First off, some views around Tsinghua University, my everyday scene.
Most of the people you meet here end the conversation with "lets play sports sometime" as opposed to the American greeting which is typically: "lets hang out sometime" or "lets grab a beer sometime". I played pick-up basketball on Sunday, it was no problem to get into a game.
The snow on Monday. The trees are covered with that scaffolding and plastic, I have no idea why, maybe to protect them from the cold? But it seems like a lot of bother...
A view of the gym and the road that I walk everyday. In the far distance is part of the urban sprawl that is Beijing.
View from the other side of the dorm. Those tracks lead into the subway, and to Wudaokou, the nearest subway stop, some 30-40 minutes walk away. But 5 minutes by the 731 bus which is right outside.
Same view more snow.
Beijing in the haze.
Tuesday was sunny and in the 50s so I had to go explore the city. At first I was just going to go shopping, but then I saw Tiananmen on the map, and thought "why not?"
Outside the metro stop. They were selling mini-Chinese flags.
Yup, stately government buildings are a feature in Beijing.
Moped on your right!
I don't even know where this leads...Forbidden city?
Walking and tourist stuff. I am not a good tourist today, as I am just on an outing...
People in a park.
While at Tiananmen I fall into conversation with two Chinese girls. Some mega-phone says something in Chinese I cannot understand. "Oh, the park is closing" they say. We turn around and go through a park. Encouraged from my last experience coming back from Guomao I do not feel much threatened. We keep talking for a while, till one of them goes into a tea house. The other invites me to come to. Alarm bells go off in my head from something I read on the internet (and guide book) about China: "Beware instant friends who will take you for a restaurant and leave you with a $100+ USD bill. I decline and we part ways. I walk down the street for 5 minutes, and double back toward the subway. Sure enough I see the two girls walking with a rough looking man. Definitely a close call, and a big lesson for the day. I think it is fair to say that all tourist places in the world are populated by such opportunists looking to take advantage of the naive. I remember in Paris vendors who would hand you roses and then demand payment. The whole process leaves you feeling a bit empty. Supposed good will is suddenly replaced with poor intentions. It leaves you doubting the human race, and what friendship and kindess even means. On the subway ride back to Wudaokou my heart is warmed again as people take an interest in my book filled with Chinese characters I am now learning. They help me pronounce the words and test me on the characters. I think what Kim said to me is right. Most of the bad people are just in the tourist areas, and so far, everyone else here has been genuinely helpful. This is the way things are.
Also, on the way back, I stopped at Xisi, just to see what it was like, well...here are photos...
Side walk...
Shops, and the "fenced in" bicycle lanes...
Beijing Ghetto Power Pole. "Yeah, so just take the wires from that box, and tie them to that tree, ok?"
Back in Wudaokou which is already starting to feel like my home neighborhood. It is for the most part a college neighborhood, international, with many bars etc...
Selling stuff on the streets, which so far, really only starts after 5p.m.
Waiting for the 731 bus back to the Tsinghua University...
