My first two weeks in Beijing were even more hectic and eventful than expected. Between canceled flights, almost-lost luggage and full week of orientation, I got to meet around 80 new people and explore significant parts of the city. After having spent two months interning in Beijing this summer, I thought I would just slide back into my familiar routine, and avoid the awkward stages of adjustment abroad. However, that was not the case. Beijing is one of those places where the adjustment curve is more like a sine wave. There are days when the air pollution is high, the temperature drops, you hit rush hour, miss your bus because the subway was too crowded, almost get run over by an angry old man on a bike, and arrive at your class only to find that the heating system isn’t working and there’s a Chinese dictation you didn’t know about. But there are also days when you realize you are able to hold a short conversation with your favorite street food vendor, get walking directions from a kind lady on the bus in Chinese and manage to actually follow them, make a new friend at work, try some amazing new food and maybe even read a couple of characters on the menu. These small victories are the reason I came here. If you are looking for an easy study abroad location, China is not one of them. But if you want a challenging experience that will allow you to learn more about yourself, then there is no place I would recommend more.
If you choose to take up the challenge, here are some of my initial observations / tips:
- If you try crossing the road, look in ALL directions. Yes, there are lanes and traffic lights. No, they don’t actually matter. It is not rare to see motorcycles on the sidewalk, or vehicles reversing on a highway. It takes some time to get used to, but sooner or later you will cross the road like a true Beijinger.
- Food, food, and more food. For less than 6 RBM (which is about $1) you can get an amazing Chinese breakfast, and for less than $5 you can get just about anything else. Try everything (yes, even frog meat), and then decide if you like it or not. If it’s not good, it’s a good story.
- Public transportation is the fastest way to get around the city, but it is quite challenging at first. Sometimes, the busses will get so crowded that you won’t be able to get off at your stop, and if you aren’t aggressive enough, you will never get to your destination on time. During rush hour, it’s every man for himself.
- People will be extremely nice if you try to explain what you want / need in Chinese. However, if the line is long and the vendor is stressed, maybe try practicing another time and just point at the menu.
- Whenever you ask for water at a restaurant, you will get boiling hot water – so get used to it fast. You may not enjoy it in the summer when it is around 100 degrees outside, but you will be extremely grateful for it in the winter (plus, it’s apparently healthier).
- Due to Internet restrictions and censorship, you will spend more time trying to figure out how to get on Facebook / Snapchat / Instagram / gmail than you will on homework. If your friends and family really want to hear from you, make them download WeChat (the entire country basically runs on this app).
Many people ask me why I chose to come back to Beijing, and I think that it’s mainly because it is full of beautiful contradictions, and is the perfect mixture of past and present. You have modern skyscrapers, malls and Starbucks at every corner, and a great nightlife scene. On the other hand, you can still see many hutongs (old narrow alleyways) and courtyards, traditional small restaurant and street food vendors, and beautiful temples everywhere. These contradictions make this city interesting, and seeing it change on a daily basis is quite exciting. I’m extremely happy to be back and I cannot wait to see what adventures this semester brings.
