好好学习... you know the rest

Started Chinese lessons yesterday under the terms of my new visa (I realise that makes it sound like a prison sentence). Me and 5 other clueless souls (he says to make himself feel less stupid) huddled around some warm textbooks coaxing our neurons into 汉语.

99% of the lesson is in Chinese, with the odd moment where our teacher (VPNTS*: find out her name) breaks into a mixed sentence that's even more difficult to follow.

Meanwhile, the armed forces and students of Beijing are preparing for a march on Tiananmen Square - only this time there'll be a pretty parade and lots of music and flowers. Yes folks, just one month to go until the 60th Anniversary of "New China". I wonder if CCTV will be outdone again?

* Very Public Note to Self

Renewed interest

I've just returned from a family visit to the UK, where I saw much-missed relatives and enjoyed clear air, rain and other homely delights. While I was there I also found the time to take a look at my old China diaries from 2005, and a thought I've often had before resurfaced: that keeping a journal is important for two reasons:

1. It will give you pleasure later in life.
2. It reminds you of your goals and progress, and thus keeps you sane (though not necessarily good).
   *
   

Regarding the second part, here's the narrative so far:

1. I completed an AIESEC internship for VanceInfo, which mostly involved teaching my charming colleagues English, learning Chinese, and eventually getting some technical work sent my way (as originally promised).
2. I helped a number of companies with freelance IT services, and am learning iPhone development for a project involving Chinese training for students and schools.
3. I'm about to start daily Chinese lessons at a language school in Wudaokou.
4. I've traveled to 20 Chinese cities, several towns, one S.A.R. and a tiny village in the mountains of Shandong.
5. I did some voluntary teaching (English for the elderly), was interviewed by TV crews twice, planted beans, got photos published in a magazine, went to a music festival, saw Eason Chan in concert, caught the Olympics in three different venues, got lost in the Confucius family graveyard, fought a hernaic fellow from Essex in Imperial garb, smoked and ate silk worm larvae with a factory boss on a train, experienced the joy of fire cupping, lost the will to live on a freezing holy mountain, been to a village wedding (and made a speech), saw a total solar Eclipse (partially), risked life and limb in all manner of vehicles and worn out umpteen pairs of shoes.

I close with the promise of more of this nonsense.

* 3. Narcissism.

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Two places you should visit in Beijing:

St. Michael's Church on Dongjiao Minxiang, and the former legation quarter with its other surprises.

What? Bar on Beichang Jie.