Kesmit3's Blog

Walking on campus today I passed by a group preparing to participate in the National Day parade. The parade that I, as a foreigner, am forbidden to go near, but can watch on TV. It is the biggest celebration in 60 years and with a population of 1.3 billion... I guess crowd control makes sense. It would be fascinating to see the celebration up close, but I have a feeling the city will be a buzz no matter where I am that day. I hope to shoot some video, but Tian'anmen is closed starting tomorrow until after the celebration. The fireworks are supposed to surpass that of the Olympics...

How do you flush a phone down a toilet, you ask? I had my iPhone tucked safely (I thought) in my back pocket... and went about normal business. However, in China things are a bit different - ladies. It isn't as simple as 'hovering' - you have to squat and it takes skills. Skill can be measured by how successfully you get in and out of one of these toilets without peeing on your own feet, the floor, or making the mistake of looking down and running a high risk of being splashed in the face. Points are deduced if you touch the walls for support, unless you are so, so very brave or have hand sanitizer by the case! And GOD help you if you forget to have your tissue in-hand upon entering... While in the midst of this tricky business someone did the unthinkable and upset the balance of the universe by trying to force into the stall. I was startled, violently shaken from my perfectly poised squatting stance and as I bounced up and the phone bounced out. It was surreal. I hear...

Today my classmate, Nils, and I met at the University to study for class tomorrow. Yes, for those of you doing the math...we have class on a SUNDAY. (sighs) Nonetheless, we were a bit of an attraction to our fellow classmates. Many people would stop, linger and then approach us wanting to know what we were studying and offered to help us with our Chinese practice. One girl, TaoJing, was a particularly good match because she is Chinese and has been studying English for six years. She sat down with us at noon and after studying for almost 3 hours we left for some lunch and then had a nice chat over coffee. It works out well because about the time I become exhausted from questions, she has questions of her own, which are as elementary as what we are asking her. Elementary, yet absolutely critical. As you will see in the video when Nils trys to order another order of Bao and instead of saying 'you' it sounds like 'jio,' which causes the lady to giggle. THIS IS SO CO...

Today my classmate, Nils, showed me his new electric scooter 1700¥. This was quite an adventure and helpful because I am considering getting a bicycle for getting around campus. How was the ride? Well, a bit like an episode of the Flinstones. Nils started up the scooter and the (imagine Fred Flinstone) used his feet to get the scooter moving. We didn't even make it off campus and had a little crash with a bicycle. Granted we can't compare what we call a crash in The States because scooters here are in the bike lane, not with the cars. So, a crash is not really a big thing like a motorcycle. What happens is more like a little comedy... So today the Chinese were laughing at two blondies on a scooter...in Beijing! :) Here is a short video and little picture!

My roommate, Antonella, celebrates her birthday today. This brought to mind one of my concerns of being so far away from home during special holidays... We had tea from China, Korean cake with a French name, and I cooked Cinese food for dinner. Nothing replaces those who earn our heart and trust over the years, or our precious and dear family, and yet - still, as relative strangers, we can come together for each other - supportive and aware. When we are far from home we recreate our world. I feel very fortunate to have such a warm and kind roommate here in Beijing. I am not accustomed to sharing my living space with others and, in fact, I cherish both my private time and personal space. Those that know me well might have bets out on how long I will last in the dorms...well, we shall see, but thus far it is a wonderful learning experience in so many ways. My roommate showed me how to properly hand-wash clothes, my Indonesian hall-mates taught me how to work the stove in th...

Today I visited Tian'amwn Square and was impressed by the color display of China's military air presence. It started just after 11AM with aircrafts trailing a stream of Red, Yellow, and Blue smoke. What followed was a variety of aircraft in unique formations both plane and helicopter.

Not as a teacher taking attendance or the preacher estimating tithings, but as a warmth. So, Now I pause and consider if it is best to share this creative expression on my blog and decided that I rarely let the inner working of my playful thoughts and musings (creative writing some call it?) out-in the rawness of words. Why not, then? There is delicateness of words that only describe a feeling...easily judged or more often misunderstood. Nontheless, I will post this and pray your heart be amused. A thought: Some despise another's silence because their immagination gets the best of them. Others avoid the concreatness of truthful words that settle the matter. Why prefer the former? Like seasons, ones' chill might thaw. The latter is an enterprise that takes not only time, but great effort- plus mutual humility... Most humans can hardly endure their own foolishness lighty enough to allow another the same. How little patience we have for some and more for others....

Today I ventured over to the National Center for the Performing Arts. Only three subway lines from campus. The center is located at Tian'amen West (subway stop) and sits elegantly surrounded by water. It is truly beautiful. I can't think of anything like it. To enter you must go to the South side and walk underneath the water. I purchased a membership and ticket for tomorrow's show, Lucerne in Beijing. I'm looking forward to the performance tomorrow and future performances of opera and Chinese theater!

Wish I could have been there for this, I hear it was an EXCELLENT talk by Dr. Craig Powell. Insights into Alzheimer's...

On the way to yoga last night I encountered a typical set of stairs that one finds here in Beijing. The first thought that came to mind when I saw the stairs was: "umh, no". But more like "Oh HEL* NO!!". Yoga class was fabulous and I met a women whose father just wrote a book on the Development of China.

Now, I walked by these guys on campus today and the first thought I had was: why are they shoveling sand to the second floor? What could they possibly be doing? Then I realized that they were shoveling sand...to the second floor - by sheer brute force in a bizzare chain of effiency. So, I watched in curious awe thinking: hmm, only here.

This is a photo of the US Embassy in Beijing...It looks something like a Borg ship. I have to say that this was my first visit to a US Embassy over seas and I was shocked to find that everyone working there was...Chinese. Umh? No US Marines outside? Instead, Chinese military! Once you pass in the gate there is a stream of people in line, VISAs I suppose? It took 30 minutes to translate and get me to the right place only to find out that I could have registered online. However, I am glad I went there today because it is ALWAYS good to know where the embassy is. So, they do not allow ANY electronics in the building. The guards had a heck of a time with my Kindle. I told them: it's a book. They said: electric box! You must leave it here! It made me giggle when I caught the guards playing with the Kindle when I came back (I had to leave my stuff with them). All-in-all today was exhausting, but so wonderful! I discovered places I hand not yet been and the city is slo...

I have spent over five hours trying to register and get my room. Oh, riiiight. I can't register yet because I must have a room number (makes no sense) but I can't get a room because they don't have any left. FAIL #1 I am a scholarship student, which means that the housing is provided by the University. Others, without a scholarship, are dismissed and told to find a place. EPIC FAIL #2 I'm lucky, I have a scholarship. Two Italians lost their cool and were freaking out and some guy from, don't know where, yelled at the guy behind the desk, in Chinese - impressive. I suppose it is easy to be cool when other people get to be "that guy" and I just watched the circus. I was first in line and the guy told me (and dozens traveling from around the globe: "sorry, rooms are all full") Umh, WTF? But, since I have scholarship they would help. (awkward glares in my direction) Then they sent me over to a building next to staff dorms and told me that ...

I'm sitting in Starbucks enjoing a Red-Bean scone. Oddly enough, Red- Bean is the blueberry of China. Granted, it is not a fruit... I woke up at 0600 today, no alarm clock, and was pleased to find a nice blue sky (see photo). I was worried when I arrived last night because the air was thick and smoggy...brown and orange so thick that it was difficult to see at any distance. As the taxi drove west towards the university district - the air cleared. My taxi driver managed to avoid (inches) a major collision on the highway... the car in front of us clipped another taxi and as they spun off the road-we swerved. Scary! I was on the phone during all of this and think I screamed or something. My driver got a tip when we arrived safely. I am on my way to the consulate to check in and am pleased to report that I was only 20 yards out of the hotel when the spitting started (people spit EVERYWHERE) this was followed by a trail of unique smells-ahhh, Beijing! I am extremely th...

Is this a typical peptalk before the lunch crowd comes in? I wonder. Nonetheless, This video was shot on the iPhone 3Gs and emailed directly to this post. The time limit emailing the post is, apparently, 47 seconds. The phone clipped the video before it sent it. One con of the post from phone option. I'm testing different ways to upload video from China. WOOSH!

Well, one of the popular things to see in Beijing is the 'street market' - there are two right off of WangfuJing, an upscale shopping area near Tian'a men Square. This one is located smack in the middle of the shopping area that includes Gucci and other upscale brands. Then, out of the corner of your eye you see a little side street...dark and glowing red. What is it? Night Market... This video shows a Canadian eating some of the 'local' street food from the Market. Though I suspect it is as much fun for the Chinese to watch the tourists eat this stuff...seems like some kind of reverse joke. While some people in certain areas might eat: bugs, snakes, scorpions and even items like star fish, it seems that this is still relatively rare. We asked our teacher (native Chinese) about it and she cringed at the thought and was grossed out at the mere suggestion. So, who knows - maybe the joke's on....us?

This video was shot in July while studying in Beijing. My classmate, Stephan and I took a wrong turn down a Beijing alley while walking home from school. We almost walked through someone's house to find our way out, but eventually made it. I am going to be posting a few videos from my time in China to figure out the easiest ways to upload photos and video to the blog. Wish me luck!