The two weeks leading up to National Day have been very rewarding. I've been invited to an exhibition event for foreigners and even got to see a performance in the Great Hall of the People. Yesterday, the foreign experts at Beijing Review and other China International Publishing Group publications were invited to the Great Hall of the People (my second time) for a special dinner event. The Great Hall of the People is the main government building for the Chinese Communist Party. It serves as both a government structure as well as one for ceremonial events. Our group of BJR editors sat at a table near the from of the ceremonial hall. The speaker for the event was Vice Premier Li Keqiang. The whole proceeding was short and to the point. The playing of the Chinese national anthem opened the event, proceeded by a speech by the vice premier. Dinner was served, the People's Liberation Army band played in the background, toasts were made and then a speaker announced the dinner was over. Almost everyone immediately stood up and left. I was still a little hungry, but I gathered my things and headed out as well. I was honored to attend the event, especially since I've only been a foreign expert for about a month now. I just hope the opportunity presents itself to attend other functions in the Great Hall (I didn't take enough photos when I was there).
Just signed my contract. I am now officially an employee of Beijing Review. It feels good getting out of that gray area between an intern and a full employee - not knowing if your job will be there tomorrow or if a bigger, better more experienced editor will be in your cubicle.
I have a few more documents to take care of but I'm pretty much set as far as the major stuff goes.
As part of the festivities leading up to the 60th Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese Government has organized a series of events for foreigners.
The group of foreign experts from Beijing Review was invited to attend an exhibition gala event at the Beijing Exhibition Center. I thought it was intended for communications expats only, but a few ambassadors and diplomats from all over the world were there too.
The event was by invitation only and is held once every ten years, I was told.
It was impressive, to say the least, as the exhibits displayed all the advances in science, industry and culture that China had made in the last 60 years.
An American, a group of young, drunk French people and a whole bunch of other foreigners travel by bus for 3 hours to this party on an aircraft carrier docked in a Chinese port.
I know what you're thinking - the start of a bad joke, right? Believe it or not, it's actually the beginning of a fun-filled evening of loud music, dancing and military aircraft.
Anyone who knows me well enough knows that I love boats. I never used to be a fan of the open sea, but after a Spring Break cruise to Mexico, I was hooked.
One day, I hope to have a boat of my own, one with sails perhaps.
It should be no surprise that when my roommate, Alexia, told me about this party on an aircraft carrier in Tianjin, located about 3 hours from Beijing, I jumped on board.
Tickets to the event cost 250 RMB, or about $40, and included transportation to and from the party. Alcohol would be extra (and most likely overpriced) so we brought our own for the bus ride there.
The aircraft was a former USSR ship and was purchased by the Chinese government as part of a naval museum in Tianjin. But for now, the runway of the carrier would be one giant dance floor.
We arrived around 10 p.m. to blaring music and flashing lights. About 500 people already crowded the runway, where numerous aircraft and helicopters were on display. A few partygoers decided to dance ON the planes. I just wanted a few pictures next to them.
A few drinks of liquid courage was all it took before I decided to head out on the dance floor and show the crowd my American dance moves (or lack there of). After about an hour of flailing my body about in a seizure-like motion, I'd had enough.
Somehow, it was now 2 a.m. Maybe it was the overall atmosphere of the party, but it seemed like the same loud mmm tiss mmm tiss thumb thumb thumb had been playing to whole time.
At 3 a.m. it started to drizzle, then rain, then downright pour. Apparently the weather had also had enough of the repetitious music.
I'm not sure whose idea it was to provide auto transportation home, but it certainly wasn't a good idea - especially with a bus full young people who had been drinking all night. Every 5 kilometers it seemed, the bus would stop and let a group out to use the bathroom. I somehow managed to sleep, despite a group of drunk English guys singing Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody in the back of the bus.
Overall, it was a pretty cool night. We just don't have anything interesting like this back in the States (could you imagine a rave on the U.S.S Intrepid, because I can't), and being among a huge group of loud, drunk foreigners yelling in every language was kind of fun.
Now all I need to do is work on those dance moves so people don't think I require medical attention.
In a city of 17 million, I really lucked out with my roommate situation. I have a great place to live with two really great people.
Alexia, a young French girl, is interning with Airbus in Beijing. She's been in China since May and will be finishing her college career at a university in north Florida next year.
Vivian is Chinese and works at a local Red Cross facility as a doctor. Her boyfriend, Jun, is a police officer. It's like having your own doctor and bodyguard under one roof sometimes.
Although they both apologize for their "terrible English" that fact that they are able to say "Sorry, my English is not so good" is much better than my inability to even come close to saying "Sorry, I don't speak [insert language here]."
Here are some long overdue photos of my new apartment.
"Free at last, free at last!" That's how I felt as I got off the airplane after 9 hours flying over Russia. The flight to Beijing was just as bad, if not worse, than the first leg to London. No sleep, bad food and a sore stomach. But finally, I was back. Back in Beijing.
Jun, my roommate Vivian's boyfriend, picked me up at the airport. He and I get along well, despite the language barrier and it was nice to see a familiar face instead of a disgruntled cab driver who would have had a difficult time taking me to my apartment.
For the second time in under a month, I had to haul two huge suitcases and carry-on bags up six flights of stairs to my apartment and unpack. It was about noon and my second roommate, Alexia, was just waking up.
It was Saturday.
We caught up on happenings and she made me lunch - buttered pasta. It brough back good memories of college and the simplicities of relatively dry pasta dishes. I cleaned up, took a shower and unpacked a bit.
Sometime during this process, I made the mistake of sitting down on my bed. The next thing I knew it was 8 a.m. Sunday morning. I had slept for about 14 hours.
My half unpacked suitcase lay in the middle of my room. The sky was dark outside. I could hear the pitter patter of rain. I went to brush my teeth, toothbrush in hand, but found an empty Colgate bottle on my bathroom sink.
"Welcome back Brandon," I thought.
I stumpled back to my bed and pulled the sheets over my head. Welcome back.
LONDON- Well, I'm here in Heathrow Airport. The terminal looks more like an upscale shopping mall - fancy stores, expensive gifts and eateries with prime rib and lobster. All I want is a burger! Maybe a croissant.
I didn't sleep well on the flight over the Atlantic. I have another 3 hours til my flight leaves for Beijing - just enough time to let my sleep deprivation take hold and maybe make me hallucinate.
Suitcases with the majority of my winter wardrobe. Check.
Laptop with Season 3 of Heroes for the layover in London. Check.
Books, books, books. Check.
I know I'll forget things. While packing for State College four years ago, I forget many of life's essentials at home - my toothbrush, for example. Preparing to move overseas leaves endless possibilities to forget the smallest thing that could complete throw settling back into Beijing life, but I've been careful so far.
And in all of this, I can't say I'm completely ready to go back. I've never really "missed" home, because while Penn State was 2 hours away, I could easily get home in the even of an emergency or if I just needed a weekend to relax. Weekend trips home are not an option now.
But my bags are packed and I'm set for a year in China. Flight leaves at 9 p.m.
I spent most of the day packing and organizing things I want to take back. On top of the list are gifts for co-workers, friends and anyone who's made the transition of living in a foreign country easy for me.
And chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate (specifically Hershey's Kisses).
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