Xin Nian Kuai le everybody.
Its a new year in China- a 1 week holiday marks the start of the yearof the Rooster -its my year :) This means I will either be lucky orunlucky. To ensure i am lucky i am supposed to wear something red 24/7for the entire year; such as a belt or underwear (and not take themoff een when sleeping); a friend is wearing a red bracelet (notsomething i want to do....). Anyway, my solution has been to buy alittle rosster to hang up near by bed and wish me luck whilst guardingaway the evil spirits. I figure its cuter than wearing red underwearall year, cleaner, and also a much better source of luck. My roosterwill kick ass!
Lsat night we went out for our second New Years Eve; a bunch of AIESECAlumni as usual from around the world; it was much fun; from theawesome hot chooclate in no name bar on the lake to the cheaprestaurant, lazy Souk (middle eastern type place with couches andshishas) and finally the comfortable Suzy Wong's. We really must bemore adventuresome and go somewhere else sometimes! Unfortunatelythere werent many fireworks/crackers as they are banned within centralBeijing :(
Today we went to Yonghegong -lama temple- -the most famous temple inBeijing, to check out the crowds of people burning incense, prayingand generally being noisy; then had dumplings (traditional for newyear, especially for the northerners). Apparently dumplings are shapedlike ears, and northerners eat them, as fable goes, so that their earswont fall off from the cold! a classic, typically chinese, tale!Afterwards we went to a 'temple fair'; there was a stage with somegreat chinese gong fu, some dragon dances and other chinese dancing;but mostly it was hundreds and hundreds of stalls selling food, crapand good gifts, rooster this and rooster that, plus some awfulrides/games. I was told its only really a Beijing thing to do and itwas freeeeezing cold :(. It was kinda fun anwyay.
This week might not be so much fun, but i will try to make it so! Dosome work, watch lots of DVDs, sleep, go out a little, try andexercise more (now my cold has gone) etc. Highlights include lunchtomorrow with some alumni, a dinner party on saturday night that Flicis hosting, and probably some other stuff. I might even try and readsome books for a change!
Since Achim left (cool German guy who was here since summer), weinherited all his stuff from his appartment including clothes (fomrhim and other past flatmates), a very cool sword, alcohol andmagazines etc. It was strange him leaving -he has been a good friendand has a unique sense of humour that will be missed. hopefully hewill be back in the next 2 or 3 months. Anyway 1 of the magazines ishilarious -very chinese, talking about china's win-win situations withother countries, China's stance on arm-controls and so on. I alsorecently found a map of the Beijing subway's planned route by 2008 -itwill be great, with 1 or 2 lines opening a year for the next 3 years.There are stations and tunnels being built everywhere (one outside ourappartment for example).
thats enough for now, more comments on more interesting stuff soon Iam sure. The last thing to say, is that I watched American history Xfor the 3rd time recently, and it is still one of the most powerful,great, films of all time. See it, if you have not.
from a cold Beijing
Adam
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