So, to bring everyone back up to speed, I moved back to Beijing last weekend and got a little apartment on the campus of the Beijing Language and Culture University. The weekend I moved to Beijing marked the beginning of a holiday (the mid-autumn festival I think it's called). Essentially, the streets are overrun with people visiting and the people who live here go traveling. I wasn't working, know no one, and am on strict financial lock down. My life was essential Netflix, long and aimless walks, and take-out. It was a slow week.
A few days ago I began to claw my way out of that lonely little pit. I started answering ads on sites like thebeijinger.com trying to find some people to hang out with. I couldn't have asked for a better first result.
I started messaging another American named Margaret, another foreigner who came to the country by herself to teach and is having some trouble getting things settled. We swapped numbers and she invited me out to a couch surfing event. Couch Surfing, for those who don't know, is a travel community where people give recommendations, organize events, and let people crash on their couches. I had no idea what the event was but it sounded like a great way to meet some people and get out of my apartment.
So, I met Margaret, Francy from German, William from France, Judy and Joyce from China, Carlos, Raphael, and one guy's name I never did catch from Mexico. We decided to embrace Chinese culture by going out for pizza. It was great. Everyone was friendly, the pizza was really good, the beer was cheap, and we used the last pizza as a spinner for "Truth or Dare." Raphael had to steal a sip of a stranger's beer and the stranger he selected was drunk enough to think it hilarious. He decided we were all friends. Probably one of the better reactions you can have.
Afterwards, the three Mexicans, which is weirdly but definitely not racist in this context, wanted to take us to a salsa club. Sounded fun enough so we let them whisk us away to what essentially looked like a dead club. We could hear the band and they sounded good but it was thirty RMB to get in. I hardly wanted to pay a cover to watch a live band playing for a half empty club. We decided to keep looking. Apparently, we were a stone's throw from expat nightlife central. We waited in a promisingly long line for fifteen RMB mojitos being mixed in batches of twelve from a street cart where I met a handful of Americans and a particularly honest Englishman. The Americans reminded to teach freedom to my students and Ye Olde English Gent reminded me, and everyone in earshot, that "you don't care if she cums, you don't want to cuddle, you just want to drain your boys, bugger off, have a kebab, and sleep in your own bed." I'm glad he was to drunk to see how hard I was laughing. Finally, drinks in hand, we bid the soothsayer farewell and went off to find a more lively club.
You couldn't have asked for better results. At the end of the street we say a big club that seemed to be packed with people dancing. Works for me. We were basically set to go in until the bouncer told us we had to finish our drinks. Carlos, the most charismatic of the bunch, sort of took charge and decided we should try to find this club called "Five Elements" which is close enough to "The Fifth Element" so I was willing to check it out. However, it became readily apparent that no one knew how to get there. We decided to double back to the first club we'd seen and down our drinks on the way.
When we got back to the club we walked into a dance off on the stage. These little Chinese guys could break dance. We formed a little bunch right up against the stage and danced for hours. I never even got myself a drink. The music shifted from intense and fantastic to kind of kitsch (YMCA, anyone?). All in all, it was fantastic and free. You can be sure I'll find my way back before my time here is over.
Eventually, Margaret and I stepped out to find water. I didn't bother to ask at the bar, I expected it to be quite expensive and the fresh air was welcome. That's when we realized it was past 2:00a.m. We decided to call it a night and started looking for cabs. The ones actually in the expat zone wanted to charge about 150RMB for a ride which I didn't trust so we decided to make our way a bit further from the beaten path to find cabs that would use the meter. Eventually we decided we were far enough so we hailed a cab. We got her cab in less than a minute. Ten minutes later I was able to get a cab but only after being accosted by a drug dealer. Seriously, he wouldn't leave until I let him give me his number. So if anyone in China needs any "stuff" I'll get you in touch with Ike. He's got stuff.
William, Margaret, and Judy are staying in Beijing for quite awhile, the rest of the bunch were travelling through.We all gave our email addresses to William so he can start a group email and keep in touch. And the best thing, the whole night was less than twenty USD. Someday I'll stop thinking in USD but for now: pizza and two beers: 49RMB, mojito: 15RMB, cab fare: 63RMB. Total: 127RMB.
If I can continue finding people like that to hang out with I think my time here will turn around and improve quickly. Holiday's over. Lets see what the work week brings.
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