Beijing: Day One
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2007.07.13 11:37 CST (EST + 12 hrs): Beijing, People's Republic of China
Krista and I landed in Beijing yesterday, slightly ahead of schedule, were effortlessly processed through customs and were met by the recruiting agency staff only moments later, outside the gates, with our names misspelled. After a twenty-five minute drive from the airport, we were taken to our new apartment which, to be honest, is actually really nice: two bathrooms, dining room, living room, two big bedrooms with air conditiong, two television sets, a computer room and connecting the entire back of the space is a windowed balcony that overlooks the massive shared park that is also the centre of a complex of high-rises (about ten of them in a round formation).
We met the director of the agency and three of her staff before being let to shower and relax in the early evening. Around seven, we were taken to a local "famous" restaurant to meet five other foreign teachers (two middle-aged ladies from Montreal and three Aussies). Next, we were treated to a dozen appetizer dishes spanning fresh salads to baked tofu, baby spinach with peanuts, beef and tomato stew, whole baked fish, spicy chicken...with beer, tea and juice for everyone. The main dish, as I'd seen before in China, was roasted（Peking）duck which is served sliced with side dishes of slivered cucumbers, thinned shallots and jiang jiang (thick, black sauce). After dipping each of the items in the sauce, they're placed in a thin rice paper "tortilla", wrapped and eaten in two or three bites. Awesome delicious.
We got home from the restaurant around nine o'clock and were ridiculously exhausted from having only slept a few hours since Monday (we only had two hours to crash on Tuesday night and slept only sporadically and uncomfortably on the flight). At any rate, we passed out around nine-fifteen and slept until six and didn't get out of bed until eight-ish. This morning, we investigated a bit of our surrounding neighbourhood on foot and went all the way to what is being constructed as the Olympics' indoor track stadium (refered to as the "Bird's Nest" because of it's exterior design ... super cool by the way). We found the local department store which, in Asia, normally refers to a grocery store, butchery, bakery, beer store, pharmacy, clothing and general goods store all wrapped into one. We bought groceries for the week and a few amenities like toilet paper and house slippers.
We're now sitting in a French cafe where we finished sumptious coffees and used the computers for free. All is going well and we are scheduled to meet the director of our school this afternoon (two o'clock) for an "interview" and review of the materials we are hired to teach. Later this afternoon, we will be taken on a neighbourhood tour by one of the agency staff (Kevin) who we met last night and lives near us. His English is excellent and he has been nothing but extra helpful to us.
We're really excited to be here together and even more so to have a free weekend before we start working on Monday: sightseeing time!
I hope this finds each and all of you well and happy.
With love and smiles,
S*
Current read(s) in progress: The Walrus, "The Catcher in the Rye" - JD Steinbeck
2007.07.13 11:37 CST (EST + 12 hrs): Beijing, People's Republic of China
Krista and I landed in Beijing yesterday, slightly ahead of schedule, were effortlessly processed through customs and were met by the recruiting agency staff only moments later, outside the gates, with our names misspelled. After a twenty-five minute drive from the airport, we were taken to our new apartment which, to be honest, is actually really nice: two bathrooms, dining room, living room, two big bedrooms with air conditiong, two television sets, a computer room and connecting the entire back of the space is a windowed balcony that overlooks the massive shared park that is also the centre of a complex of high-rises (about ten of them in a round formation).
We met the director of the agency and three of her staff before being let to shower and relax in the early evening. Around seven, we were taken to a local "famous" restaurant to meet five other foreign teachers (two middle-aged ladies from Montreal and three Aussies). Next, we were treated to a dozen appetizer dishes spanning fresh salads to baked tofu, baby spinach with peanuts, beef and tomato stew, whole baked fish, spicy chicken...with beer, tea and juice for everyone. The main dish, as I'd seen before in China, was roasted（Peking）duck which is served sliced with side dishes of slivered cucumbers, thinned shallots and jiang jiang (thick, black sauce). After dipping each of the items in the sauce, they're placed in a thin rice paper "tortilla", wrapped and eaten in two or three bites. Awesome delicious.
We got home from the restaurant around nine o'clock and were ridiculously exhausted from having only slept a few hours since Monday (we only had two hours to crash on Tuesday night and slept only sporadically and uncomfortably on the flight). At any rate, we passed out around nine-fifteen and slept until six and didn't get out of bed until eight-ish. This morning, we investigated a bit of our surrounding neighbourhood on foot and went all the way to what is being constructed as the Olympics' indoor track stadium (refered to as the "Bird's Nest" because of it's exterior design ... super cool by the way). We found the local department store which, in Asia, normally refers to a grocery store, butchery, bakery, beer store, pharmacy, clothing and general goods store all wrapped into one. We bought groceries for the week and a few amenities like toilet paper and house slippers.
We're now sitting in a French cafe where we finished sumptious coffees and used the computers for free. All is going well and we are scheduled to meet the director of our school this afternoon (two o'clock) for an "interview" and review of the materials we are hired to teach. Later this afternoon, we will be taken on a neighbourhood tour by one of the agency staff (Kevin) who we met last night and lives near us. His English is excellent and he has been nothing but extra helpful to us.
We're really excited to be here together and even more so to have a free weekend before we start working on Monday: sightseeing time!
I hope this finds each and all of you well and happy.
With love and smiles,
S*
Current read(s) in progress: The Walrus, "The Catcher in the Rye" - JD Steinbeck
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