zipping down

Spring is finally upon us here in Beijing. It’s about time. Layering thermals, puffer jackets, heaters, electric blankets – it’d been getting old. The sun out with a little bit of wind makes for a relaxing combination which I am very much enjoying. Now that the weather is bearable, I have several plans for the rest of my time here. Unfortunately, that makes up of about one and a half weeks. That said, I tend to adhere to the philosophy “better late than never”, so with that in mind, my goal now is to tick off as much as possible on the list before my departure. This includes… maximum consumption of bubble tea and Peking duck, a day trip to Houhai Lake, watch the sunrise at Tian’anmen Square, and to ride my beloved moped as much as possible!!

beijing kindergarten

Once, occasionally twice, a week I get up at 6am to teach English at a kindergarten. It is an hour away by car; a long and tiresome journey which I find myself regretting every single time until we finally arrive at the reception and I’m greeted happily by my enthusiastic little ones. There is a little bit of a language barrier, but we manage! It is actually incredibly fun and motivating trying coming up with innovative ways to communicate with the children. It is nonetheless a very humbling experience, through which I'm also getting to experience Beijing like a local. Food included; I cannot honestly say that the lunches I'm provided with do not give me 拉肚子...because they definitely do, but, like a trooper, I eat them anyway. I didn't realize how attached to my students I'd become until I found out today, that one of them who I'd named Peter had left. His family couldn't afford the fees anymore. It was very sad. Most of the children there hadn't ever seen a foreigner until they met me, and that initial meeting produced many different reactions. They were all hesitant, but none as much as Peter. He cried, and cried, and cried. He was terrified. It took a long time until he began to trust me, and we were just beginning to 'understand' each other, if you will. Now he's gone. Just like that.

my life is average

Today, H took me boat pedaling only to find, and I kid you not, the Men in Black, equipped with water guns, chasing Ronald McDonald, defending himself with a bottle of 白酒 (Chinese liquor), around the lake. MLIA

the bookworm

 I was pleasantly surprised today, when H and I stumbled across The Bookworm, a cafe/library/restaurant/bar/event space. What a find. I’m just sorry that we only discovered it towards the end of our stay in Beijing. Bookshelves filled every wall, every corner of the space. The visual effect was, tremendous, to say the least. I loved its congeniality and sense of discovery; As an avid reader, I am very firm in my belief that books are portals of knowledge, adventure, whimsical discovery... To quote Emily Dickinson....,

There is no Frigate like a Book

To take us Lands away

Nor any Coursers like a Page

Of prancing Poetry –

This Traverse may the poorest take

Without oppress of Toll –

How frugal is the Chariot

That bears the Human Soul –

martini monday

Today was probably one of my better Mondays in awhile. The weather in Beijing has warmed up significantly, so H and I decided celebrate accordingly and traded (what would have been) a morning of work for a morning relaxing in the beautiful Sanlitun village. We ate at my favorite cafe, Paninio Teca, which I just love for its exhaustive variety of sandwiches, followed by a screening of Pirates of the Caribbean 4 in 3D. We ended the day with a couple of martini’s at Lush in Wudaokou.

 A collection of olives that look deceivingly good

Spotted this wine cooler in a vintage shop, very innovative

fresh

Hello! I came to the realization yesterday, that, seeing as I spend so much time frequenting the blogosphere, I really should have one of my own. So here I am, and welcome to my world.