Welsh Girl Wanders East

Not AGAIN!? (or Return of the Bec)

2010-08-10T05:32:00.006+08:00

Mmm hmm!

Just when you thought you were well and truly, once and for all, never again to be refuted, properly, utterly, all-encompassingly, snugly, soothingly, ever-so-comfily SAFE from my inane virtual whitters; I am BACK! And I bring glad tidings of the ilk that may well raise the odd whoop from the audience: I no longer feel the need to bang on about plane crashes and tropical-disease induced hospitalisation. (That said, I have since self-edited most of the bleakness until everything since early 2008 has been whittled down to the admittedly meagre offerings that are available to read nearby.) (Twizzle eyes ahoy!)

This is a mini one to say a great big "How do?" to you. To send you warmest wishes from a mid-summer autumnal Britain. To tell you that the world has and will keep on a-spinning regardless (please note: image is for guidance only; time is not to scale), and to remind you that that's no baaayad thang. To say that I've had the biggest most beautiful adventures here, there and everywhere: stars, sunsets and so much besides in Sri Lanka; pho pho pho and bus-beds in Vietnam; lingering and languishing in and around Laos; Chiang Mai with chums and temples; irresistible mixed-bag Malaysian escapades; star tattoos, Surinders and Sentosa times in Singapore; meditation and runnings away on Koh Samui; dipping a little toenail in stifling Delhi; then HOME to lovelies and wedding-time and the wowsome door of King's College London swinging open to greet little me.

Grumble not, little heart.

Welsh Bec does Welsh beaching... Ah!

Yes, corner well and truly turned.

With relief and relish and chutney (BAMPOTS) and pickle and every kind of condiment your wee heart could possibly contemplate wanting,

Britain-based Bec of Britain she is based

xXx

The D Monster!!

2009-11-22T23:29:00.007+08:00

Hello petals

Well, here in Colombo there is an autumn of sorts happening! As most of you will know, autumn is my favouritestestest ever ever season and I thought that I would miss it dearly... but Sri Lanka has its own, somewhat tropical version. For one thing, it's considerably cooler than it once was (back in April I was almost baked Bec on toast!) and for another, every day is presenting the most spectacular storms. Absolutely stunning. Sometimes they're right above us and they make the house shake (that's not my most favourite part!), but at others they're distant rumbles, or silent flashes that illuminate the whole sky for a split second - that's what I love.

Lately life has been making me slow down and simplify and, although it was a bit of a painful process at the time, I'm now starting to feel the benefits.

Part One Of the Slow-Down Process

On my second day in Malaysia, at the beginning of a holiday that should have been KL, Melaka, Singapore and then Borneo, I had all of my stuff (with the exception of clothes and toiletries: phew!) stolen on the streets of Kuala Lumpur. Two people on a motorbike whisked away my shoulder bag before I had time to say, "Goodness me!"; depriving me of my passport, all cash, all cards, MP3 player, mobile phone, digital camera, watch AND my Lonely Planet Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei! You can imagine the implications of this! (Note to self: split up your valuables and wear your money belt on your person. Fool!) As luck would have it, I had friends in the city who were absolute angels and rescued me! I had a somewhat sedate break in KL and, briefly, Melaka... awaiting my new passport and exploring the country as cheaply as possible!

The Slow-Down Process Part Two

One day I suddenly developed a rather high temperature - the first time in my life that I've felt boiling hot AND freezing cold at the SAME TIME, plus a number of other yummy symptoms. After a hellish night of trying to make myself stand up and go to hospital, I finally made it there in the early hours of a Colombo morning and, da da daaaaa, the dengue monster had got me! Eight days, pain, nausea, rash and far too many needles later, I emerged from hospital and flopped into my own bed to begin the recovery process. Three weeks later (from the onset, that is) I'm still able to do little more than go to work and sleep (although writing this much in one mega writing fit is a definite sign of progress!). I'm sure you see the theme: slooooooooooooooooowing down! Most of the dengue time I wasn't able to read, or look at a TV or computer screen, so there was lots of time to contemplate and just be.

Doing battle with the

dengue demon

Apollo hospital, Colombo

Llch, rugby ball at the ready, making his

contribution to my recovery

Post-hospital confinement within my pink mozzie net...

wondering if the world was still out there

The outcome is that I've made some decisions. How delicious it is to make decisions... especially for someone like me ;) I'm not going to write about them here yet, but suffice to say that I feel great about having made them. The future is looking brighter again... I think I may have created the time and space that I need to finally move on from the last two years. Here's hoping :)

More on that next time... the energy levels are finally giving way. Home for the festivities in a MONTH! Woooooo!

Wishing you health, happiness and an encounter with something thought provoking each, each and every, every day!

x X x

Do you know something?

2009-08-28T13:30:00.021+08:00

I think it's time... time to finally fill you in on the story of Bec over the last year or so. It's no novel - parts of it still make absolutely no sense, but that's why we sit down with a book rather than watch our own lives the whole time: reality is less structured. But it's real. So here we go... Bec the book:

It started with a bump

The last blog post I wrote before this episode of the story began was December 22nd 2007. What followed was a jovial, festive, sparkly Beijing Christmas, made all the jollier by the fact that I was to fly home for a mid-year visit the next month (Chinese new year holiday). On January 17th 2008, I sat in Beijing airport and wrote the following on the first page of a brand-new, funkily arty Chinese A4 diary scrapbook:

在飞机场 (at the airport)

Airports are good places to begin. Not only because they afford time for beginning, but because every journey necessitates the start of more than itself - as it does the ending. This book, at its beginning, is dedicated to being whatever it wants to be. Its purpose and format are neither preordained nor fixed, but I anticipate that it is going to record, perhaps unreliably, and probably sporadically, a very interesting and transformational year. A year in which structure develops

I didn't finish the sentence because something or other interrupted my train of thought... it transpires that the timing was perfect. Little did I know the extent to which those words would prove true, or how far from my expectations the definitions of 'interesting' and 'transformational' would turn out to be.

I had one of those great seats on the plane, right next to the door with all the space a Bec's legs could want. Ever since I was old enough to really know that I'm able to die, I haven't been overly fond of flights. That said, I lived in China for three years, so the fear was clearly manageable. Anyway, this flight was a smooth one with a friendly, communicative captain (which always reassured me for some reason...)

Here we are making our descent to Heathrow:

Of course, the plane is far, far, far too close to the house below it because at this point both engines had stopped responding and there was not enough power to make the runway. We were dropping from the sky towards a busy London road and I, ensconced in my deliciously leg-roomy yet windowless seat, had no idea.

We just made it over the perimeter fence before slamming into grass the other side and skidding towards the end of a runway... there was the bump to end all bumps and the crack of my top teeth slamming into my bottom teeth and then... nothing... haziness... snippets of recollection but little else: a man running from another section, desperately wanting to get off the plane; the firm, well-projected voice of a member of cabin crew taking control; jumping onto the emergency chute and wondering why I wasn't going anywhere; running across the runway and answering an, "Are you okay?" with an, "I don't know!"; starting to cry then being too shocked to continue; the kindness of other passengers: the man who gave me his (ankle-length!) emergency jacket, another who offered the use of his mobile phone (from which I forewarned Ma who was waiting in Terminal 4 for a flight that had frozen in the information board world), and the girl who pointed out the wheels of the plane lying in a far-off field and made me laugh with jokes about Chinese hats; using accumulated loose change at a pay phone to send my mother on a parent-hunting mission for a fellow passenger... to tell them he was safe and unharmed; the nun in the secluded section of the airport where we spent many hours, speaking to me with warmth and sincerity; free Pret A Manger sandwiches accompanied by exhaustion and a desperation to see my family; inarticulately answering question after question; waiting; feeling dazed; wondering which way up I was.

You see, my seat was in the space between the third door and window where there is no window. The chute I tried to slide down was the incredibly on the wonk affair behind the wing - is it any wonder I wasn't going anywhere?

The wheels of the plane in a field over yonder.

The scene of my dramatic, non-slidey escape.

These men, Peter Burkill and John Coward, saved my life. It's thanks to their skill and presence of mind that I stood and walked off flight BA38. Yes, they were doing a job, but they did it so well that day that 152 people danced with death and came out the other side. Besides which, they are the ones who faced the ordeal that we, in our blissful ignorance, were spared. The word gratitude has a new depth and significance in my vocabulary.

Why is this the start of the story of Bec? Because everything changed on that day. Everything. Why am I writing it now? Because I am finally ready to admit to it.

More next time my lovelies. Be well and be careful and don't give up. Remember: for better or worse, no experience lasts for ever. Much love, Bec x

There was a time...

2009-03-10T16:18:00.004+08:00

when life was slower. When a day lasted twice as long as it does these days. When there was time to plan the future and it seemed as if far-off dates would never arrive. When some days, although good, were fairly inconsequential... unremarkable...

Life is unrecognisable when compared to what it was, and I don't think it really has anything to do with where I'm located on the globe. Issues of life and death which were once too huge and too far-removed to be tackled, push their way into the comfortable routine of existence, stepping on the toes of the familiar figures in everyday life. Death is not something to be faced one day, it is a constant companion to those who are alive. Where there is life, there's the promise of death. It's the old two-sided coin; night and day; main course and dessert. One inevitably goes with the other: they are inseparable, although who knows which is which? The challenge now is to accommodate this truth within the confines of a 'normal' life. To be neither too hedonistic nor morbid as a result, yet achieve a degree of awareness. To keep plodding through a story that we are only permitted to know a tiny part of: the gap between the end and the epilogue, which is devoid of words.

Yet again, there is much to tell, but now is not the time to tell it. I will squish a little update in here, however:

I'm in Sri Lanka! It's rather incredible.

More on that later, I'm all typed out.

Be well, and if you're not, be honest. Let's look after each other in any way we can.

x

Momentary moment moment moment moment

2008-11-03T20:53:00.010+08:00

Well, hello! Look who it is: me!

So, realising that it's been ALMOST A YEAR since I last wrote, I was on the verge of starting a whole new blog... I actually went as far as signing up for it and writing the first post... but then I realised that I was doing that exact thing that I've come to realise makes no sense: COMPARTMENTALISING!! This has truly been a year of realisations - the kind that make life itself look so very different, it's as if someone has switched channel without telling you. Yes, anyway, what I've realised about compartmentalising life is that:

a) Calling a marshmallow a mushroom does not change the essence of the marshmallow. It can be called a mushroom if you insist, but when I eat it (which I inevitably will), it's still going to taste like a marshmallow.

b) People like stories. Deep down, somewhere where intellect doesn't impinge on intuition, we are all narrating our own.

c) Our stories are composed of miniscule chapters. Teeny weeny incy wincy chapters, so small that they flow together to create a seemingly seamless whole. In case you didn't realise, that's good news. It means that this very mini moment is the one when you can make that new start you've been planning :D

Mm hmm, so basically I concluded that I should persevere with this blog. And here I am.

To say that this year has been eventful would be an understatement so great that I couldn't even do justice to it via some incredibly ingenious comparison. Let's just say it's been MOST eventful, and leave it at that.

I know you've only come to snoop at my photos, so I'll gratify the effort you made walking over here by sticking up a few from the last year. Be warned, however: I have much to say. I suspect I'm going to write about things that I had no intention of writing about, because finally I see that this year has been awful and wonderful, and weird and enlightening, and scary and exciting, and so many other things beside... and I have always taken refuge in writing: it organises my chaotic thoughts.

So welcome, friends old and new, to peek at my snapshots, skim-read my stories and wonder what on earth I am. I do hope you are happy. I hope you are warm, well-fed and within a few pace's distance of something wonderful to read. But, even if you can't tick all of the above, I hope you have peace.

Me and marvellous Martha do Korean dinner with Ma and Mike (Beijing)

My darlingest sibling on early-morning stroll to whooshy waterfall (Waterfall, Wales)

Tusk-brushing sesh with lovely Jin (Beijing)

Wondering whether I'm about to meet a watery end (Devon)

Bec the leaf (Westonbirt Aboretum)

In my other role: promoter of dumplings (Beijing)

With cold feet, happy heart and Sarah (Sandymouth, Devon)

Mart demonstrates the in-tent schnuggle (Forest of Dean)

The Buddha demonstrates the in-tent peace (The FOREST!)

Mim and Mart do breakfast at Mim's: many yums! (Pembrokeshire)

Bec overboard! (Near Mim's)

Waiting for our clothes to Dry (Launderette int' Forest)

The world beneath my knees (Mim land)

The intricacies of tortoise care (Swansea)

Giving my forehead its annual airing (Mim's beach!)

Wishing I could wrap the WHOLE WORLD in a snuggly pink towel (Swansea)

More when I can manage it!

For now, much love,

Bec
x

Twinkly sparkly festive time!!

2007-12-22T16:48:00.003+08:00

Heya gingerbread folk!

Yes, jolly Crimbly time is upon us once more, and to celebrate I've been teaching lessons with a festive theme and having yuleish adventures around Beijing! I'm going to be teaching on Christmas Day, but only until 10am, at which point the Crimbo lounging and gorging shall commence! I've just purchased some apple cinnamon tea, so I really couldn't be feeling anymore festive this far away from home.

Here I've captured a few of our recent pre-Crimbo antics:

Miss Sarah Marsh and her pals the baubles.

Me inspecting a plastic crab at the Christmas market.

Bonding with the baubles.

Now for two little videos that I made (filmmaker extraordinaire that I am!):

Yes, this is the rather splendid Kempinski Hotel, which has the HUGEST EVER Crimbly tree in its lobby! We popped to the deli for coffee and nibbles before venturing out in search of Sarah's Christmas tree.

I am emitting a somewhat witchlike cackle in this one because Sarah had already been endeavouring to open yonder box of tea for quite some time!!! Oh ho ho ho!!

Erm... I'm not sure whether these are actually going to be watchable, or if they simply spend forever buffering! We still can't access Blogger blogs from here so I am, as ever, unable to actually see my own blog!

Either way, I wish you and yours the most wonderful Christmas yet! This time next year I shall be home and near you all, but until then: let the festivities commence!!!!!!

Do, do, do enjoy! Much Crimbo love,

Beijing Bec x x x

MONDAY AGAIN?????????!!!!!!!!!!

2007-12-10T19:53:00.000+08:00

Tee hee... oops! It seems that a WHOLE week has passed since I last wrote. My 'Week in the Life' didn't go quite as planned! Not to worry! I'm going to give you recent highlights instead...

How are you lovely people? Feeling festive I hope! I'm in reasonably festive spirits, aided by the fact that I stepped outside into a snowy winter wonderland this morning! Woo!

I've received some Christmas parcels over the last week or so! I'm soooooooo lucky and spoilt: thanks to everyone who's sent Christmas gifts, cards, wishes or thoughts (yes, I'm psychic as well as forgetful ;))

Here are a few snaps from quiz night at Lush (cafe/bar) last Wednesday:

Sarah and I in wondering mode.

Our team 'The Twittering Sparrows' (Sarah M, yours truly, John A (my next door neighbour) and Jarod Z (my film watching buddy)) posing with answer sheet.

The world is prettier when viewed through a cocktail (and they have buy 2 get 1 free from 8-10pm!)

Me pretending that I may actually know the answer to a question.

All quizzed out!

John's mojito gave more assistance in question answering than the combined efforts of his three teammates!

Mr Zhang enjoying the quiztastic experience.

Brain strain.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeee! We did pretty well (5th out of 20 I believe), but sadly left without the first prize (a bottle of Jack!)

Monday again?

2007-12-03T16:49:00.001+08:00

Happy Monday(s)?!

Mmkay, let me give you the enthralling details of the rest of my Sunday before I give you the slightly gloomy account of my Monday so far!

The morning was spent lesson planning, followed by a trip to the photocopy dungeon (I kid you not) after lunch to print and photocopy my worksheets and handouts to use in Monday and Tuesday's classes. Along the way I took a few snaps of campus:

Da da daaaaaaaa! Welcome to China University of Geosciences Beijing (中国地质大学北京 pronounced Zhongguo dizhi daxue Beijing). I don't think that this photograph quite captures the magnitude of our resident on-campus Mao Zedong, so I took it from another angle:

Ah yes, he really is a sizeable guy! The building behind him (known to its friends as Building 5) houses the photocopy dungeon (here in the bottom left of the photo). I visit there 2 - 3 times a week to prepare material for class. The photocopy man is there all day every day in a windowless room. I have no idea how he stays same! I wouldn't say that we're friends, but we've progressed to the "Hello" and "Goodbye" stage, which is more than I ever managed with the previous photocopy people who were, frankly, frosty much of the time. Too long in such a setting is bound to induce icicles in ones personality! We've also developed our own semi-Chinese semi-sign language mode of communication, and he always gets my requests right first time. Happy days!

This shows our Mao's view. If you look carefully you'll see that the campus of the university across the road has an almost (if not completely) identical Mao standing in the same position looking towards ours! Could he have found a better situation than to be looking at himself for the rest of eternity?

Here's an example of the building work currently happening on campus - new buildings are springing up here, there and everywhere!

The main road through campus which I stroll along at least twice a day. The leaves have been falling for the last week or so, which is really rather pleasant. However, around here they're viewed as a mess which needs to be swept up, and a number of sweeping people dedicate hours each day to piling the leaves up and taking them away. Alas. No kicking ones way through the crisp autumnal leaf fall in Beijing!

The campus library. They're not terribly visible here, but a group of people at the top of the steps are swinging swords around. Hurrah!

After a swift stroll to the shops in Wudaokou and a phonecall home, it was time to head to Jasmine's apartment (another British teacher at our uni) for our weekly mahjong session. This is a recent addition to our lives and has become a much anticipated highpoint in the week. Snacks, joviality and confusion abound! These photos are actually from last week's game:

Building our walls just after the 'twittering of the sparrows' (my favourite part of the game in which we move the tiles around the table in order to jumble them up and often push them off the table in the process! Hoo hoo!) Notice Brandon and Jasmine's hats in this photo: all four of us decided to literally put on our 'mahjong hats' for this game ;)

Our constructed, slightly wonky walls, pushed tightly together to prevent evil spirits from entering.

My tiles at the start of the game. Woo hoo!

Eek, I'm running out of time! Here's Monday: the brief version. I opened my eyes to see a cockroach scuttling past: aaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhhh! Then, whilst my shower worked perfectly well yesterday, it wouldn't work again this morning! Monday morning with no shower = disheartened Bec.

Off I tootled to class by 8am, with my faithful hat hiding my unwashed locks. Classes were reasonably good but, as is my wont, I'd prepared too much and had to carry over to next week content that I wanted to complete this week. Hmm. Today we were discussing stereotypes, generalisations and exceptions, and chapter 5 of The Magician's Nephew (yay Narnia!) which we're reading together. Teaching time always positively flies by as a teacher, so again I forgot to take photographs! Classes finished at 12 and I sped off to meet my language exchange partner, Martha by 12:30. She's fab! This week she'd discovered a new, cosy, reasonably priced cafe near her office (just one subway stop from Wudaokou). So we did lunch, exchanged English and Chinese, and generally chatted about this, that and everything for the next few hours. Here we are:

Eeeeeeeeeee! Okay, now I'm going to beat my shower into submission!

Have a marvellous Monday dear readers! x

Saturday - Sunday: The wee small hours

2007-12-02T09:27:00.000+08:00

Hallo!

After I left you yesterday I continued to twiddle with my Christmas decor, and have now added the following mirror tiles (two are, regrettably, a smidge wonky) and extra fairy lights! Wa hey! Can a girl ever have too many twinkly twinkly fairy lights? (YES!!!!!!!)

I then had a very unforunate experience. As you will know, a shower is one of THE very important features in my day, without which I find it impossible to function at a reasonable level. Well, I had been in the shower for approximately 2 minutes when... the water became COLD. Completely cold! The boiler had cut out and refused to reignite. Annoyingly (or maybe luckily) enough, it still worked for the hot tap in the kitchen, so I spent the following half an hour running back and forth between the kitchen and the bathroom filling a washing up bowl with warm water, throwing it over myself with a jug, and alternately feeling satisfyingly warm and horrifyingly FREEZING! Time consuming and uncomfortable. Also unusual. My warm shower is something that my apartment usually unhesitatingly provides me with. Boo hoo.

I downloaded a selection of Christmas music to keep myself in the festive mood, then dashed out to meet my buddy Sarah at our favourite vegetarian restaurant for a late lunch. This place does seriously great and healthy food, and it's right up the road! It's situated near to the Google and Microsoft buildings, which I like to peek in as we pass. Here we are on our lunchtime mission:

The tea was ginger and jujube. Yummy yum to the extreme!

Yes, I am about to eat a napkin in this shot.

I then dashed back to my apartment by 4:30 (we like to take our time when we dine at the veggie restaurant: it has good ambience ;)) and dashed back out to meet my pal Barry at Wudaokou subway station (again, right up the road from where I live, this is a light rail station that conveniently connects we who dwell in the university sector with the rest of the city) by 5pm! Together with some other friends of Barry's we went to a bar to see the following:

Maybe I'm being really obtuse, but I can't work out how to rotate her! Argh! Anyway. these guys call themselves 'Too Dumb to Die'. They've been travelling around the world for 5 years, mainly by bicycle, supporting themselves financially by making music in cafes, bars and on the street, and by selling their own CDs and artwork (for a very reasonable local price, I must add). They were great, and their music was fantasticaly unusual.

This was the main event. They are the Beijing Improv, and they did a series of 'Whose Line is It Anyway'esque stuff which was soooooo funny. Their humour and the speed of their improvisation was really impressive. Woo, how we laughed! Plus, there was free lemon water to drink AND a free buffet with great salads! Happy Bec!

After this, we went to a club called White Rabbit who were holding a World Aids Day awareness event. From that point I sat on sofas with a single White Russian (which I eked out with baby sips ;)) and chatted to the extent that I forgot to take photos. Alas. I need to cultivate my photographic instinct; the photographer in me has lain dormant for too long.

All in all, a great night! Bed = 3:30am. Now = 9:54am. The fairy lights are lit, the advent calender has been adjusted, the music is serenading me, and I am about to start lesson prep for the coming week!

Happy Sunday my lovelies x

A Week in the Life

2007-12-01T09:23:00.000+08:00

Welcome back one and all!

I've happened upon what might be a brilliant (or equally might be a dim) idea for this here blog: I'm going to present a week in the life of Beijing Bec! Mm hmm!

This is going to be my life as it's lived (as opposed to the entertaining version), and will show just one little life lived in a rather extraordinary setting. Living in Beijing no longer feels unusual to me (I'm surrounded by people who are doing the same!), but when I stop and ponder on it, I realise that in fact it is!

So, I'm going to start here, on the 1st of December and delight you with some shockingly festive photos of my morning.

I woke up with my alarm at 6am, turned it off and dozed until 7:30 (yum)! Then leapt out of bed with the happy thought that it's the start of December and I can therefore get my Crimbly tree out and try out my brand new advent calender which arrived yesterdy, care of my wonderful mother (thanks Ma!) Morning is my favourite time of day in my apartment - a time to light candles, listen to BBC radio and do some work, reading or thinking. See the photos below for my progress in Christmasfying my apartment so far:

Yes, that little stumpy fairylit affair is my Christmas tree. He usually evokes questions and ridicule from those who encounter him, but I love him dearly.

The stocking dangling from yonder bookcase is another pal of mine - we've spent every single Christmas together so far! He was created for me by my grandmother Omi Lynch (from 'Oma': German for grandmother).

The rather bare tree on the desk was a purchase from Ikea (in Beijing) last year. I think it's fantastic, and it stays out all year long. The bauble is a recent addition, bought for me at Harrods last week by my jolly friend Sarah Marsh (who lives upstairs).

Although it may not be so clear in this photo, the bowl on the table is filled with mini Christmas crackers, kept from last year. Ah! The festiveness of it all!

I think that my advent calender warrants these close-up shots: isn't it superb? The little star moves day by day to a new pocket in the countdown to Christmas! It's a calender for life and it requires no chocolate (although it came in a parcel with a considerable amount of the latter! Ma!)

Time to start the day. I'll take my camera and keep you informed of goings on!

Do enjoy your Saturday x

Autumnal arrival

2007-10-11T21:27:00.000+08:00

The serene corner: it can always be found, if I look hard enough (and walk long enough)! Here I found one in inner-city Beijing:

Surprises never cease in the land of BJ: this week subway tickets were reduced from RMB 5 (a combined light railway and main subway ticket) to RMB 2 (to ride the WHOLE subway system, including the newly opened, super shiny Line 5!) Olympic fever is in the air!

Sooooooooo, Doris Lessing won the Nobel Prize for literature. Bravo! I've never read her books, but I'll make a point of doing so soon. Especially as I'm rather inclined to agree with her comment that:

"I find myself increasingly shocked at the unthinking and automatic rubbishing of men which is now so part of our culture that it is hardly even noticed"

This trend has been troubling me for some time, and I plan to be more proactive in stamping it out. Of course, we typically make jokes based on differences; but lines are being crossed...

Has anyone read Anna Karenina? I'm at the half-way stage! I'm identifying with Levin far more than Anna at the moment - how odd does that make me?

Umm, back to Beijing: autumn here is wonderful! Classes are going well! The Chinese language is finally starting to find its comfy spot and make its groove in my brain (think bum on a beanbag: even a language has to be comfortable!) I start Qigong classes this weekend - I'm not entirely sure what that entails, but come Sunday afternoon I shall reveal all!

Do be well, do be happy, do be comfortable, but do be daring!

Bec

Snap happy

2007-09-22T13:51:00.000+08:00

Woo! Another weekend... how delightful! It's been a rather long week, but a really good one. More on that later.

For now, here are two more Facebook photo album links. These are not chronological... aiya! Both contain photos taken before I left Beijing this July (hence the scruffiness of my general appearance).

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=12712&l=029a7&id=507326991

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=15254&l=e9b4c&id=507326991

I hope the weekend's kind to you!

Bec
x

A summer in snapshots

2007-09-15T16:09:00.001+08:00

Maybe this is the lazy person's way of showing holiday snaps, but I see no point in uploading photos twice, sooooooooo... I am slowly putting my summertime collection on Facebook and, even if you are not signed up to the site (which I reluctantly suggest that you be: it's horribly addictive, but there are too many contact-worthy people on there to resist) you can view them using the following links:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=14879&l=fb48d&id=507326991

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=14881&l=6bad7&id=507326991

Please be patient when it comes to missing photos, or photos minus captions - I am plodding on with them!

Here are the links to some earlier photo albums from my last year in Beijing too:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2643&l=f8bc6&id=507326991

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1339&l=62685&id=507326991

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1634&l=7c2d6&id=507326991

There are many yet to be added... one day!

Okay, now I'm really going to do some work in preparation for Monday (first teaching day! Argh!)

Happy weekend.
x

Here we go again

2007-09-15T11:07:00.001+08:00

In what may be a slightly confusing way of doing things, I'm going to work backwards from now in my account of what's been a-happening. When I reach the point at which I no longer want to reverse, I'm then going to leap forward to the present once more, and start working with time again, rather than against it. Hmm. Good luck to us all.

I knew that this journey was not going to be the smoothest I'd had when Jet (my pal Zhang Zhe 章哲) called from Beijing airport a day early to ask me where I was. Uh oh.

I then realised that my beloved orange coat with the HUGE buttons had been misplaced during our Proms in the Park escapade and I would be leaving Britain without it (I was rather lucky to acquire a replacement green one, however, with striking lime green lining, but no GINORMOUS buttons!)

I later listened, without surprise, as a bodyfree voice (with a rather lovely Irish accent) told me that my flight was at best delayed, and was in fact more than likely not going to leave at all (that day). Luckily I'd forced seven books into my hand luggage so I dug in at my Heathrow departure gate and, after informing us that the fault had been with the plane's anti-collision system (too, too, TOO much information), the kind Irish man allowed me to board my Air China flight after all and leave the UK only two hours later than planned.

For the first time ever I had a talkative seat buddy. This has always been a DREAD of mine on long-haul flights, but in fact, partly because he's the first Chinese I've met able to take off an array of British regional accents, and partly because I was tired and verging on hysteria, he kept me entertained and reduced my flight-induced terror considerably! We nattered until the man in front told us to stop (!), and woke up in the morning only to resume our conversation. Jolly.

Descending to Beijing involved passing through a familiar cloud of gunk, and at this point my sense of impending doom returned. The air was smelly and stuffy, and I was sent back from every airport desk I approached (a total of THREE times), to complete forms - the necessity of which I had somehow blotted out of my consciousness.

Walking into arrivals I discovered that neither of my mobile phones was working and that I was surrounded by fake taxi drivers trying to rip me off left, right and centre. The real taxi queue was astoundingly and horribly long, so when an official looking lady (why will I never learn?) with a shiny gold "We are the taxi finding department" (or something suchlike) badge on approached me, I was hot, tired and stupid enough to indulge her enquiry by confirming that I did want a taxi and telling her, in Chinese, where I wanted to go. She proceeded to point to a card in her hand and tell me that they would be kind enough to drive me to my destination for 450 RMB (it's an 80 RMB trip). I laughed/snorted in her face, which was the kindest I could manage when what I really wanted was to spit in it (even this pacifist can be pushed too far), and stomped off in the direction of the airport bus.

For a mere 16 RMB I acquired an airport bus ticket without a hitch. Unfortunately, when the bus arrived 20 minutes later, I was not allowed to put my suitcase in the luggage compartment underneath the coach (which contained only one suitcase and had the capacity for at least ten), but was informed via curt gestures and a steely stare, that I was to take it on the bus with me. I dragged my 32 kilo (yes, 32) case to the bottom of the bus stairs and, as fellow passengers shoved me aside in their eagerness to get a seat, wanted to do one, or both, of two things:
1. Cry
2. Go home
Okay, melodramatics aside, the bus driver eventually took pity on this pathetic person and helped me lug the damn thing on board.

We then got wedged in the rush hour traffic. Somewhere between the airport and Wudaokou I discovered that my Chinese mobile was receiving texts and calls, and a few well wishers managed to lift my spirits from the depths of extreme irritation and gloom. Approximately two hours later I reached my beloved apartment and, generally, all was well (with the exception of a cockroach in my bed), and has been ever since.

But that's another story.

Love to you all!

Bec
x

Supplies supplies!

2007-09-14T21:03:00.000+08:00

Well, well, well... just when you thought it was safe to turn on your computer, I have returned to shatter your sedate surfing experience once more! Helloooooo!

Regarding my year-long non-stony silence: it seemed a smidge self-important to assume the world would want to read accounts of my life in China for more than a year. However, I stand corrected, so thanks to all of you who bemoaned the absence of my nonsensical scribbles! I also love writing. When I don't write, I rapidly morph into that person in a party that you sit next to and quickly wish you hadn't because I'm busy rummaging around inside my head for the answers to questions which really, truly are not appropriate party thought fodder.

What I'm trying to say is that I'm writing my blog again and I'm glad! For those of you fortunate enough to have dodged my dodgy emails for the last year, it was spent teaching at a university in Beijing and was a great year (more on that later). I returned to Britain for a spectacular summer (more on that later also), and now find myself back in Beijing, at the same university, for one more year! Pheeeeew!

I hope you are wonderful on this DAMP Friday. Welcome back one and all! I am truly disgraceful at keeping in touch, but I will get there in the end, and I look forward to hearing from you very much... regardless of time lapses!

Loves and hugs and jujubes,

Bec of the East
x

Feast your eyes upon my phototastic delights...

2006-06-13T18:21:00.000+08:00

Woweee! I just found these old photos that I had saved in a draft blog post and abandoned for months! So here they are, bringing back many a memory!

What do we have?
1. Liam and Lin Xiao Feng on our expedition to the botanical garden, Shijiazhuang (or 'Plant Park' as the signs like to call it!)
2. My 26th birthday dinner.
3. Yours truly and Lin Xiao Feng.
4. Intoximacated yours truly and intoximacated Lin Xiao Feng.
5. Corinne and her self-made sandwich at the Korean BBQ. (Aww, I miss you China bud!)

The Final Countdown: da da daaaaa daaaaaa da da daa daa daaaa

2006-06-13T12:47:00.000+08:00

Well guys and gals, believe it or not, this time next week I will be leaving Shijiazhuang! Argh! Am I excited to go home? Yes. Am I sad to leave here? Yes. Am I ready? Erm, next question please... There is sooo much still to do!

In the last two weeks we've had four birthdays, the last of which was yesterday. Ten of us went boating on the lake before dinner. Whilst we were in the boats a HUGE storm hit - it was amazing! We had to hide under the shelter of an overhanging pagoda and wait (about 45 minutes!) for it to pass! The sky grew so dark it could have been the middle of the night, and the wind was so strong we had to use the posts to stop ourselves being blown away - the lightning was just spectacular! I've never seen a storm like it before: wooooooeeeeeeeee! Whilst admiring the view we smoked, drank beer and composed an 'on the lake in the storm on Corinne's birthday' poem, which will certainly make interesting reading!

Later this week we have a hen night and a wedding. We're going to a funky Tibetan restaurant for the hen night where they sing Tibetan songs to you at your table, make you drink three glasses of tasty alcohol from a curious metal jug, and then drape a pretty Tibetan scarf around your neck. The first time I went there I tried to give the scarf back and they were horrified - oopsie!

My birthday was also excellent, although it didn't involve any wind, rain, thunder or lightning! The day was filled with cards, gifts, birthday wishes and around eight rousing renditions of Happy Birthday to Bec! We went to a street restaurant for dinner (I love them!), followed by a bar, followed by a nightclub! Lots of friends came out and, thanks to my pal Matt being the most fantastic host, I got to sit back, consume alcohol and generally make merry! Kegs of beer were 20 RMB a go, and they paid 13 RMB a head for food - including a little extra to pay for the birthday lady (that's less than a pound!).

This is, I suspect, my last post, so I will drone a little longer, and then delight you with a selection of my fine photomagraphs (the most recent not taken with my camera which I sadly lost on my birthday! Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrggggggghhhhhh!).

I will never regret coming to China - it has turned out to be a mind expanding, life shaking experience in ways I couldn't possibly have anticipated. I have met a group of excellent friends spanning many ages and nationalities, and the words 'cultural differences' have revealed a whole new dimension to their definition! I have also rediscovered how fantabulous my family and friends at home are - thank you for your thoughtfulness, encouragement and persistence (I am truly shoddy at keeping in touch, I admit), especially at Christmas when I was ill, cold and homesick! I look forward to catching up in the land where grass is green and the temperature isn't creeping towards 40 degrees...

Bless you, bless you, bless you all!

The Bec
x

Googleless!

2006-06-04T09:57:00.000+08:00

As if not being able to view one's own blog for a whole nine months wasn't bad enough, they have now dealt an even harsher blow: THEY'VE TAKEN AWAY MY GOOGLE! ARGH! What am I without it? A knowledge-free zone, that's what! The only Google that we can now access is google.cn (Chinese Google) - I am pining for my beloved google.co.uk. Woe is Bec.

That aside, things are progressing swimmingly. My trip to Beijing was most enjoyable and I heartily recommend the Red Lantern House hostel to you all. Here are two snaps of the place:

I met a collection of interesting folk, most of whom were in the middle of venturing around as much of the world as they could. When it got dark we sat under the fairy lights in the courtyard and discussed life over a bottle of beer. They also served a steak breakfast, with orange juice and a pile of toast (and BUTTER!), for 20 RMB. Some may say that life gets considerably better than this, but I would beg to differ. Bliss!

China celebrates Children's Day on June 1st, so all week I have been caught up in our kindergarten's festival, which was fantastic. I even joined them on stage and sang a line in Chinese on my own - wooooo! Here they are (these are the 4 and 5 year olds - the babies had their festival in their classrooms):

Tomorrow is my 26th birthday! Ooh ooh ooh! I'm closer to 30 than I am to 20 - maybe it's time to start thinking about growing up. Hmm...

Damn and Blast

2006-05-18T15:05:00.000+08:00

Why am I not answering many emails, you may ask. Therein lies a story that goes something like this: every time I try to move around my Gmail account my whole life grinds to a halt! Perhaps not my whole life, but most certainly my PC. Bloody, bloody, bloody thing (sorry Ma)!

This weekend I am going to stay in a hutong hostel in Beijing! (Please see photo) How jolly exciting! This is my last trip to the city before I fly home from there next month, so I am planning to discover a little more of its hidden gems - especially the hutongs (hu tong: 胡同 the small, ancient lanes that wind their way behind the big, modern developments), and to get down with the hutongren (ren: 人 person/people)! Yay! Hurrah!

Love to all - see (some of) you soon! x

Bite, bite, nibble, nibble...

2006-05-03T18:15:00.000+08:00

Yes, the sunshine has arrived, and with it come the mozzies to feast on my delicate 皮肤 (pi fu: skin). I am in danger of turning into one GREAT BIG mozzie bite - itch, itch, scratch, scratch! Argh!

Now please meet the new addition to my life: Kevin the Panda (Kevin to his friends)! As you can see from the snaps that follow, he's quite the little tyke!

Don't be deceived, he's only little - I managed to find Kevin-sized bananas to feed him! Awwww!

Here's Kevin's friend, he belongs to my pal Liam and lives at the bar with him. Kevin likes him because he doesn't try to eat his little bananas, unlike me.

Love, as ever, from us in the East!

Bec and Kevin
x X x

It's all party, party, party...

2006-04-29T14:05:00.000+08:00

For your viewing pleasure:

Andy and his friend the dragon shrimp (direct translation - does anyone know if these things have an English name?)
Our school campus, looking very jolly in the sunshine!
Merry making at Lin Xiao Feng's birthday party.

My babies on their sports' day parade!
The fantabulous twins (nope, they're not identical. Honest.)
Another, erm, eye catching Chinese birthday cake (note the presence of a candle in the polar bear's eye - muhahahaha!)

I'm freeeeeeee

2006-04-27T15:58:00.000+08:00

Believe it or not I have another week's holiday! Woo hoo! Oh yes, it's the May holiday! Well, actually, I exaggerate and so do the school: they have moved our days around a little so that we work the weekend in order to get the following week off! It's all good anyhoo!

I'm thinking of venturing to a funky little town called Pingyao in Shanxi Province, but it's tricky to get train tickets there from here (as if purchasing train tickets in China isn't tricky enough!), so we shall see...

Here are a few more Spring Festival snapshots:

Ma Lynch at the Shaolin Temple
Looking up inside the Shaolin Temple
Mart Lynch with his piece of the Great Wall (vandal)
Us in Beijing on Chinese new year (yes, I'm choking on a cigar) (thanks to Jeremi for the photo!)
Us and our new buddies in Xian. Emma, Bernadette, Leon and Dave: hello you wonderful people!

2006-04-20T15:44:00.000+08:00

Happy, happy Easter one and all!

This picture has been a source of endless amusement to me ever since I first saw it. I think it's just wonderful! The mere thought of it kept me sniggering throughout much of the train journey to Beijing last weekend, which was a good thing because an older man opposite me starting having a shouting fit approximately a third of the way into our travel time. (Not due to my sniggering - I hope!).

Ah yes, so I went to Beijing for a little outing and had myself a jolly time. I bumped into some Shijiazhuang friends in a bar and subsequently didn't do ANY clothes shopping at all, but nooooo regrets, no regrets! I did eat REAL fish and chips and drank Snowballs: oh, the luxury! I also ended up on the top bunk in a youth hostel YET AGAIN! I am yet to get a bottom bunk - the bunkbed gods clearly resent me.

Long overdue Spring Festival photos ahoy...

My dorm in the Captain's Hostel, Shanghai.

People's Park, Shanghai.

Hip Hip Hooray!

2006-03-25T14:28:00.000+08:00

Hello beautiful people!

Wow! I haven't been able to access the blogger site for over a month, but suddenly the restriction has been lifted and, well, here I am!

There is much to tell and I won't relate it all now, but life is very good and I find myself loving this country more than I would ever have imagined possible. Three months ago I could not conceive of the idea that I would be reluctant to leave, but as June approaches I am already feeling twinges of pre-departure nostalgia. It will be wonderful to be home, to breathe clean air and see all of you, but there are many things here that I'm going to miss.

I'm in the process of completing UK job applications which is just torturous. Urgh! FE teaching posts are not abundant and I'm at a distinct disadvantage being too far away to attend an interview. However, I plod on feeling oddly assured that it will all work out perfectly! I also have a plan B which is so appealing that it's on the verge of becoming plan A, but I'm keeping it under wraps for the time being. Muhahahahaha!

Photos later, my hangover demands that I take it for a lie down right now!

x

2006-02-07T01:37:00.000+08:00

Heyooooo!

This is the brief version: Mart and I backpacked around China for a week (more on that later) and I loved it soooo much that I decided to carry on! So I bimbled around Beijing for a while and then got a flight to Shanghai! Currently in a Shanghai bar where they handily have free internet and Kahlua and Coke for 10 RMB a go! Wa hey!

I have seriously caught the travel bug and am not seeking a cure! Watch this space!

Mwahs etc.

Bec
x

More photos...

2006-01-24T14:27:00.000+08:00

2006-01-24T11:14:00.000+08:00

Happy noooooooooooooo year!

I can't stop long, it's complete and utter chaos here at the moment - in the best possible sense of the phrase!

It's Spring Festival time: Chinese new year! That means four weeks jolly holiday for Bec! Oh yes!

Ma (the famous mother Lynch) is in China as I type. We went to Zhengzhou and Kaifeng together last week and saw the Shaolin monks! Tomorrow we meet up in Beijing, and the day after Mart (the infamous brother Lynch) flies in. We're then heading off for mischevious wanderings around the capital and Xi'an.

Here are some pictures of my festive season in China (I make no apologies for drunken poses) and the Shaolin monks (I want one for my mantlepiece)! We can't access weblogs again, unfortunately, so apologies if the layout would benefit from a little tweaking!

I hope the new year is treating you well!

Mwah dee mwah,

Bec
x

P.s. Family snapshots in the next edition!

Ouch!

2005-12-17T13:28:00.000+08:00

If the truth be told, it's been an interesting few days. I have, you see, broken myself. Well, broken is perhaps a little strong, but I have definitely caused damage - to my lower back to be exact. Yes, I have broken my butt, just in time for Christmas...

The tale begins at around 4:30am last Sunday morning when my drunken self and two companions were going for post-bar noodles on Yucai Jie - the street where I live. As we strolled noodlewards, I inadverdantly strode onto a patch of icy pavement and, my cowboy boots not having the best of grips, found both legs pointing skywards as I fell flat on my arse. It was, as you may guess, a comic moment; and despite being momentarily unable to breathe, I was soon able to appreciate its humourous qualities.

I felt no pain whatsoever until Tuesday when the slightest of twinges emerged, but by Thursday I had to slide sideways out of bed just to get up in the morning! Having been prodded, poked and, indeed, thumped in the back by a jolly Chinese doctor, I have been told not to teach for a week and have to go to the hospital every day for treatment (shining a lamp on my back achieves what exactly? Advice please!).

It being the week before Christmas, I have some wonderfully festive lessons lined up for my little cherubs, so I am going to bypass the no-teaching suggestion. I am, however, bending as little as possible, mainly because it rather hurts. So, no alcohol-fuelled dancing and general merry making for yours truly this weekend. Alas.

Sympathies on a postcard,

Bec
x

2005-12-13T22:37:00.000+08:00

Yes, I continue to amuse myself at the expense of Chinese sign makers everywhere, but what the hell... I think the red one here is my favourite so far: oh, ho, ho, ho, ho! (Do not assume that this was self-explanatory when viewed in context).

Kind regards as ever, from me and my long johns,

Bec
x

2005-12-13T08:46:00.000+08:00

Yes, yes, I'm still here! Thanks for your concerned emails - I have been adventuring once more, and then suffered the torture of living in an internet free zone for almost a week! Argh!

The weekend before last I went to Chengde in the north of Hebei Province. It was great, but blimey was it cold! Here are a few snaps:

Here I am demonstrating the amount of headroom and general level of comfort on the mid-berth of a hard sleeper train. Not too bad if I do say so myself. We were provided with a big flask of hot water to drink and make our noodle pots with, and the bed was really rather comfortable!

We arrived in Chengde at around 5:30am and it was, quite literally, freezing. Later that day I bought the rather striking hat and scarf ensemble that I can be seen sporting here, in amongst a rock formation at the Mountain Resort.

A deer in the snow. Aww. How festive.

I love this photo. Contrary to appearances perhaps, I did ask the monks' permission before taking it. There are many temples in Chengde, but this is the only living one. From what I could gather, they spend their time playing kickabout and listening to their MP3 players. All in all, very cool.

Woo! Is it just me, or does that bit of rock look aboout ready to fall?

Hoo hoo!

2005-11-26T11:33:00.000+08:00

I found this little beauty at a hotel buffet last night!

It's the name of the dish, and was sitting alongside other cards saying, "waldorf salad", "fried steak" and the likes. This one says, "the card really braises the mushroom". Tee hee! I tried it and I see exactly what they mean.

Sorry, it's partially obscured by the flash, but the hotel were good enough to give us a free feast (and the food was great!), so I didn't want to risk drawing their attention towards my irreverence by taking another shot!

Happy weekend!

Bec
x

Deary me

2005-11-22T20:24:00.001+08:00

Hello, how are you all? Thanks, as ever, for your emails!

Time seems to be in fast forward! Argh! Things are generally very good here, but I seem to be ridiculously busy doing this, that and the next thing. I have more photos, but my PC has taken a disliking to the Kodak software at present, so there's a minor (I hope) delay.

Just in case any of you are considering wandering east at any point in your life, I have been mentally compiling the following list over the last week:

Bec's China 'Best To' and 'Best Not To' List

1. Best not to step in puddles - especially on days when it has not been raining.
2. Best not to assume that the little green-light man making a walking motion on the opposite pavement is an indication to you that it is safe to cross without hesitation.
3. Best not to think that the left-turn traffic filter light will ordinarily not light up at the same time as the aforementioned little man.
4. Best to laugh at yourself when speaking Mandarin to locals.
5. Best to tell yourself that when locals laugh within hearing distance of your dodgy Mandarin, they are actually laughing along with your aforementioned mirth.
6. Best not to clean your bathroom with Captain Bathroom - he has an, erm, unusual odour.
7. Best not to order from the pictures in restaurant menus before establishing (a) exactly which part of the animal you will be consuming, and (b) how heavily chilli peppers feature in the composition of the dish.
8. Best not to start watching Chinese television advertisements - they are one of the greatest hypnotics known to man.
9. Best not to let people get on the bus before you.
10. Best not to wait until a lift appears to have enough room for another before you get in - unless you have a week to spare, that is.

I'm going to my first ever Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday! Woo hoo! Oh hell, I'm talking about food again! Photos soon I promise!

Take care of yourselves and wrap up warm now!

Zàijiàn!

Bec
x

Bec meets Beijing (the story continues...)

2005-11-06T21:23:00.000+08:00

A selection of my favourite Beijing signs (take heed: leap not).

Our chauffeur, and the view from the back of his limousine!

The Forbidden City - how much room did one man need?

Bec versus the Beijing subway system (victory is mine).

Beijing: it's tree-hugging good!

Bec meets Beijing

2005-11-06T20:17:00.000+08:00

Artist in Beijing bar...

Me, artist and, umm, me..?

Ooh, pretty! Beijing lights.

Tiananmen Square... and the military bods shooing us away! Boo!

Fingertip Mao: a necessary accessory for the modern girl

Phototastic

2005-11-03T12:51:00.000+08:00

Hello, hello!

Time is very short because we're leaving for Beijing in an hour, but I finally have some photos to share!

My apartment:

I'm not going to tell you what an agonising battle it has been to get these photos onto my PC! Argh! Have a great weekend - Beijing here I come!

Bec
x

Woooooooo

2005-11-01T13:50:00.000+08:00

So, yesterday was Halloween. I recalled, with a pang of nostalgia, that on 31st October last year I was at Bethan's Halloween houseparty dressed as a black cat, and the stairs were lined with the candlelit results of the design a pumpkin lantern competition. I had been living in Cardiff for just a month, and I hadn't even tried teaching a real class! Here I am, twelve months later, spending Halloween in a teachers' meeting and hair salon. In a culture where superstition is alive and well, partying with ghosts and ghouls is not appealing. No, I did not venture to have my hair done yet - I let Lyn play guineapig instead, and the results are most encouraging!

She lives

2005-10-28T13:25:00.000+08:00

Hello lovelies!

Yes, it is I and I live on! I know I'm being most shoddy about keeping this blog up to date, and responding to your emails, but otherwise (or perhaps because) life is very good! Thanks for your name suggestions for my reptilian chum - Dad's in the lead with 'Pimples', and Wayne is last with 'Wayne'.

Here we go with a brief update on my life in the east: I went for my first hotpot last week (cook your own food in a big pot on your table) and involuntarily wrinkled my nose when a plateful of live crabs were placed on our table! Blimey! I couldn't bring myself to put the little critters into the boiling water, but as Yoko readily saved the rest of us the task, I did venture so far as to eat one. Not without a tinge of sadness, I must add - I'm not used to seeing my dinner waving its claws at me shortly before I eat it. I also had my first taste of donkey a few days ago in the form of donkey jiaozi (dumplings) - yum! Poor old Eeyore! Why does my blog seem to be morphing into a food review?

Last weekend we went for a BBQ next to a lake (oops - food again) - it's great spending time with the Chinese teachers away from the school. Many of us live and work here, and seeing each other in a different setting is refreshing! The food was great - we prepared most of it next to the lake and cooked it on little metal box grills. The spices added by the Chinese teachers nearly blew my head off though!

Tonight we have another foreigners' free feast at a swish hotel in the city (hell, I'm doing it again!). Tomorrow I am speaking at an English Corner, which entails telling several hundred Chinese people about my country and culture (what's that?). On Sunday I am judging a university English speech competition - muhahahaha! Those of you who know me well enough will know why that may pose some difficulty. Umm err...

Then my weekend is over once more and I am propelled into another hectic week of teaching, guitar lessons, Mandarin lessons, confused wandering, and eating poor unsuspecting creatures! Next weekend Lyn and I are going to stay in Beijing - my first stint in a hostel! I can't wait!

Dan has very astutely observed that my blog seems only to be telling the amusing elements and, reading back over this, I note that he has a point, so here we go: I smashed my bottle of foundation on the bathroom floor! Awful. It's laughable that I safely transported it all the way to China only to smash it in my apartment!

We've had a sad week here due to the death of two of the teachers' father. They are sisters from the Philippines, and for paperwork reasons they were unable to go home. We held our own service at a local church (fairly rare around here) (churches, that is), lit some candles and had some quiet time. I know how much they must wish to be at home, and even the Philippines suddenly seems a very long way away.

I must go and lesson plan! It is always wonderful to hear from you all! Be good!

Bec
x

Reptile at large

2005-10-14T21:35:00.000+08:00

THERE WAS A LIZARD IN MY KITCHEN!

I use the past tense here because it has since crept away, I know not where. Between the initial sighting and my scaly friend's subsequent disappearance my windows were closed, so I can only conclude that he (I suspect it was male, I know not why) is currently at large in my apartment.

In Kenya I liked the lizards because they were colourful, and because they snacked upon the ridiculously large, nightmare-inducing moths. Kenyan lizards, however, did not feel the urge to share my living quarters.

He must have really wanted to move in, considering that I live on the fourth floor. It was a considerable climb for his little legs, so I'll try to be charitable when I next encounter him. I might even give him a name - suggestions on a postcard...

Kisses and whatnot,

Bec
x

Newsflash!

2005-10-06T18:28:00.000+08:00

I can now see comments on my blog! I've found a most helpful feature which mails me any comments!

We cycled to some rather pretty temples today. Our EJD (Expected Journey Duration) was 1.5 hours, but actually proved to be nearer 4! My legs will testify to the expedition tomorrow! I took some charming photos with my mobile (still my only mode of photography), including one of a sign next to a lake reading: "Caution, drop down", which caused us great hilarity!

On Tuesday I had my first experience of a Chinese karaoke bar - blimey! It was a series of individual rooms, big enough to fit you and your friends in (depending upon popularity I suppose, but it was big enough for me and mine!) Each room contains a very comfy, u-shaped seating area, a large flat-screen TV, a computerised karaoke system, and people who pop in and out with alcohol and snacks! It transpires that I am something of a karaoke legend.. ahem!

The adventures of Bec continue...

x

Success!

2005-10-03T17:37:00.000+08:00

Woo hoo! I've finally managed to post this picture! It's the only China snapshot I have so far: here we are after walking up and down the mountain!

The man waving in the backrow is Mr. Wong, one of the school's drivers who, despite numerous corrections, takes great delight in shouting, "Rebec" every time he sees me. Hello Mr. Wong.

Check out my Chinese trainers - they cost 35 RMB! That's 2.46 GBP! Bargain!

**Brief bid for sympathy**: I sustained seven insect bites overnight - four of them are on my face! Alas, poor Bec...

Be well,

Bec the Bold
x

Bec on a Bike

2005-10-03T13:49:00.000+08:00

Greetings and salutations!

I am embarking upon a well-earned (mm hmm) week off… so much to tell and so little time to tell it in! I will give you a condensed version of my recent activities:

We spent last weekend in the mountains, in a town called Yesanpo, which was beautiful! It contrasted wonderfully with the city and, in addition, the air was clear and I could see the sky! We can see the sky sometimes in Shijiazhuang, but it is always hazy at best – some days it’s completely obscured by a cloud of pollution. Take heart, however, it is apparently a great improvement on a few years ago!

We arrived in Yesanpo in darkness (do not believe Chinese ETAs! It is safest to add on at least two hours!), and went to an open air show in which what appeared to be children (?) climbed up ladders made of knives and spun around, without a hint of safety equipment! Bravo! It wasn’t until the next morning that I could fully appreciate the landscape – we were surrounded by HUGE, sheer-faced mountains.

We walked up into the mountains and admired some rather pretty waterfalls and whatnot. I have to admit to wussing out on the opportunity to climb a flight of rickety wooden steps up the steepest section of the mountain. In the afternoon we went rafting on a lake which was just fantastic! The rafts were made of bamboo and looked incredibly flimsy, but turned out to be quite the opposite. Drew and I were the rafting champions, punting around the lake at top speed! The locals seemed to particularly enjoy the spectacle of two blonde-haired, blue-eyed foreigners on a bamboo raft – glad to be of service! Rafting was followed by a brief stint of horse riding and, later on that night, an outdoor karaoke party around a jolly big camp fire! Mike, Aidan, Corinne and I regaled them with a wonderful rendition of 'Bohemian Rhapsody'!

The next day we walked up and down a GREAT BIG mountain! I mean GREAT, GREAT, BIG, BIG! I actually thought I was going to die on the way up, but the view was worth it, as was the sense of satisfaction at having made it!

I have bought a blue guitar – finger picked Streets of London here I come! I also have a sparkly pink bike! Yay! I have started my bike tour of China – my suburb first, then Hebei Province, then the whole country!

I have twice partied at a club with a bouncy dancefloor, and visited a range of fairly funky Chinese bars! I will make this small observation: they have a strange interpretation of the word 'vodka'!

Photos will be provided at the first opportunity – I am reliant upon other peoples’ photography at present! Thanks again for your mails – an erratic internet connection is making my generally slow response time even slower, but please do not be deterred!

I hope that you are healthy and happy!

Much love, from the land where ‘privacy’ has no meaning,

Bec
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Touchdown!

2005-09-15T11:58:00.000+08:00

Hello boys and girls! Here is the eagerly awaited first installment of Bec's Eastern Escapade!

Those of you on my email list will already be aware that my blog is presenting a few difficulties at present - I'm unable to view my own blog! Or anyone's for that matter (including you, Dan. Harumph!).

The journey was actually pretty good, and I didn't spend the whole flight waiting for the plane to crash (that must have been a passing phase). Upon arrival I spent an hour and a half wandering Beijing airport (flight time confusion), before being taken for lunch and a ride around a golf range in a golf cart. Fun, if not a little surreal! It was 30 degrees and jetlag was kicking in, so I was immensely grateful when we finally got to Shijiazhuang and I could shower! Not, I might add, before having my first encounter in over 10 years with a squat toilet. It will take some getting used to, and having a local walk in on the experience was not helpful. Eek!

China is just amazing so far. Amazing. There is so much to take in, I don't even know where to start! The school is great, and the kids are sooo cute! I actually start teaching this afternoon - a little later than initially expected because I have been observing kindergarten classes. I'm already getting happily acquainted with my role as a 'foreign expert' - it's just fab to have everyone assume that I know what I'm talking about!

I am still mystified as to why drivers constantly parp their horns whilst driving - I've been offered several explanations for it, but none of them really satisfy! I'm surrounded by tooting cars and, erm, interesting smells!

My first solo shopping expedition was a little daunting due to my status as a novelty around here! I am going to have to get used to being the focal point for staring eyes - staring as in: stop what you're doing and gather round!

We all only teach Monday-Thursday every week, so each weekend is a long one - how excellent is that? Next weekend the school are taking us on a trip to somewhere near Beijing - more golf cart rides maybe? Hmm.

I can't wait to explore this city properly - just crossing the street is an adventure!

Cheerio for now devoted readers - you may comment on this if you wish, but I can't see it. Alas.

Be good to the weekend, and it to you,

Bec
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Oh, and, by the way...

2005-09-05T17:11:00.000+08:00

Feel free to comment on my blog! Once there is something to comment on, that is!

My last weekend of intoxicated revelling in the western world is behind me and I feel five years older for it! Hurrah!

Susan, my contact at Shijiazhuang Language School, called this morning to say that my Letter of Invitation (think: golden ticket to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory - less the chocolate. And Willy Wonka. Hmm. This analogy is crumbling...) was posted on Saturday! It didn't arrive today, but I think it might arrive tomorrow! Eek!

Mm, some of you have asked about my mobile phone - not sure about that, but it's best to assume it won't be working. Just in case. So, Ma, don't worry!

I have so much to do that I feel the urge to procrastinate further, but I must resist! I'm going to halve my internet time this week - I've turned into quite the little addict since returning from summer school!

All the best to you and yours,

Bec
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Shijiazzzy what?

2005-09-04T02:26:00.000+08:00

Howdy partners! Welcome to my first stab at this blogging lark! I'm still tweaking at present, as no doubt you can tell!

In a week's time I leave for Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China where I will live and teach for a year! Woo hoo! This will be the chronicle of my adventures, so check in often for fantastically entertaining updates...

Thanks for stopping by,

Bec
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A Bectacular plan!

2005-09-04T02:10:00.000+08:00

Many Becs.. we're all going to China!