北京

I’ve been living in Beijing for a week now and after much persuasion from my parents, have decided to start a blog. I cant make any guarantees as to how often I will update it but if you are legitimately interested in what im up to just shoot me an email and I’ll either send one back or consider updating.
its about 630 in the morning here and there is this alarm going off that no one else will turn off and i dont know how. the same thing happened yesterday. but its really okay because i went to bed t like nine last night. and had a nap at about 530
Well, where to start? I’ve been studying Chinese in the US for about three years and instead of going to college after high school I decided to take a year off and go to China in an attempt to master mandarin. I am studying here in Beijing at the University of International Business and Economics through a program called Education First (EF) for the next eight months. EF sponsors international language training in many countries on all six continents (Antarctica is not a continent I’ve decided). I have met students from all over the world including Mexico, Norway, Hungary and Thailand just to name a few.
EF has also set me up with a family to live with here. The Wu family is very nice and has accommodated me well. Mr. Wu is an English teacher, which has made my transition here a lot easier. Mrs. Wu and their son Xintong however speak no English, which forces me to speak Chinese to communicate. It’s a good balance. They are all very nice and have helped me get adjusted to life here.
there goes that damn alarm again
After a few days here, my sleep cycle is mostly adjusted (12 hour time difference... terrible) and I am over most of the initial culture shock. Some things how ever are taking a little longer to get use to (smells and table manners mostly). I’ve picked up a lot of the Chinese that I had forgotten over the summer and I have to say I’m quite proud of my progress.
Classes don’t start until next Monday though because everyone has this week off to celebrate the People’s Holiday for the founding of the People’s Republic of China. It’s nice because it gives me time to sight-see and become more familiar with the city. But a lot of people have come here for their holiday so Beijing is busting at its seams with people. Today on the subway back from the Temple of Heaven the car train was so packed that people were sleeping standing up because they couldn’t fall over. Just crazy.
So far I have been to Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, the Great Wall and the Temple of Heaven. I would upload some pictures but im a dumbass and forgot the connect for my camera. I suppose I have more to write but I am just exhausted right now which accounts for why this entry sounds so fragmented. i need to get ready for today. we're going to go see the pandas!
Hope all of you back State-side are well
邓雍煌