Expectations VS Reality
My origins
After my first article, you know that in the imagination of my inner child, China is a marvelous country of umbrellas and dragons. Since I have been talking about my imminent departure, I have encountered many misconceptions and apprehensions. I rationalized them using Hanlon’s razor principle. Still, I plan to learn as much as I can during my stay to share my knowledge when I come back. However, I am also from Southern France. I have been used to immense natural landscapes and such clear skies that we can see thousands of stars just by looking up. I have my own misgivings. Thus, pollution levels and large populations always scare me in capital cities.
I took it step by step, starting with Amsterdam, then Paris and Rome. Although now is the time I will step into the big league (the really big one) with Beijing, in the top 10 of the biggest cities in the world! As populous as 6 Croatias or 10 Parises. I see cities as ambiguous places. There are a lot of people, but also loneliness and anonymity. There are activities and events daily, as well as many closed groups and cliques we can only enter upon “invitation”. Indeed, one must know an artist before getting to see the art shows…
Beijing’s population is 10 times Paris’.
– INSEE and “Population stat”, one source is more reliable than the other, but I kept it short.
The city
Comme j’aime me sentir informée, même si ce que dit internet ne reflète pas la réalité, je me suis renseignée sur les bonnes habitudes à prendre pour protéger ses I am looking forward and a bit concerned at once, being just one more person in a sea of millions, while discovering the sino-cosmopolite life of the capital! I plan to find places where only Mandarin is spoken so I can get lost in the experience and learn faster too. Maybe old cafes? Where I could only order 红茶1 the first time. Who knows, after a few weeks I will be able to inquire about the staff’s family’s health. Maybe at the blood donation facility, at the 包子2 stand or volunteering?
I like feeling like I am informed, even if the internet is not always matching real life. I researched about good practices to protect my lungs against the pollution:
- Ventilate in the morning before the first traffic peak.
- Wear masks from air quality index 100.
- Avoid outdoor sports.
Imagine, for the first time of my life I will adopt a skin care routine to avoid skin damage. Maybe this change is an auspicious time to take on new habits?
China Foreign Affairs University was founded in 1955.
– Wikipedia said so.
My life there
On the university side, I am looking forward to starting classes3 and assimilating a new academic system (after France, Mexico, the Netherlands and Italy). China Foreign Affairs University was founded in 1955. It has the reputation of providing excellent academic standards and having great intellectual integrity. I cannot wait to experience it. There are many ways to discover a culture, but methods (and quality) of teaching reflect local knowledge and habits. I am sure the university offers a whole host of surprises!
True to character, I wish to practice sports and get involved in campus activities and the life of the local community. I hope to have a schedule that will be flexible enough for it all. They represent unique opportunities to integration and learning mandarin. Nevertheless, these ideas will stay dreams while I figure out the last administrative and practical details of this transition period. Indeed, I will need a new phone number, a bank account, register at the police station, at the embassy, etc.
I land on Sunday evening, next week’s article will be about my aerial odyssey and first impressions.