This one requires very little explaining. An extremely talented and experienced writer turned in an article to the Wall Street Journal about me.
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.
My hiking group celebrated five years together and I made a video of still photos from my sixteen months with the group as well as other photos from the past.
I feel more at home daily. I buy groceries. I cook for myself. I still explore the city. Heck, I explored Austin, Texas after having been there for well over ten years. The education continues forever. I happen to be in a city that holds a forbidden city, a very old brick wall, an underground city, a summer palace, a temple of heaven, shopping for a lifetime, a wonderful subway system, fantastic food at reasonable prices, and more.
My super friendliness continues towards new folks as I slowly become a bit pickier with whom I share my time. In the most recent three weeks I have officially dropped three people. I find it very necessary. Folks come and go in life and every so often I find time to drop some deadweight. Sixteen months into my Beijing life I still hand out business cards like I always have. I don’t actively solicit information from others unless I really really think I want to see them again and even then my follow-up is not as enthusiastic as it was eight months ago. I have a new chapter of work that begins soon so that will consume me more than work has consumed me for the past several months. I also need to plan several Asia trips because I am here. I know that I will have an exit from this city. I don’t know if I’ll leave next year or during the next US presidential administration. This city, like every other city I may stay in for a few years in the future will (and has) allow(ed) me to grow and improve myself. I have and I will continue to get a better grasp of Mandarin Chinese. My study habits make it difficult for me to learn quickly. I prefer to do anything else besides study. Step one is identifying the issue. I have done that now.
My next visitor arrives Saturday and I am quite excited about that!
This time I’ll paint over the nice name of the bike. Several weeks ago now my prized possession disappeared. I immediately replaced it with an even nicer bike. This new bike lasted all of a few weeks. This brings us up to today when I had to purchase a new bike again. This one is mirrors the last one. I locked my bike up today and ventured into lunch. When I returned 4 hours later my bike had vanished. I immediately replaced it at the bike store with an identical bike. This time I’ll paint over the name and remove all of the stickers. I believe that the good/ expensive bikes that disappear end up at bike shops and get sold again. This newest bike I purchased appears to be slightly used. I don’t believe I’ll be locking it up outside anymore because I don’t want to keep replacing it.
Justin, a well educated friend of mine in Beijing who hails from central Texas and originally southeast Texas works with the Global Times in Beijing and from time to time writes interesting articles.
The following two stories arrived in my email box from an American friend working here in Beijing. She arrived four months ago:
My entire week really has been yucky, but today was particularly frustrating. Note that this week started on Saturday as I have been working through the weekend. At 4:00 pm this afternoon I made an executive decision and decided to treat myself to my favorite summertime treat from Starbucks. This morning, while getting my morning coffee, I noticed that this sugar filled Strawberry delight has returned for the summer. With anticipation and excitement I waited patiently for my guilty pleasure to be perfectly blended, a young Chinese women chatted me up. This lovely, American born Chinese lady from LA, arrived in China 8 years ago. Presently she heads some (my opinion) big fancy operation here in China. This brief conversation brightened my day tremendously. After the natural business card exchange I received (less than sixty minutes later) an e-mail from her connecting me with 2 or 3 colleagues in my office whom I have not met yet and invited me to an event in June relating rto my field of work. This extremely friendly and lovely young lady even works in my same complex. We will share lunch soon.
After polishing off my tasty Strawberry Starbucks afternoon beverage, and my work day was ending, I visited the young ladies room. I do not typically share this tidbit of information, but this is where this story starts: As I exited the stall, a young chinese woman with 2 large and overflowing boxes on a dolly stood hawking handbags. She obviously did not work at my office; as nobody in our office would lug boxes like this around. She sells purses, shoes, etc. Amanda previously operated a stall at the Silk market. Presently, she sells directly to the customers with whom she has relationships. I quickly learn that one of the my big bosses (I have not yet met) regularly makes purchases. She accepted my card and I hope she contacts. I believe she will be my new ghandbag friend. I Just need to provide her with the product number. She had the most awesome Christian Lubaton black open toe pumps. I soooo want them — RMB 550 — these shoes are $550 back home. As I was looking though the box of goodies she was delivering today, my colleagues were coming in and out of the restroom. Nobody really flinched or batted an eye. I kept thinking…….only in China.
Today I started back with my favorite Mandarin teacher. It’s been too long since my last lesson. I purchased Rosetta Stone some weeks ago. I still need to install it into my computer and get cracking on it. I imagine with the two to four weekly sessions with my instructor My comprehension will improve. I am not going anywhere so I will use the lessons to help structure my days. I already have Saturdays, Monday nights, and every weekday morning until 10am scheduled. Now, with the addition of the eight hours weekly of Mandarin lessons I should become more productive. It pains me to have the structure although I am aware that I need it and it will make me more productive in my Beijing world.