As an attempt to start fulfilling our "Beijing Bucket List", my friend Alli and I decided to visit some Beijing hutongs this weekend. For those who are unaware (like I was until 3 days ago), hutongs are a traditional-type Chinese home which looks like a long, winding corridor. I can't really explain it, so you might just have to google it. Anyway, we met up on Saturday afternoon and headed to the center(ish) of Beijing to check out a section of hutongs that were still intact and being lived it. It was great, because so often in Beijing, you feel like you are just in another big city, but the hutongs felt like a more authentic "China" experience. I think that the hutongs are a really neat source of community for the people who live in them since everyone lives in such close quarters. Unfortunately, most hutongs are being destroyed in the country's efforts to "modernize". Anyway, I'll try to post pictures, but it was really interesting.
Next, we met two friends in a highly commercialized area called Wangfujing and ate a glorious double cheeseburger value meal from McDonalds. We then made a trip to the foreign language bookstore (also glorious), and then visited the market behind all of the commercial stuff. This was another fun "uniquely China" experience, seeing all the little street vendors and the food. Trace and Jason, the two guys we were with, decided to try fried scorpion...delish. That's on Alli & I's agenda for the next Wangfujing visit.
In other news, I moved into a new apartment today. That's exciting! I'm not living with my boss anymore, which was actually a little sad when I left them because they were beginning to be like family to me! But I moved in with two girls (one girl is out of town until the 22nd, so I haven't met her yet). It will be interesting, living with two random girls in a new part of town. BUT, I know that He will work in the ways He needs to, so it will turn out well.
I think I'm going to get ready to hit the hay... it's been a long weekend, and I'd like to rest up. Hopefully the next post will be a little more entertaining.
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2 comments:
wow katie,
you are amazing. This really sounds like an awesome adventure, and kudos on getting an apartment. which one did you get? the cheap or the expensive one? Also, please send me your address in an e-mail or something so I can send you a gift. love you katie, you are amazing and I hope that you will His hands in china.
hi katie! we all miss you very much at kaplan and cannot wait for you to come back! it sounds like you are having fun in china - definitely an adventure.
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