I meet a young woman at a party , networking event, dinner, or bar and the conversation begins.  She asks the standard three unoriginal and uncreative questions:

1. Where are you from?

2. What do you do here/ Can I have your business card so I can read your title?

3. How long have you been here?

I enjoy following up with similar questions right back. I like to add a little bit of originality into the interview in order to see some personality in this new person.

1. What is your name?

2. How long have you been in Beijing?

3. Where did you come here from?

4. How long were you there?

My answers to the three boring questions come out quickly and very scripted in order to get to the really entertaining part of the interview.  I almost always get a made-up name and that suits me because it makes things easier.  The answer to my question # 2 varies.  I find that if the person has been back for more than 2 years and I see them in another social situation I can hear them changing their length of time back in Beijing. We come (with this revelation) to the point that all Chinese women lie.  100% of them lie about odd things that sometimes mean nothing about nothing.

I think they answer question number 3 honestly. I can not imagine a reason to say you came from Australia when you really came from England.  I follow this answer with the same response, “Wow! That place must be wonderful, how long were you there?”

I think I get an honest answer to this.  This line of questioning includes that the young lady went there for school and stayed afterwards for work. I follow these answers with questions about why she left and why she came back to China.  Every single time I get the following two statements: I cam back to take care of my parents. They are old/ getting old.

I find that the plan is to go to another country, get proficient in English, get a graduate degree, a husband, maybe a kid, a new passport, and a divorce settlement before coming back to China to live a nice life. I meet many of these young ladies and they all say the same things to me. I enjoy tripping them up. I have found that I am the first person for every single one of them to ask the following follow-up questions and the final sentence:

1. How old are your parents?

2. Where do they live?

3. Were you married? Are you still married?

4. How old is/ are your child/children?

5. So you moved back to take care of your old parents and they live nowhere near you and you never see them and they are under the age of 60.

Some folks watch tv, read books, go hiking, or participate in recreational drug use for entertainment. I talk to people. Before I asked all of the follow-up questions I would get a first date after the first encounter.  Now, I never even get that far because these intelligent young ladies appear to be smart enough to know that I will not buy what they are attempting to sell. I have made it to the first date a few times but now I save the energy.

Greg & Tony Blair

I was sitting at the bar of Da Dong Roast Duck restaurant in Beijing with my very new married couple friends I met on the way into the restaurant. Sherry and Chip live in Seoul, Korea. They arrived there from Kansas five years ago. They arrived in Beijing for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.  While chatting with Sherry and Chip I noticed the four white men with security looking ear pieces walk into the restaurant and got curiously excited.  I then saw Tony Blair with them.  The five of them walked straight back to a non special 4 seater table.  I nearly immediately then got up and approached an earpiece guy and started with, “I have a question.”
He made eye contact, firmly grabbed my elbow and pushed me backwards firmly half a meter.  I then said, “What are the odds of me getting a photo?”
He politely said, “no chance.”  I then followed up with, “I did ask the right person.” He (very politely) acknowledged my response as I walked back to my seat still full of excitement about the sighting and the encounter with British secret service.

My friends, David, Chris, and Julie arrived a few short minutes later and I shared my celebrity sighting story with them.  After we sat, ate, and then got ready to leave I noticed the restaurant staff all getting autographs and photos so I went back, acknowledged the security guys and asked Tony if it was appropriate for a photo. He, very politely, said yes.  I then went in for the photo and put my arm around him as he put his arm on my shoulder. My arm was quickly pushed down by a security guy.  I exchanged a few pleasantries with him as a nice young lady took our photo with my phone.  I shook his hand, then walked away.  I now get to say that I met a former world leader and got to shake his hand and get a photo.
My witty friend, David, approached him, shook hands, and said, “I’m not even famous and people take my photo because I am white in Beijing.”  Tony responded with, “American, right?”

On our way out I waved to the security guys at their table, said thanks and received head nods and acknowledgement from them.  I love professional folks!

We foolishly didn’t even ask him why he was here.  Also, Before I said anything (even to the two British guys in the restaurant) I believe I was the only person in the restaurant who recognized him.

That stuff fascinates me. I will now spend more time at places such as Da Dong in order to get more photos with former and present world leaders.

I am definitely part of the group.  Everyone knows me and I know all of the regulars well. I spent a quick week in October in Texas. I spent last weekend in Qingdao. I took a day trip with several friends to a beer making facility out of Beijing and a few other Saturdays I spent time with non-hiking friends. I have learned that when I do not schedule Saturday hiking that I spend so much more quality time on Friday night, Saturday night, and even Sunday with so many more wonderful people.

I evolve.  Hiking still exists in my world.  My very unique schedule has now become less structured. Everything used to revolve around hiking. As of today my schedule revolves around me and my friends. After last weekend’s perfect trip to Qingdao I am presently planning another 42 hour trip out of Beijing via plane or train with 3 or 7 friends.  The perfect numbers 4 or 8 fill a taxi or two. The perfect travel companions do not rush or plan anything on my weekend holiday.  We simply live in a carefree world.

I reached a new level of peace in happiness in China when I arrived. I have now reached an even higher level of both.

Amilal next to Nanlougouxiang