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Life in China Arrival in Beijing
Life in China Arrival in Beijing | Arrival in Beijing |
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| China | |
| Sunday, 22 April 2007 | |
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Beijing Day 1 – Sunny, a bit foggy Dear friends, How are you? I have arrived safely in Beijing. The flight was all right, nothing exciting happened, but my journey from Beijing Capital Airport to the Beijing Dance Academy was quite special though. First of all, let me tell you a fact – I only spent two yuan, about 13p, to get from the airport to the Beijing Dance Academy. That's impressive, isn't it? Well, the truth is I got a lift from a Chinese lady who I bumped into at the airport in Vienna. We were changing planes there. We were queuing together, and she was right behind me. We both heard and saw that someone ahead of us was asked to pay extra as his hand luggage was overweight – it seems like no one cared at the London Heathrow airport but in Vienna they said the plane was too full so they needed to be stricter about the limit. Well, this Chinese lady got worried and said that she thought her bags would be overweight too. Straight away, I offered to help and immediately grabbed one of her bags as my luggage. This all happened very quick as there weren't really time left for us to discuss properly... We were both fine and got away with no fines. Only ten seconds later, she asked me where I was going Beijing and offered me a lift. She said she wouldn't have the time to send me all the way to the Dance Academy but she that could drop me off somewhere I could easily catch a bus. I caught the number 300 bus after the lift. It was crowded but of course, this is Beijing. It reminded me what I always knew about Beijing's buses – "They squeeze people into photos!" The people who work on the buses are really characters too. An old man came on the bus and the bus lady straight away told a young man, "Give your seat to him," and the young man moved straight away. "Thank you very much and mind your head!" she said while the young man was moving. "Can't you all move back a bit more?" She didn’t stop. "People who are getting off at the next stop, move to the back door now, come on...." "Not this door – to get on, you need to swipe your card and come on from the middle door!" she shouted to the passengers out side too. I asked her, "Excuse me, I am going to the Beijing Dance Academy, could you tell me where to get off? And do I need to change buses again?" The bus lady asked, "Where is the Dance Academy?" I replied, "I know it's next to the Central Minorities' University. Here is the address..." Thankfully, a different lady on the bus said, "I know where it is, it's near where I live, you can get off at the same stop as me and I will show you the way." Problem solved. I followed this kind lady and her partner. I called them Aunty and Uncle. "Aunty, is this temple still open?" I asked while passing a group of old buildings that looked like a temple. "Yes, it is," they both answered, "You need to get in from the other gate though." We talked and walked together. They kept offering to carry/pull my suitcase for me on the way, and I had to keep refusing them, saying how it wasn't heavy at all. "That's our flat there," this lady pointed at a high and modern looking building. "Oh, you two please go home, just tell me how to walk from here, I will get there alright on my own." "It's ok, we can walk you there... we have the time, don't worry. It just there... straight on, it has "Beijing Dance Academy" written on the gate. It's a blue gate, it's electrical. The Dance Academy has several gates, which one do you prefer to enter? Where are you from? Oh, we are from the same province! What a coincidence!” They sent me all the way to one of the gates of the Beijing Dance Academy and wished me good luck with my studying. I bid farewell, and watched them walk back towards their flat on that same road they just walked with me. I would be here all night if I tried to describe all of the moments where Beijing people have moved me so far, and I only arrived nine hours ago. My friends, I hope my story so far has made you feel as warm as it made me feel. I am in Beijing, a very westernised city, but it’s still full of real Chinese people. I am so glad to be here to experience this. I came for the dance training, but I know I will learn much more than just how to dance. Take care, and I will be in touch again soon. MeiMei PS: They are playing "Spice Girls" in this internet café at the moment! http://www.meimei.co.uk/ |
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