. But even here in Beijing, 90% of my shopping is done online, thanks to Taobao. Clothes, shoes, furniture, pens, it has everything. 
8. Seeing my family
9. The air quality. Let’s face it, Beijing has shit air, so it's going to be weird being back somewhere that isn’t polluted
10. Not having my routine. In Beijing, I have a pretty regular schedule. Work, gym, dinner, and on some days, I have a livestream show (part-time job). It will be weird being on vacation in a country that I used to call home

New Restaurant

Went to the opening of my friend's new restaurant. They had a really big pizza. 

Cantina Agave

Ditan Park

It's officially Fall, which means I have about a month before winter is here. Fall and Spring are probably the best seasons for Beijing, but they certainly don't last long. WINTER IS COMING. 

Food

Matcha Ice Cream

Matcha is alive and well in Beijing

Fall is here

Hey Guy

That's me sarcastically smiling

So why am I still in China? This is a question that me and my buddy Jaime, from Spain, always discuss. Why are we still here? We always complain about the people, the behavior, the traffic, and the pollution; and yet, here we still years, years later. What is it about Beijing that has managed to capture our attention for so long? For me, it’s definitely a love/hate relationship. When I applied to Tsinghua, I told myself that those would be my last 2 years. And yet, upon graduation, after applying for 350+ jobs, I found one in Beijing. So here I remain, under a one year contract and excited for what the future holds. Beijing is also a massive city, so after moving out of the U-District and into the center of the city, I feel a lot more comfortable. There are more bars and restaurants, and more people instead of the stereotypical ‘student’. I’m also living alone now instead of with roommates, which is a nice change of pace.

For Beijing itself, I think one of the biggest draws is to see it change, and to continue changing with it. Every expat, either currently here or back home, will tell you that Beijing will change the way you see the world. Its one of those inevitable things that happens after living here. The city itself is also expanding and renovating at a breakneck pace. New skyscrapers are being setup while the hutongs are getting a makeover. As someone who has been here for 4+ years now, it’s been a wild ride. I’ve made great friends, had a long-term relationship, worked, studied, and lived. A large part of me is ready to try something new, to embrace the next big adventure. However, another part of me is ready to settle down and start looking for a long-term job, which may or may not be in Beijing. Life is what you make it, I’ve always believed that, and I intend to continue to make it one full of adventure and challenge, wherever that might take me.

Sunsets

Hutong Life

Lots of the hutongs have cool roofs, some with bars, some have gardens, and this one just had weeds

Tsinghua's Lotus Flowers

Bike sharing graveyard

Hutong Doors

Trump Tape on Taobao Package

My new whip

New electric scooter to get around the city. The first time I bought a scooter, it was one of those moments where I thought, "Why didn't I do this sooner?!" 

Hutong

Make Spain Great Again

Famous

2 years and still popping up in the Beijing subway

Tianjin 2

Marco Polo

Tianjin 1

Tianjin is a small city that's only 30 minutes away by bullet train. Figured I'd check it out. Has a lot of European style architecture, as one of the main features of the city is a European district. Reminds me a lot of a smaller Shanghai.