In the muddle after Mid-Autumn Festival, our days were stuffed to the brim with activities and interesting developments. Because of the Golden Week school vacation, we had school on Saturday and a field trip on Sunday. But let’s start on Monday, the Mid-Autumn Festival. My host family picked me up to go to their friend’s… Continue reading An Eventful Week
Month: September 2018
A Perfect Match
The Doggo “Be careful when you walk inside,” my host mom explained. “Oreo tends to bark at people he doesn’t know.” She opened the door, and a fifteen-pound ball of fluff exploded from the doorway—and began cuddling with me. “He’s not barking at you!” My host sister exclaimed, “That’s so weird!” My host dad immediately… Continue reading A Perfect Match
Three Things No One Mentions About the Great Wall of China
1. Centipedes. So many. So scary. The Great Wall was literally crawling with hundreds of these creepy curlers. Imagine a four-inch long orange-striped wiggly critter that oozes more than it walks. These things were literally everywhere: oozing around on the steps, squished and dead across the bricks, suctioned cupped on to the sides of walls.… Continue reading Three Things No One Mentions About the Great Wall of China
Beneath the Surface
If this were a NSLI-Y summer program, we’d already be at the halfway point. Here on the AY program, we’re just getting started. This week, all the clubs on campus more-or-less got their acts together and had their first meetings. Clubs are organized through WeChat group chats, and like any group chat, things got real… Continue reading Beneath the Surface
30,000 More Steps
A Banana and a Veggie Bao The rain from last night cleared the smog away, revealing a gorgeously partly-cloudy windy day—perfect for the outing to Houhai/Gulou/Nanluoguxiang Orion planned for us today. I teamed up with Alexander, Stacy, and Sarah. We made our way by subway to Gulou. As soon as we exited the subway, we… Continue reading 30,000 More Steps
Two Weeks In
The pollution worsened dramatically yesterday and today, to the point where I have to wear my mask in order to feel comfortable breathing. Regardless, Beijing 80 is as vibrant and full of life as ever. Mia, Alex, and I met the brand new IB department today. The coordinator brought us to the secret rooftop garden… Continue reading Two Weeks In
The Best Expat Hangout in Beijing
They say that Sanlitun and Wudaokou are the go-to expat hangouts of Beijing, but I strongly reject this sentiment. No, the best expat hangout in Beijing is the medical center where all foreigners living in Beijing for longer than six months must complete physicals. I didn’t realize quite how refreshing diversity is until I saw… Continue reading The Best Expat Hangout in Beijing
Meeting the Ambassador
Of the things I expected to do at the US Embassy in Beijing, learning about the appellate court system in Iowa was not one of them. Today, we were lucky enough to have a private Q&A session with Terry Branstad, the current US ambassador to Beijing. Ambassador Branstad reminded me of a kindly grandpa, complete… Continue reading Meeting the Ambassador
30,000 Steps… Part 2!
Today I remembered why I love China so much. Orion, our RD, sent us to the winding alleyways of the hutongs, a touristy area in downtown Beijing. When I imagine China, the hutongs are exactly what comes to mind—bursting with people, delicious food, and fresh adventure. I spent most of my day with Stacy, a… Continue reading 30,000 Steps… Part 2!
Beijing 80 HS Operations
The only time you really get to interact with students outside the Beijing 80 International Department in China is during lunch. I’ve made it a point to eat my lunch with random Chinese students in the cafeteria, with mixed results. Usually my conversations end up going kinda like this: Me: “Is this seat empty?” Them:… Continue reading Beijing 80 HS Operations
Away with Jessica 