Beijing must have realized I was a bit ambivalent about being back, so it upped its game...three astoundingly beautiful spring like days. Bright sunshine and temperatures around 70. No, this is not typical, but no one was complaining. Friday...basically a lazy day of resting, reading, and soaking up the sunshine on the balcony (I adore balconies). The view is not astounding, just the back of some buildings and the tops of some high rises, but it began to make me feel like I was really here. We topped it off with happy hour with my friend's work friends where I met the most friendly and interesting people followed by homemade pizza at the home of a young couple with two children who are here in Beijing after living in SE Asia and Africa. I haven't had to use my (very poor and half forgotten) Chinese yet except to the taxi driver who had a lot of trouble figuring out the address I gave him and required frequent reassurance. Saturday...my friends are very adventurous and have seen far more of both China and Beijing than I have. They love exploring new corners of the city, but they were kind to humor me and spend the day at Houhai Lake as I took a trip down memory lane. The girls and I spent many, many Sunday afternoons here, browsing through shops and riding paddle boats in the summer, browsing through shops and skating on the lake in winter. There was definitely a familiar feel about it all though there were also many changes. The main restaurant row that runs the length of the lake has been renovated and no longer has any stalls selling fried insects and sea creatures or candied fruit. Too bad. The main shopping alley seems pretty similar though, and while I went into several familiar shops to soak up the ambiance and sigh over the merchandise I resisted making any purchases. We ate at a new burger place called ??? which was very good. I recommend it if you find yourself in Houhai anytime soon. We were also treated to a drumming exhibition which I enjoyed very much. Very China. While we took a Didi (Uber) to the lake I wanted to take the subway home so I could reacclimate to that since there are a lot of subway rides in my future and also be sure I knew how to get from the subway to their home and vice versa when I am on my own. It's as easy as I remembered so I am ready to go.
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About This BlogPart documentary, part family chronicle and part personal reflection as I try to sort through the ups and downs, the joys, heartaches and surprises of our life and work as we follow the path that God has set for us here in China! Prayer RequestsKristen to continue to adjust to college life and find good friends.
Donna for safety and provision while traveling and serving in Thailand. Archives
April 2024
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