Frames of Mind

I once read that as a writer, you should follow what's interesting. What do I find interesting? People. When I see another waiguoren on the subway, I feel comfortable asking, "Where are you from?" Because we are both (probably) away from home, we already have something in common. I've met many interesting folk this way, and always enjoy hearing and sharing stories. Actually, a lot of the people I meet do not like Beijing and the most common reason given is that they don't like Chinese people. They are sick of them, and as one Italian boy I met said, thinks they are "always trying to **** you." I suppose I can empathize with this point of view, (see Beijingren post,) especially when one doesn't speak the language and/or has no interest in understanding the language. But I like hearing about the coal importing business, meeting the French/Hong Kong business man who started his company at 15, and learning what it's like to be an Austrian journalist in Beijing.

And I really like speaking with the locals, talking with individuals about what they are doing here, where they are from, and so on. Many come from other parts of China and are in the capitol to work. At silk street the other day, one friendly girl fooled me into thinking she was Beijingren, (though I'm getting better at telling who's from where) then admitted the truth that she was from Anhui and taking me by the arm asserted that we would go there right now. Almost everyone I speak to has children who go to school from 7 am to 4pm, and they themselves work long hours and many days. The Anhui girl works 12 hrs per day, 7 days a week selling goods to tourists.

A lot of people from home have asked me how my Chinese is, so I'll tell you. I have little problem getting around and communicating on a somewhat simple level. I can usually say what I want, and understand what others say to me if they don't use words I've never heard before. Accents can be difficult for me, and I haven't really been studying, which I would have to do intensely to really improve.

I started working today, visiting a school where I'll be running our English progam. I observed classes and assessed the student's comprehension level, had a long meeting where I didn't understand a lot of what was said.



This is an updated pic of the new CCTV building. Let's see how fast it develops, huh?
Thanks again for all the comments; especially the ones that share information!