I thought I'd better start one of these, not only to document my travels but so as the fans don't leave me. Being a well-known blogger, I figured I can't just abandon the people who put me where I am today. Which at this precise moment in time happens to be a hotel room in Shunyi, Beijing. Thus I present to you the first installment of the soon to be award winning 'Made In China' (I know, inspired).
So, what have I been up to? WELL! I've been here just over a week now, I've completed my TEFL course and tomorrow some poor kids have got to pay attention to me as I attempt to teach them how to say hello and goodbye in English. For an hour. Without knowing a smidgen of Chinese. The only phrases I have learnt are not going to help me in a classroom scenario, not unless one of the children fancy getting me a beer. And whilst that might help me I don't see them cooperating.
The first weekend I was here, I took a very delirious, jet-lagged and sweaty couple of hundred Metro changes to Tiananmen Square and The Forbidden City. It was absolutely beautiful and if I wasn't in such a state of confusion I'd probably have enjoyed it a lot more. Saying that, I have never been stared at so much in my life. People were asking if their kids could have their photos taken with us -in fact grown men were asking if they could have their photos taken with us! It has been something I've had to get used to. I was actually sitting in The Forbidden City and a woman started taking my picture...like I was a white person in a zoo. It happened the other day at lunch too. And a few nights ago at dinner. I could lie and say I'm pretty big time in China but it happens to everyone, hpwever it's very unusual to feel like such a freak show.
Yesterday I climbed The Great Wall, and in doing so became a human water feature. I can honestly say I have never produced so much sweat in my life, it was a tough climb! However, it was an amazing feeling making it to the top of the cable car which I took down and I loved every minute of it. I look forward to showing you all my 'I climbed up the Great Wall of China' t-shirt too which I got (after some aggressive haggling) for £2.50. At the foot of the entrance, there are rows and rows of market stalls with every piece of tourist tat you could hope for. My panda chopsticks and fake Raybans were probably my favourite purchase, which collectively I paid £6.50 for. Life is good.
Last night I went to see an acrobatic show which was, in the words of my good friend Joe Dingwall, UN-BE-LIEV-ABLE. You haven't seen anything until you've witnessed 5 guys on motorcycles riding around a metal, sphere-shaped cage. It was mental but absolutely amazing.
Today I was in a town in Beijing doing a bit of shopping. A street seller attempted to sell me a wee turtle for 10Yuan (£1) and despite wanting to liberate all 20 of the poor little things out of the washing up basin they were imprisoned in, I resisted. In other news, I've eaten a chicken's foot (don't do it) and have, on more than one occasion used a "squattie potty". I'm sure you can work out what that is for yourself. Can't wait to try that whilst steaming!
On the subject of "steaming" I've never drank (or eaten) so cheaply in my life - and I grew up with Fubar Thursdays! 50p for a large beer, and a meal for £3 is the norm here. Spitting in the street and doing aerobics outside convenience stores is also the norm here but I've yet to try the latter two!
Anyway I've got a lesson to plan for tomorrow so I'd better wrap this up. Just thought I'd let you all know I'm alive and well. Zàijiàn!
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