For the past three weeks I’ve been hanging out with one of the new (and totally awesome) members of the Wellesley Class of 2019. Her name is Rebecca and she is also interning with me here at City Weekend Beijing.
Since she went to high school in Beijing, she knows plenty of cool places/fun things to do in Beijing. And I have had the honor of joining her and her friends in checking a few things off of their post graduation summer bucket list! This past week we went to 798, the infamous art district in Beijing. There we saw part of an Ai Weiwei exhibit. Next stop: wing night at The Local, a hip restaurant/bar in Sanlitun (my favorite neighborhood in Beijing). At The Local we enjoyed 3 kuai, Kung Pao Chicken flavored wings (this is China after all). Afterwards we went running through the fountain display at a nearby mall. It was a very silly summer night, one of the best I’ve enjoyed in a while.
At the Ai Weiwei exhibit!
Kung Pao chicken wings… YUMMM!
Being silly at the restaurant.
Running through the fountains at night.
Rebecca and I have had a lot of fun at City Weekend. From days spent in the office brainstorming blog ideas to exploring new places around the city, her addition to the team here has definitely made my internship experience ten times more fun! I’m so glad she’ll be joining the Wellesley community this fall:)
Last Wednesday, after work, I took a solo trip to the center of the city to see the Beijing National Opera House, which is has been lovingly dubbed The Egg by locals. I couldn’t go inside since I did’t have a ticket to see an opera performance but taking a walk around the outside in the breezy late afternoon air was almost as good. It was fun to see lots of other people enjoying the scenery and the walkway, as well.
Beijing is truly a beautiful city. Like all cities it has its flaws, but I feel very grateful to have had the opportunity to spend a summer in this giant, exciting, international metropolis. It’s been a fantastic learning experience. For example, after two months writing for a magazine, I now know that although I love writing I don’t think I want to be in the weekly/bi-weekly publication industry. It has stressful highs when deadlines loom, but the strange moments of lull in between leave me unsure of how to best manage my time. But it’s all a learning experience, right? 🙂
I’ve also realized that, although I adore Beijing, in my heart of hearts I’m just not a big city girl. I will always feel most comfortable in the mountains. The concrete jungle doesn’t lend itself to outdoor running and other activities and I find myself missing the crisp smell of newly cut grass.
I am grateful for this opportunity, and grateful to be learning these things about myself. As I quickly learned while working in the City Weekend office, it is not my job to be an expert. Rather, it is my job to be curious, enthusiastic, and willing to try everything (at least once).