Okay, yesterday was a good day. Truth: Beijing hasn't been so bad for a few days here. The sky has been blue; I even saw the moon. I saw the stars, too. So special! Yes, its epic to see the stars in this big city. Someone is shining down on me because everyday I find something joyful or enjoyable or both. Example: seeing the stars for the first time in three weeks, or getting in the elevator with a scooter.
Yesterday, I took a walk through my neighborhood. Blue sky, torrential wind but still gorgeous and the first thing I see out there is an old man riding down the unusually empty city street. He wears typical drab black wool coat and matching wool cap and he also wears a smile. He must be happy as he has his birds with him. They were joyously hanging around in a cage mounted on the handle bars of his old black bike. Isn't that nice for him to take his birds on a leisurely cruise? I thought so.
I continued my walk. A pleasure cruise through Wu Dao Kuo streets. There is so much going on around here. I live in the 'University district', Haidian, on the third ring of Beijing. There are half a dozen major universities in this district. More than 2 million people call this district home, its one of two western areas of the city and I can get Mexican food here. The bigger grocery stores have Skippy and Nature's Valley and real Vermont cheddar.
The city is built around its rings; nine rings make up the main city of Beijing. Big rings. This place is huge, but becoming more manageable every day (that's what I am telling you anyway...mmmhmph).
My walk continues. I find people to smile at. I take note of a few shops and cafes and other amenities that may come in handy: KFC, the pink and purple castle, the bike parking lot. I talk to a few folks, its like I emanate American. People here love Americans, in fact people everywhere love Americans; duh, we are awesome! But anyway, I have learned in the last few days that people want to talk to me even though we have clear communication issues. It's funny and fun. We chat for a minute, clearly with little understanding of what the other is saying and then carry on our merry little respective ways. A nice city interaction. We continue on our respective journeys, smiling for our lack there of communication but it was still fun. I have also learned in the last few days that my speaking Chinese isn't so bad that they laugh (though it is laughable). They laugh because they are so happy that I am trying. Cool.
Yesterday, I took a walk through my neighborhood. Blue sky, torrential wind but still gorgeous and the first thing I see out there is an old man riding down the unusually empty city street. He wears typical drab black wool coat and matching wool cap and he also wears a smile. He must be happy as he has his birds with him. They were joyously hanging around in a cage mounted on the handle bars of his old black bike. Isn't that nice for him to take his birds on a leisurely cruise? I thought so.
The city is built around its rings; nine rings make up the main city of Beijing. Big rings. This place is huge, but becoming more manageable every day (that's what I am telling you anyway...mmmhmph).
Go to abandoned Chinese Disneyland! Take pictures and report back to us!
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