音乐会: Jurassic 5 Concert

Chaoyang, 24ºC, scattered showers

A friend on the programme is really keen on the band Jurassic 5. I must admit I am not at all familiar with the group, nor am I well versed in their DJ style. However, I thought it would make for a different music experience compared with my classical training.

The DJ was a cool and lively figure on the stage with all of his DJ equipment. A close up camera feed was projected onto a projector by the bar, and rather than be caught up in the sweaty crowd on the main floor, we decided to sit back and enjoy the show in front of this projector.

I had never experienced a concert like it. Lights flashing and shining in all directions, seemingly co-ordinated with every move the DJ made. He mixed song after song, an everlasting source of music. As a classical musician, I would typically reject such music, but I was taken in by the occasion, the lights, the music, the atmosphere. The performance didn’t exactly blow me away, but I certainly enjoyed this new musical experience.

舞美: Chinese Supermarket

UIBE, 32ºC, hazy

Over the past six weeks, I have made daily trips to the 潮湿 local grocery store and 7-Eleven, but I have not been into a large hypermarkets. Today, I needed to buy a few toiletries that the潮湿 local store did not stock, so I ventured to a hypermarket.

I had walked into an Asda, I was sure. The only difference was that all the labels were in Chinese. The舞美 hypermarket offered everything: clothes, stationary, electronics, home appliances, food. As I made my way to the toiletries section, I observed dozens of sales assistants everywhere. I guessed they were there to help you if needed help, but considering there were hardly any customers at the time, I was a little bemused at how many people were on shift. They weren’t even stocking shelves – they were literally just standing there.

When I came to pay, there was a long queue, and just one till. Yet several unoccupied shop employees were watching on as we customers waited at the single checkout that was open. It didn’t make any sense to me – pure bemusement!

面子: Giving respect, saving face

UIBE, 26ºC, overcast

Earlier in the programme, our teachers introduced us to the concept of 面子 “mianzi”. Although it sounds very similar to the idea of saving face in English, our teachers insisted that there is no direct translation into English. However, the concept is powerful, and it seems to me that 面子 is very much entrenched in Chinese society. From family to education, from image to the treatment of others, 面子 is very important.

One of the most common scenarios in which we applied this 生词 new word was in the context of respecting our teachers. In China, students do not answer back to their teachers because that does not give their teachers面子. In the same way, our teachers told us that we must always give面子 to them both inside and outside the classroom. In a hierarchical way, the teachers would have to give面子 to their superiors (i.e. more senior teachers).

I fear that many students both in England and in the US have lost the meaning of “respect your elders”. Too many students are too full of themselves. As students, they believe education should be geared to them, when in fact they could learn a few things from the concept of面子.

意大利菜: Italian food

UIBE, 31ºC, hazy

I was persuaded by a couple of friends to go to an Italian restaurant for dinner tonight. I should have learnt from the “Western” breakfast we were served in Xi’an that Italian food in Beijing would hardly be stellar. I opted for a lasagne, and found it eatable, if unremarkable. There was little taste in it, and I paid a premium for eaten European food in China. I could have bought three bowls of noodles for this one lasagne! Good to know for next time.

“不可以”: Taxis on strike

UIBE, 28ºC, hazy

Across most of Europe and in America, if you hail a taxi, the driver must take you to where you ask. Not in China. Last Friday, five taxis no less refused to take three of us to the 798. When we left the 798, two taxi drivers were smoking a cigarette, and turned us away while they enjoyed their little break.

I certainly find it surprising that a taxi driver might choose to turn down business. But taxi fares in Beijing are not based on a combination of distance and time, but fares solely take into account distance. So if you want to travel to the other side of Beijing during rush hour, it is probably not worth the time of the driver to sit in traffic for more than an hour to do a journey that would take 20 minutes in light traffic. That being said, I only ever expected French taxi drivers to go on strike!

非洲: This Time for Africa

Sanlitun, 31ºC, sunny

This is a very exciting year for Africa. With the successful conclusion of the first World Cup to be hosted in Africa, South Africa, indeed the whole continent of Africa, has a lot to be proud about. What better day to demonstrate this than today, Mandela Day.

I had been tipped off by a friend that there would be an event celebrating Mandela Day at a coffee shop in Sanlitun hosted by the Young African and Professionals Society (YAPS). I was not entirely sure what to expect, but having been intrigued by the vibrant African community at UIBE, my host university, I wanted to gauge the cohesiveness of the African community across the city.

There were about 100 people squeezed into the side room of the Book Trader, a big crowd for the space. There were speeches praising the unity Africa finds in celebrating its diversity, praising the success of the World Cup, and praising the work of Nelson Mandela himself. The Chinese head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) gave a speech that drew attention to constantly improving relations between China and Africa. This is currently a hot topic in the study of international relations, and so hearing warm words towards Africa right from the horse’s mouth made this event all the more interesting.

对不起，天门关门: Sorry, the Gate of Heaven is closed today

红螺寺 Hongluo Temple, 31ºC, sunny

This weekend’s excursion took us to the Hongluo Temple, a revered Buddhist complex of temples, hills, bells and gates. Located about an hour outside Beijing, our teachers told us that people often came here for spiritual reasons.

We had a couple of hours free to roam around this complex. As I walked past a pond covered with beautiful pink lilies, I noticed a sign: 天门 the Gate of Heaven. I decided to follow it. I walked around the corner and found myself at the foot of some steps. Many steps. Along with three other students on the course, I climbed and climbed and climbed. It seemed that this staircase would never end. But after about 30 minutes of climbing in the burning heat of the scorching sun, we made it to the top of the peak. The first peak.

The signs kept on directing us up, and we continued to climb. After another 20 minutes or so of climbing, we did finally make it. To the entrance of 天门 the Gate of Heaven. But the Entrance was closed. We asked some Chinese people if they knew why it was closed. 三点，天门关门. At 3pm, the Gate of Heaven closes. It was 3.30pm. Perhaps we were not worthy, but at least we made it that far.