Beijing: Week 3 Observations
Folks enjoying their day off. Fishing along the Liangma River.
We’re in the midst of what I’ve started calling the slow roast. No, no, it’s not one of those slow-build jokes meant to poke fun at a person’s misadventure. That would be far more bearable. Rather, Beijing is currently breaking heat records set 60-plus years ago. At least in this era, we have air conditioning that provides more than a modicum of relief from the fat-melting, meat-tenderizing heat radiating throughout the city. But hey, I can stand to lose a few pounds, so that walk to the market or the brewpub is worth it, right? Well, not when you can order anything you want from an app and have it delivered pronto. Of course, this heat makes one of my observations even more troubling and another even more prevalent. It’s up to you to sort out which is which.
Saturday, we went on a group tour of the city. It was for embassy folks who need to sort out where the main shopping centers are and register for a Sam’s Club membership–something you have to do in person. We were able to sort out a joint membership, and folks, I may be more excited about this than finding out there’s a craft beer bar in our building. Does this mean I’m officially a Boomer? Or do Elder Millenials stay Elder Millenials and are now simply old enough to find excitment in the same things that brings joy to Boomers? I don’t know and quite frankly I don’t care. Bottom line: we can order our groceries now. Up next, finding dijon mustard and white vinegar for my famed salad dressing…
Just south of the Liangma River, a busy street filled with shops and restaurants.
And now for my week 3 observations:
Moving to a place like Beijing has been a bit like parenthood. Everyone already here or with extensive experience has their own tidbits to share. Go here, use this app, hire this person, etc. It’s up to you to sort out which morsel will fit your needs. Because what works for some folks may not work for you. And that’s okay.
Those public courtyards I spoke of in a previous post almost always come with several pieces of exercise equipment that are almost always used exclusively by retired folks. And inevitably, there’s some type of ongoing, intense board game between two older men being watched and gambled on by other older men. They are loud and boisterous and I absolutely love it.
Folks here wear long sleeves even in the middle of summer. I am told that this partly stems from their desire not to get a tan and avoid what a tan might signify. You’ll have to draw your own conclusions about why that’s a thing.
The Beijing Bikini. I cannot unsee it. And because this is a PG blog (it’s not, but let’s keep up the pretenses), I suggest googling this on your own time.
Weekly Photos
Most of the photos from this week come from a brief walk along a scenic canal when my wife was off for the Dragon Boat Festival, a Chinese holiday that many believe is celebrated to commemorate the death of Qu Yuan, a famous Chinese poet, and minister known for his patriotism and contributions to classical poetry. However, there is evidence that this festival was celebrated well before his time as a means to keep evil spirits away. I am told folks celebrate differently depending on their views of the holiday. Unfortunately, we didn’t attend any celebrations for the holiday as we are far too new and had no idea where to begin.
What I’m Reading
Egypt’s Beer: Stella, Identity, and the Modern State by Omar Foda
Foda’s work provides valuable insights into the history of Egyptian society. Using beer as the vehicle, the author weaves a well-researched and well-written narrative about Egyptian society, history, and culture. It is a must-read for folks interested in the history of beer, Egyptian culture, or the modern Middle East. It is accessible to both those more interested in academic pursuits and those of us who sit well outside academia.
If you want more cultural commentary from Foda, check out his substack. His most recent post was about baseball in Egypt and his own takes on why the sport could be a global hit.