End of Week 1

Hey all,

It's just been over one week now in Beijing.

I think I'm starting to settle in ok now. The weather is still bitterly cold and it's not the peak of winter yet. I've also managed to meet a few more peopole this week so it's been good to get more contacts to hang out with. Met some ABC's from Perth so that was good and also a few Americans and Chinese locals too.

I've been really tired in the past week but surprisingly felt better on the weekend (when I had less sleep). On Friday night there was a Christmas celebration at the school which was quite good. Managed to meet a few people and talk to a few locals. After that a few of us went to an area called Hou Hai. It's got lots of little pubs and cafes. It was pretty cool because the architecture around the area was old school chinese architecture. Got home real late and felt sick because the weather was super cold.

Saturday was even colder! It was the coldest day in my LIFE! (No joke). We went to Tian'anmen square and the Forbidden city but the winds were so vicious that we all became numb. Even Friedtjof (German guy) who normally experiences -5 degree winters in Germany said it was the coldest he's ever experienced. Because of this we ended up leaving early and bumming at a nice warm cafe. I reckon it was around -10 to -15 degrees that day. Regardless, Tian'anmen square is awesome looking and massive and can apparently hold one million people.

After a nice afternoon nap we went to some dumpling place. After that I was then was ready to go sleep when John (American college dude) called up to go to a big hip-hop/r&b club called Mix. It's actually a really good club and better than alot of the ones in Sydney. Lots of little and big rooms. Music was good and atmosphere was good too. Also no try hards/trouble makers like normally seen at clubs in Sydney. It was even better because John knew an American Chinese guy who booked out one level. Thus we basically had free drinks for the whole night (which are really expensive in clubs in China, more expensive than Aussie prices).

On Sunday, the weather was much better so we ventured back out to the Forbidden city. The place is amazing, it's so big and so grand and it's truly worth a visit. The only down side was that quite a bit of the city was under refurbishment so they were no go areas. It just makes me appreciate Chinese culture and history even more than I already do.

So thus it's been so far so good in Beijing. I'm still feeling a bit sick and have stacks of ulcers but getting through ok. My chinese is definitely improving so that's been good. I just hope I'll keep studying hard at it. As for quiet times, they have been constant but I guess sometimes I'm just powering through them and not as conscious of them as I should be. Contact with you guys back in Australia is giving me encouragement (much thanks!).

I hope England salvages a draw in the 3rd Ashes test. This cricket series is getting boring.

How's the weather back in Australia? Take care guys.

Signing off,

Kris

PS - Gonna go check out the AUD$200 tailor made suits this week. That's craaaazy cheap!