The majority of foreign teachers (myself included) come to Beijing by themselves, and that can be a daunting experience. How will I make friends? Will the other teachers like me? Will I like them? Will they like the same things as me? My worries were put to rest almost as soon as I got off the plane. The people here are really nice, friendly, and obliging.

Which is good, because unless you have been here before, you will need help finding your footing the first couple of weeks. Beijing is so big it almost doesn’t make sense, and very few locals can speak English. Luckily, we are well looked-after; representatives of the school will accompany you as you buy a phone and get a medical check, and before long you will be able to navigate by yourself. If you get lost, just send a message to the teacher group on your phone; there will always be someone who knows how to point you in the right direction.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. You are coming here to work, after all. I have worked enough jobs to know that working with people you don’t like can do a lot to sour your experience. I am happy to say that that has not happened here. Not only are the foreign teachers and the Chinese staff very nice people, but they also hold themselves to a professional standard. They work hard and work well, and that has made working here much easier and more enjoyable.

But all work and no play makes Eoin a boring loser, I hear you say. What do you do for fun? I’m glad you asked. It’s important to savour and enjoy your free time in any job, and teaching in Beijing is no different. Aihua houses people with a wide variety of hobbies and interests, and you will be able to find an outlet for almost all of them in Beijing. Do you like music? Go for a karaoke night with a group of other teachers and throw dignity to the wind! Or, if you can play an instrument, go to an open mic night. Or better yet, form a band! Do you like sports? You can find a number of sports bars that show all manner of sports, from American football to basketball to hurling to (I’m not making this up) competitive wood-chopping. Or are you an outdoorsy type? Get a bike or a scooter or just some running shoes and go exploring. Video games? Bring your games with you, invite some of your new friends and have a gaming night in your apartment, or hit up an arcade and have an epic showdown with a spotty 15-year-old Chinese boy. Of course, you may just want to go out and paint the town red, and that is definitely an option as well. There are always teachers eager to hit up a bar or nightclub, and bars and nightclubs are two things Beijing is definitely not short on.

That is the thing I have been most grateful for in Beijing, the friends I’ve made. Whether it’s going out on the town, helping you out with work, or just grabbing a coffee between classes, you’re never without company. It has made the move to China, the adjustment period, the work, and the adventure as a whole so much more enjoyable.

If you want to live Beijing, here are some tips to help you along the way.

1. Get a job: If you want to live in Beijing, the first thing you will need to do is to secure a job in Beijing. This is important for your visa application. For example, once I got a job with Aihua, they had to send me a letter that I had to take to the Chinese embassy stating that I was, in fact, employed with them, and not just some random person making things up for no apparent reason. The visa process is complicated and long and honestly very frustrating if you have no patience (like me), but Aihua made it a whole less complicated, a lot shorter, and definitely less rage inducing then it could have been. They will help you every step of the way and will let you know exactly what you need to do by when. This is very helpful if you are a chronically disorganized mess like I am.

2. Find a place to live: Once you have a job and arrive in Beijing you need a place to live. If you come over with Aihua this will luckily be very easy as they will meet you at the airport and drive you to your apartment. They will also give you some very nice and practical things the day you arrive like a pillow, blankets, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc. so that you can sleep through your jet lag in comfort and also so that you aren’t gross the next morning. Trust me, you will appreciate this.

The school will pay the rent for the apartment you will be living in so that will be one less thing for you to worry about. This is great if you have problems keeping track of things like deadlines and bills and anything financial and boring (again: like me). You will have to pay for the electricity, water, internet, and gas yourself which is not that expensive- the hardest part is remembering to do it before you are suddenly plunged into the dark early on a Saturday night, which, after a valiant fight with some candles, matches and a flashlight you will slowly, begrudgingly (and just a tad pathetically) admit defeat and crawl into bed at 9 P.M. This will make you feel old and a little boring but it’s ok because you will sleep well because without electricity there is literally nothing else to do but sleep.

Your apartment will also be furnished so don’t worry about having to sleep on the floor your first night. You may have to buy a few things like plates and cups depending on how much the previous people in the apartment left behind, or you might get lucky and have everything you need right off the bat (thanks Max and Lauren!)

Your apartment will also come with a roommate who, in my experience, will be a wonderful person who will add a much needed aura of calm to your apartment. This will be very helpful for you when you suddenly get very angry over something very stupid like wanting to wear a certain pair of socks but for some reason only washing one of them and now you have to wear a different, and so obviously inferior, pair. This is, of course, a horrible situation and you rightly should be upset, but with your newly acquired roommate you will soon calm down and realize that you can wear a different pair of socks and that it will be ok.

3. Familiarize yourself with the city’s transportation system: This is important because you will need to use some form of transportation to get to work, which you will need to do to if you want to get paid. The methods available to you for accomplishing this are: bus, subway, taxi, bike, scooter, or feet (your own). The method you will choose will depend on: how far you are traveling, how early (or late) you leave your apartment, and how much money you are willing to spend. If you are brave you can buy a bike. If you are brave and willing to spend some money, you can buy a scooter. If you are not brave and don’t want to spend money, you can take the bus which works just fine.

No matter what form of transportation suits your needs best you will need to adjust to the Chinese ‘rules of the road.’ These are often very different from what you are accustomed to back home. After a month you should be reasonably versed in the more obvious rules and customs of Beijing road safety and etiquette. Remember: if you are ever in doubt, just do what everyone else is doing and you should be more or less ok. Unless of course they are doing something stupid. If they are doing something stupid, then don’t do that.

4. Acquire sustenance: In Beijing, you will need to eat and drink on a regular basis if you hope to continue living in Beijing (or at all). Once you know how to use public transportation (tip 3) you can venture out of your apartment (tip 2) and buy food with money you have received from your new employer for the work you have done (tip 1).

You will have many options available to you, most of them Chinese, so if you don’t really care for Chinese food, start caring for it now because that is what you will be eating most of the time. Also, you should learn to use chopsticks because there is a very unique form of frustration that will come over you if you are very hungry but you aren’t particularly good at eating with chopsticks because it will take you forever to finish your meal. When this occurs, it will feel like the worst thing that could possibly happen to you (which is wrong: stepping on a Lego in the dark is the worst thing that has ever happened to anyone ever. This has been scientifically verified).

So, learn to use chopsticks. If you struggle at first don’t worry because you will soon get the hang of it and then you will be considerably less angry at your bowl of rice. Also, after your first month here you will be inordinately proud of yourself because you will stop leaving restaurants with the table you sat at looking like a two year old ate there with no parental supervision. This is a rite of passage that every foreigner experiences but no one really talks about so remember to make note of it and give yourself a pat on the back.

If you do begin to crave more Western food, there are many good places to go that specialize in that sort of thing but you will need to take the subway (see tip 3) to get there. Good Western food here is a little more expensive but if you have to have a burger right. this. second you can find one soon enough (although like I said, it won’t actually be ‘right this second’ no matter what your stomach is insisting on because you will need to take the subway).

5. Have fun: There is no point in living in Beijing if you are not having fun doing so. Not having fun is stupid so don’t do that. If you have a particular hobby at home, bring it over with you. Beijing is a city which means that a lot of people live here which means someone here is bound to like the same things you do- you just have to find them. There are many websites and groups dedicated to westerners living in Beijing with similar interests- just google whatever you are interested in and you should be able to find something worth checking out (except don’t actually google it because google is banned in China so you will have to either Bing it or use a VPN). If you don’t have a hobby, or just want to try something new, there are many options available to you here. I would really recommend having some type of interest that you can focus your time and energy on here outside of work. Work is, of course, important, and working at Aihua is fun and very rewarding, but it’s not the only type of fun and rewarding experience open to you here in Beijing. So go out and discover something new while you are here. It will be fun! I promise 

Congratulations! If you have read and implemented tips 1-5 above, then you are now successfully Living in Beijing!

And what a shock it is! I’ve been in Beijing, China for approximately four months now and still there are so many things I have yet to discover that are completely different from the Western world. One cannot understand the concept of China until you have experienced it for yourself. Before I got here I had no idea what to expect, except that it would be very different from what I’m used to as that was what everyone was telling me. “It’s the biggest culture shock!” they warned me while trying to describe in detail all the things that they were sure would shock me. Well, their descriptions failed to emphasise how different China really is. It’s not just the food or the smells, which get pretty potent at times, but it’s a completely different way of life here. The people are generally friendly when you are open to them or try to talk to them, and no matter how many times you try to tell them you don’t understand they will just continue talking as if the more they talk the more you will understand. I’ve found that a little bit of effort goes a long way. The Chinese people will go out of their way to assist you with things, regardless of how small or obsolete it may seem to you. When I first arrived here I felt like a bit of a celebrity; people were taking pictures of us everywhere! The staring was very strange at first, but I had to remind myself that this nation isn’t accustomed to diversity as we are. Things we (westerners) find strange or rude are completely acceptable here. You have to come with an open mind, there’s just no other way to experience China.

Getting around Beijing isn’t as difficult as it seems at first. The team at Aihua were really helpful in terms of giving us directions and sharing their secrets of great places to visit and even where to find some good western food. However, the phrase “I got lost” will frequent your lips more often than not. When your cell phone battery dies, you don’t speak a word of Chinese and you don’t know your apartment address, getting home can be a little tricky. Fear not, I say, with a few grunts and some vigorous hand gestures, you’re all set to making your way home safely. Beijing has been an adventure…it is a world that has kind of blown my mind. Who knew that there was a whole new world to discover outside of our small comfort bubbles?? A world that will challenge you, change your perspective on so many things, make you appreciate things you didn’t know you took for granted and still leave you wanting more. As much of a culture shock as it’s been, it’s also been an adventure I wouldn’t trade for anything!

From the moment I stepped off the plane onto Chinese soil, I was immediately transported into a parallel universe, where any life rules that you had previously adhered to back home, goes out the proverbial window! I have been here three months and have to say “I love China”, but it does take some getting used to, so be prepared in the first few weeks to get used to some serious culture shock moments and frustrations with the language barrier. After three months, I still can’t string a full sentence together, but thankfully Aihua kindly provide us with free Chinese lessons (I’m a slow learner). You will however, find your miming and eliciting skills will become that of a pro.  I once successfully mimed and elicited to a guy at an electronics market that my memory stick, which I had bought the previous day, was not compatible with my laptop; no words just lots of hand gestures and he understood! I was pretty impressed with myself.

The first few weeks upon arrival will be a whirlwind of jetlag, training and settling in with the China way of life. But you will never feel alone, and help is always at hand. You’ll find that you will form close bonds and friendships with the other new teachers that will be arriving with you. I have made friends for life with the group of teachers that I arrived with in August, and for me it’s those friendships that have made my time in China so far so enjoyable.

Those that have concerns about teaching kids, or teaching at all for that matter need not worry. Andi and Trish (the dynamic duo) provide extensive training and cover all bases. By the end of the ten days your USB stick will be full of class materials, games and extra tricks. You’ll be armed and ready. Also when you get dispersed to work in the different centres, the foreign centre supervisors in each centre are willingly on hand to help you at your very disposal. Also take advantage when it comes to asking for any advice on teaching tips or concerns, these guys are seasoned pros, they know what they’re doing and are happy to help!

I have compiled a list of “fun facts” for you to aid you in your transition to China

1. When you’re out for a stroll in the morning, and can’t see past your hand, that’s not fog, its smog! But it’s cool …
2. Shoving and pushing: The Chinese like to shove and push you out of the way for some reason, don’t be surprised or offended if an eighty year old woman elbows you in the side because she’s in a mad rush somewhere. You forgive her…because she’s eighty.
3. 3. Being frisked at the subway station: You’ll find that each time you decide to take the subway, you’ll go through an extensive security check like that at the airport. They’ll frisk you each time, which you’ll find annoying at first but then, that one day they forget, or don’t bother, you’ll feel mildly rejected.
4. Passport: in China, be prepared to have your passport at the ready for pretty much everything, even posting a letter.
5. 5. The green man at the traffic light: Be warned! Sure back home; the green man light at the traffic lights, means you can safely cross the road, not here! It’s just a decoration, so proceed with severe caution.
6. Knives: Sharp knives, that you use for chopping vegetables; are considered weapons of mass destruction in China. When purchasing one, you’ll find that they are kept in a Fort Knox style cabinet and you WILL be made feel like a terrorist when you ask to buy one.
7. FITTED SHEETS! For some reason, fitted sheets are not something that the Chinese consider a necessity. I personally do, and if you’d like to avoid feeling like you woke up in a squatters den every morning, I would suggest bringing a few with you to cater for a double bed.
8. Squat toilets: …………. 🙁
9. Vegetarians: the word “vegetarian” does not exist in China, be warned! When ordering broccoli, what looks like plain broccoli, will probably be littered with bits of pork when it gets to your table at a restaurant.
10. Sugar: as with littering vegetables and green salad with bits of meat, you’ll find savoury foods such as sandwiches will be drizzled with sugar glazing, if you have diabetes be wary, if you don’t you may inadvertently develop type 2 if not careful.

These “facts” actually add to the charm of China, the Chinese people are wonderfully gracious and friendly, and you’ll find that you will quickly begin to become endeared to their idiosyncrasies.

Before I came to China:

The only thing I knew about the country was that Jackie Chan was a citizen. I had an island mentality and while I knew about cities like Beijing I knew nothing else about it.

Back home:

In my home country I got into anime and pop culture. There are several comic shops selling action figures back home, but at the prices they stock it at, I decided that I’d much rather travel than buy figurines that cost a fortune.

I came to China:

One of the reasons I came to China was for the new experiences, and while I got that I made several incredible discoveries.

Discoveries:

#1 They sell action figures at the cinema.

If I was a kid, I’d throw a tantrum when I left the cinema with my parents so that they would buy me an expensive Ironman figurine to shut me up (genius!)

#2 They sell various kinds of figurines at markets

These not only match the quality of the figures sold online, but they are also much cheaper.

#3 The power of bargaining

If you get a constipated expression on your face and tell the seller that it costs too much, and of course the “NONONO! -turn around and leave” (thank you Luke) you end up having money for a burger and coke, too.

Pandora’s box:

While I waited for one of my classes in September, I saw one of my new Chinese friends browsing a site called Taobao for playboy shoes, (I thought they only made magazines and movies?) she soon showed me that you can buy anything on the site. At first I thought, this won’t be good for my finances, (western mentality) but soon I discovered several new things.

Discoveries 2.0

#1 Bootleg is a word more suited for shoes.

#2 Chinese toymakers are really smart.

#3 The stores back home are ripping people off.

The reason:

#1 Bootlegs surpass the quality of the original products in most cases.

The paint is shinier, or grittier depending on your taste.

#2 They actually improve the product and make the packaging more interesting.

It basically means that your hulk figurine will be able to make you coffee and mow the lawn in a few years’ time.

#3 It costs a fraction of the price!

More money for food!

The conclusion:

This is China baby, and made in China is the new made in England.

I entered this job with a feeling of trepidation.  I had taught both adults and children in South America—I absolutely loved teaching adults and felt so-so about teaching children.  So—honestly—I was a little nervous that I’d totally hate a year of teaching children full-time.  But, after interviewing with Rob and feeling great about Aihua itself (hearing from multiple people that they actually enjoyed teaching children), I accepted the job offer.

Surprisingly, at Aihua, I loved teaching children from day one.  It was a new challenge, a new adventure.  And Aihua made it so easy and fun—the training included tons of examples on how to teach young children who understood very little English, lists upon lists of games to play in the classroom, and helpful classroom management techniques that were oh-so-helpful when teaching high-energy children.  My first class—a Saturday morning Pockets class with six little 4-year-old children who were enthralled by a balloon and giggled at everything—stole my heart.

Aihua provides the tools necessary to be successful as one of their teachers.  From ensuring that we’re provided with everything we need from a subway/bus card to a functioning cell phone, to providing helpful western management and Chinese staff and support for teaching, they emphasize providing for their teachers, which is invaluable when you’re in a sometimes confusing and frustrating country like China and don’t speak the language.

Teaching at Aihua has made me into a better teacher.  I’ve learned how to communicate well and manage a class full of beginner English speakers, a level which I had minimal experience with before.  I’ve learned how to teach a variety of kids’ classes, from my class of four adorable, shy 4-year-olds to my larger classes of older kids mostly ages 8, 9, and 10 who sometimes bring way too much energy to the classroom.  Teaching is a lot of work in some ways (it’s certainly a job that’s high on prep time), but at the end of the day it’s so worth it!

Each time little chubby fingers hand me a piece of sticky food saying, “For you!”—that I secretly hide on my desk to throw away later after saying, “Wow, thank you!”—and each time a little student throws me a big smile and yells “Lǎoshī, Rachel, Teacher!” across the school in an excited voice, my heart is stolen again.

Possibly the toughest thing about coming to China so far were the three days before I left Ireland – I think I cried roughly every 2 hours for 3 days straight. The magnitude of the move I was making hit me like a truck and uncertainty plagued my every waking minute. Why on earth was I moving to the other side of the world where I didn’t know a soul or a word of the language? Whatever I did to distract myself I could only play through various disaster scenarios – I would hate the job and be miserable, I would never be able to get anything done because of language barriers, the year would crawl by and I wouldn’t be able to cope without my regular Dairy Milks.

Thankfully, my experience in China has been completely different from that. Of course, the language barrier can be difficult but it inspires you to learn Chinese and often through pictures and app dictionaries it’s simple to get across what you need. Sometimes the language barrier is trickier between you and other foreign teachers as you argue vehemently over whether it’s eggplant or aubergine. Every day, I learn more functional Chinese and become more used to the sounds of the language. You will feel so proud of yourself when you order correctly in a restaurant by yourself for the first time!

Back home, my friends labelled me a ‘picky eater’ so they were very surprised to hear that I was really enjoying the food here! I’ve tried things that I honestly never thought I would dare to taste – from donkey (it was an accident, but it was surprisingly nice!) to jellyfish (not so good). The food is different to home and can take some getting used to, but whenever you need a reprieve there are pizza places, Mexican restaurants and plenty of other nice Western eateries littered around the city. I am also notorious at home for my sweet tooth and I must admit that nice chocolate and cakes are harder to come by. But I can get my Mam to send care packages at home for the special occasions.

China is different, but often in a great way. People are usually very eager to help- bus drivers here will wait for you if they see you running to catch the bus! I’ve only been here two months and I’ve already had one of the most awe-inspiring experiences of my life -camping on the Great Wall! Despite the cold and the hike, it was an unforgettable night and the beautiful sunrise was well worth getting up at 5am for! There have been some tough days here, but they have been less frequent and less troubling that I had anticipated. Aihua has been there to help me through every hiccup and hurdle involved in the big move. Less than six weeks here, I lost my phone and everyone was incredibly helpful in trying to help me find it and then replace it. Something like that could have really set me back if it weren’t for the support of my fellow foreign teachers and my Chinese colleagues. I wish I could go back and reassure myself during those days before the move that I would not regret coming here – that I would see more of the world, have great new experiences and make wonderful new friends!

Two months ago I vividly remember nervously navigating my way through customs at Beijing’s airport, too many bags in hand and with too many cold weather clothes on. As I battled with my array of baggage and fumbled with my documentation for security, a wave of uncertainty came over me as I practically forgot my own name when putting pen to paper to fill out my arrival card. Having travelled quite extensively in the past, I was surprised at how overwhelmed I was feeling, but it became clear pretty quickly that this adventure was going to be different than the rest. Perhaps it was that excitement and nervousness that propelled me through the customs gates rather than running for the hills, when the thoughts of not knowing a single word of Chinese or not having any friends here darted back and forth through my mind. As I waited anxiously among the queues of people who were also on the same mission as me to clear customs, out of habit I checked my usual threesome of apps, Facebook, Gmail and Instagram. I guess it wasn’t until that moment, when the pages didn’t load, that I was rapidly jolted into the reality that I had just moved my entire life five thousand miles from my home country of Ireland. I had most definitely and undeniably arrived in China.

After receiving my stamp, I trotted through the arrival gates with a flood of thoughts still racing through my mind as to who or what was waiting for me on the other end of this journey. Maybe I still had time to turn back. Ireland is only a fourteen-hour plane ride away after all. As I pushed those illogical thoughts aside, I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw my name being held up on a placard. A-O-I-F-E. There it was, at least one familiar Irish thing. Panic subsided and I received a really warm welcome from my new colleagues and friends. As we left the airport and drove towards all my hopes and expectations for this new chapter in my life, I felt a wave of calmness take over and my anxiety slowly disappeared. To be honest, I feel like checked all that doubt permanently at the airport doors and the benefits of doing that truly enriched my China experience so far.

Being a passionate long distance runner, mountaineer and photographer, the idea of being located in west Beijing greatly appealed to me as I would be living and working only a short bus ride from the foothills of some of the epic mountains that surround the city. On my days off I have visited some of the most stunning parks both here in Beijing and further afield, such as Fragrant Hills, Fahaisi, Badachu and Taishan. Of course one of the highlights for any visitor to Beijing is hiking on the Great Wall. Watching the sun rise surrounded by my new friends as it lit up this seemingly endless structure, is forever etched in my memory. It is probably one of the most impressive scenes I have witnessed in my travels to date. These parks are all gateways to endless trails where you feel completely removed from city life and fully engaged in nature. If you go hiking to a high point in the hills during mid October, you can view a sea of autumnal shades as the leaves turn colour on one side of the mountain and take in the magnificent views of the city on the other. Beijing is a photographers’ playground and you can quickly amass a wonderful portfolio of dramatic landscapes, cityscapes or document Beijing daily life. It is this juxtaposition of city and nature that makes the Beijing experience truly unique for me. My day could consist of a long run in the hills and by night I could wander the bustling markets sampling street food with my friends.

It would be easy to be misled into thinking that Beijing is just all smog and too many people, but I have easily sought out my own little hideaways where I can unwind. When I don’t feel the urge to venture too far from home then there are an abundance of immaculately kept local parks to explore. Imagine Central Park in New York City, but if you had roughly fifty of them at your disposal. That is the kind of scale you are working with here. Yes, there are a lot of people living here and sure, there are some smoggy days but the marriage of concrete and nature in this place is most definitely well balanced. ‘Beijingers’ relish park life and on any occasion you could stumble across a group of dancers engaging in perfectly synchronized routines, people practicing Tai Chi or someone singing their heart out. It is quite remarkable how much of a community vibe is present in such a large city. My favourite local park is called Laoshan and it is nestled in the heart of Shijingshan. Home to the Olympic Mountain Biking course, within fifteen minutes I can go from sitting in my apartment to standing at the top of a lookout tower and savour a panoramic view of the city at sunset. After that, I can wander through the many tracks and trails that meander throughout the park and breathe the smell of trees and flowers.

Disorienting at first, Beijing promises to become more familiar with each day and it will transform into a place where you can thrive. My sensibility changed from being overly cautious not to stray too far from my apartment complex for fear of getting lost, to going on solo explorations of the wilderness in various parts of the country. The essential ingredients for a successful experience in Beijing or China is to bring an adventurous spirit and willingness to adapt to your surroundings. If you do, the experience promises to be truly rewarding.

If I were teetering on the edge of a decision to move to China, I would take a leap of faith and go! It is a place of self discovery, a chance to really test yourself and see what you are made of. If like me, you are a person who thrives on feeling out of their depth at most times and enjoy unique challenges, a move to China will not fail to satisfy your needs. It’s a wonderfully weird and inspiring place where the mundane rarely exists and adventure is waiting around every corner.

I needed to explore China, but I also wanted to be productive in doing so. I was fresh out of university and had absolutely no interest in finding a 9-5, Monday to Friday with some future wife, a buddle of rascals and a mountain of bills to keep me tied down for the next 40 years. So, I completed my Certificate of English Language Teaching, did a couple of 3am skype interviews, none of which actually excited me about the thought or prospect of moving to China. Then, Voilà! I came across Aihua English Academy, and after speaking with Dr. David Cotter (a fellow Irishman) I knew Aihua was perfect for me. The reason being that every other interview I had leading up to this followed the exact same routine; ‘Karl, teach me the difference between these things, give me example sentences, here is a lesson topic- you have 2 minutes to prepare a lesson and conduct it over Skype.’ Not once, was I asked about my likes and dislikes, abilities, skills and characteristics as a person or even questions related to previous experiences that would benefit me while working as an English teacher. As long as I followed a strict guideline they didn’t seem to care if I had the social skills of a lamp. My interview with Dr. Cotter was in complete contrast to these robotically conducted interviews. It was a conversation, from one person to another. A discussion about me, the type of person I am, Aihua, and China. Of course, there were questions about qualifications and merits, but it was really an interview to find out if I would be a suitable fit for the Aihua team along with the element of transitioning comfortably into Chinese society (If you’re an amiable, positive and caring person with the desire to grow, not just as teacher but also as a person, you will fit right in here.)

OK, so I love to travel, I caught the bug in my late teens, I probably won’t be content until I have stepped foot in every country in the world, or at least most of them anyway. China was a completely alien concept to me, until I decided I needed to go here. However negatively China is portrayed in western media, it’s the complete opposite of that. The people have a great respect for each other here; there is a magnificent sense of community and everyone is your neighbour. I would even go as far as to say that they are as friendly as the Irish, and that’s a huge statement to make because we’re great! Beijing has to be the safest city I have ever lived in or been to. You could leave your grandmother at the bus-stop covered in ¥100 notes and she would still be there the next day sitting pretty.

On the subject of safety, I made an executive decision and decided it was in my best interest to buy a moped (scooter) my first month here. Before I came to China transportation was the last thing on my mind, especially buying a moped. Let me just say; flying around Beijing on moped is even more fun than it sounds, believe me! Rob Warman, one of Aihua’s centre managers and an absolute gentleman took time out of his busy schedule one sunny morning to take me scooter shopping. With Rob there it was a breeze. Rob has built up a good relationship with the scooter garage over recent years and this meant that I could try out any of the scooters and with negotiations on Robs part, I got one brand spanking new for next to nothing compared to what you might fork out back home, she even threw in a few freebies for good measure. Just a heads up, Rob likes chocolate so maybe bribe him with the prospect of crunchy’s afterwards. It worked for me.

BUY A HELMET! You may think “bah, I’m a great driver; I don’t need a stupid helmet to mess up my perfect fro” but trust me, you need to buy a helmet. Even if you’re the next best motor-cross king, you are still prone to accidents. Beijinger’s are the most fearless drivers I have ever met. For example, a truck may be coming at you and planning on turning left (their left); normally if you are coming straight you would slow down and let the truck turn, right? Not here! You keep driving and hope you make it past the truck before the truck makes it through you. I believe that to successfully drive here you just need two things, common sense and a certain level of bravery. I’ve only been riding my scooter for about a month now but after the first few days you will quickly understand how things are done here. It really is the most convenient means of transport for getting around, not to mention the endless fun and ability to explore. I honestly couldn’t imagine Beijing without the Black Panther (Yes, I did name my scooter). If you don’t think a scooter would be suitable for you or it’s just not your cup of tea, you are spoilt for choice in terms of transport here. Buses run to must places but can be irregular and crowded at times. A taxi costs next to nothing and is very efficient, as long as you can show an address in Chinese. The subway is great and will take you from one corner of Beijing to the next. You can always get a bike, but who wants a bike?!

Here is a list of rules I have learned to live by when riding my scooter and some facts:

1. BUY A HELMET!
2. Wing mirrors are just for show.
3. Red lights don’t necessarily mean stop.
4. Licence and registration is not needed for bikes.
5. Electric bikes have a 50km/h top speed (varied).
6. Rules of the road do not apply.
7. Every man/woman for themselves.
8. They love to use their horn.
9. Always look left and right when turning or at junctions.
10. Pedestrians are also fearless, watch out for them.
11. Be cautious – see rules 2, 6 and 7.
12. If you hear a horn behind you someone is letting you know they are there.
13. Don’t take your eyes off the road, even for a pretty Chinese girl!
14. Charge your bike each night; you don’t want to push it 4 miles home.
15. Get a good lock and lock it always.
16. Get a rain cover.
17. It may get stolen if new and left outside subway stations.
18. There is bike storage at most subway stations (its free).
19. Buy Rob Cadbury chocolate.
20. BUY A HELMET!

Before I came to Beijing I had a lot of preconceptions about what life would be like.  I have found that you really need to go somewhere in order to get an accurate view of what life is like there. After being here for over two months it seems like there are many things about China that are just like home and there are also some things that are completely different.

Everyone warned me about the terrible pollution in Beijing when I told them of my plans of moving here. It’s true, some days the smog is thick and wearing a dust mask is prudent in order to avoid breathing harmful particles.  I have also had many beautiful days in this city with blue skies and the sun shining down.  It’s interesting being able to eat outdoors in the sunshine one day and having to don a mask in order to get to work the next. Compared to back home the pollution is terrible but compared to what I was expecting most days it isn’t at the apocalyptic levels that I was fearing.

Just getting around in Beijing can be an adventure. During rush hour the subway is so packed that you feel like you are sardines packed into a can.  Personal space is not something that you can expect during those busy times. Crossing the street can be hazardous as well. Chinese drivers seem to have a mentality that if there is space to go, the right of way belongs to them. Add in all of the people on bikes and scooters (both extremely popular in Beijing) and you have to have eyes on the back of your head. People enjoy riding on the wrong side of the street and also on the sidewalks. This can make for a hazardous commute if you are not paying attention.  Horns are used as a tool to warn other drivers and bikers that you are not going to yield. At first I thought that everyone was being rude honking their horn at every opportunity but now I realize that they are actually being courteous. Better to warn others that you are not going to stop then to just cruise on through.

There are many interesting things to see in Beijing, even when you are just walking around your neighbourhood in the evening. The first week that I arrived in China there was a holiday that people celebrated by burning fake money on the sidewalks. The idea is that by burning the false currency they are sending wealth to their ancestors that have passed away.  Other cultural peculiarities include the nightly “granny discos” which form in the various parks and plazas of my neighbourhood. The closest thing that I would compare these to is line dancing: basically a bunch of elderly ladies dancing in formation to simple but upbeat tunes.  The whole community seems to come out to either participate in or watch these and they are an interesting sight indeed.

Beijing has no shortage of wonderful things to see and do. The city is huge and I have not even scratched the surface of what there is to do here for entertainment in my two month stay.  There are parks, temples, and my favourite so far, the hutongs, or narrow alleyways that are famous in this city. There is something magical about finding hidden bars and unique restaurants while wandering these maze-like passages.  Beijing may not be without its annoyances but no one can say that it isn’t an interesting place. I look forward to being surprised in new ways by the many peculiarities of this city.