Ni Hao, China – The art of taking a day off work

So just when I thought id mastered the bus system, feeling smug, I got on the bus counted my 11 stops – got off the bus. Funny, nothing looked familiar – maybe I got off a stop too early? so I asked a man – well I showed him a card with my work address and looked at him with puppy dog eyes – he shouted at me and pointed down the road so I smiled and walked down pretending like I knew what he said. a) bad idea. b) a worse idea was thinking I could walk out in Beijing torrential rain without an umbrella, c) if it’s raining outside don’t wear a shirt, it will go see through and you will look like an idiot.

anyway, so I walk down the road, looks even less familiar, no one is around, no shops, no one walking. So I stood there, see through top, no idea what to do – contemplating life. Then I went into a Photoshop. the sweetest people, an old man and a young girl – neither spoke English but I showed them the card and they went on to what seemed to be the Chinese Google translate and told me to get on bus 402 for 6 stops. YES. so helpful! so I get on this bus , the doors close, I show the bus driver the address he starts shouting at me, stops the bus and opens the door. He could’ve been saying something really nice, but I really had no idea and I took that as my queue to leave. So yea, there I was wet , cold and in the middle of Beijing. I called CRCC and I was relatively unhelpful as all I could say was ‘ there is a building’ ‘there is a photo shop’. after Terry the CRCC helper spoke to a shop keeper they found out where I was and said it would be easier to go home rather than attempt to get to work (reem :1 . work:0) – woo a day off I thought! by this time it had already been 3 hours of getting lost. so I got on what I thought was the right bus for 11 stops, then I realised I had got on going the wrong direction, so I took the bus 22 stops home and spent the rest of the day asleep.

Moral of the story: sensibility over style, learn to count, be creative when you are finding ways to get out of work.

Tips: If you are going to visit a specific area or building get it written in Chinese – so you can show people if you get lost. Chinese People are really helpful so be Patient!!

Ni Hao China – KTV

Tip: Before attending KTV, look yourself in the mirror and repeat “there is no note that I cannot reach, I am pitch perfect”

One of China’s pastimes, and one of my favourite. Karaoke, unlike England, this isn’t a one off Sunday Night special – KTV in China is the bees knees ( yes. that phrase is still in use). Similarly its filled with drinking and shouting and truly embodying Mariah Carey ( in my case Kanye West – Gold Digger , what a song!) , but it isn’t taken as a joke as in the UK. We were told that people usually attend KTV 1-3 times a week.

It’s pretty hard to explain that people attend KTV in their best dresses and heels, looking more like they are going to an awards show rather than I sing along, but if you just see the karaoke venue I think it’s probably easier to imagine..  

It’s definitely worth going!  

The venue we went to was a KTV in Shaungjing next to the Viva Mall, but there are KTV venues EVERYWHERE around Beijing!

Ni Hao, China – Nuijie Mosque

I had felt so exhausted, coming from Exams straight in to a 7 hour jet lag period ( I sleep for about 3 days straight with a 4 hour time difference in Dubai) so no shocker I felt ill and light headed. The company were super understanding and gave me the day off work. I was grateful for the lie in – I’ve never loved a bed so much in my life ( It was hard as rock – but in that state I would’ve slept on an actual rock and felt in heaven) .

Waking up around 5 I still felt a bit light headed but I didn’t want to waste the day , so I thought what better than when you’re feeling ill to pray. So I made my way to Nuijie  Mosque. Tapping into my inner Man, I decided to ignore all online advice about how to get there and made my own route – needless to say this added about 3 hours to the journey. I was in the middle of Beijing, with no one understanding English and I really had no idea where I was going, I decided my best option was to walk straight. After 3 hours walking I was about to turn around until I saw a line of hijabis leading the way! I made it!!

 Nuijie Mosque is not like how any of the traditional mosques I’ve ever seen, it was in a traditional Asian style, with a mixture of Arabic and Islamic influences inside. The people were so friendly inside, we couldn’t speak the same language ‘A Salaam wAlykum’ was all either of us really understood, but that was enough , with smiles they showed me the prayer room and I explored the area before listening to Athan.

I recommend a visit to anyone who would want to explore religion in China, Nuijie mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Beijing and despite being in the middle of a busy area, inside you could never guess where it was situated because of how peaceful and tranquil it was.

 

A converted factory, it was a really nice office inside – and had an outside gym!

Ni Hao, China – Working 9-6 what a way to be an Intern..

I was ready, I was dressed, most importantly I was awake! ( those who know me as a lazy dog, I was proud of myself). I had checked online to see where my company was ; Wiswing a marketing company focused on corporate and commercial marketing. On the website I had somehow got the idea it was only one stop away on the subway ( winning!). However, the first day when we got onto the bus with the CRCC representatives I realised that everyone in my bus was discussing how far away their companies were… not me I thought. The dream came crashing down when I realised that this bus hadn’t stopped for half an hour… traffic I thought? maybe they are dropping me on the way back because I am THAT close? No no no Naive reem, no. I was 10 subway stops and 10 bus stops away from work, the whole journey took me an hour and a half.

Positive thinking I said to myself.. you can do this.. who cares that you have no sense of direction. Anyway, the company were lovely, the boss Angela, was a young fashionable Chinese woman with perfect English. She made me feel welcome and gave me a task of researching the company’s main objectives. It was a small office, with around 9 people, only 2 speaking English. Even though communication was hard at times, they were so smiley and friendly. They also keep giving me free food (Winning) I say this as I munch on some free crisps and drinking my free tea ( Thank you ). The office is covered with green plants and stuffed animals – overall it seemed like lovely working atmosphere.

Ni Hao, China – Summer Palace!

Place: Haidian, Beijing

opening times: Monday hours 6:30 am–6:00 pm

Work started on Monday, so a group of us thought; best take it easy, some light sight-seeing they said, just down the road they said. When will the lies end?!

 We decided to visit the beautiful Summer Palace. Now, I don’t regret this visit, anyone visiting Beijing must go and see the market and tranquil lake slowly moving uphill. As soon as we got through the gates we went down a small pathway leading to a market around a lake. We walk around looking at the goods, then fall in love with a old man ‘national treasure’ of a calligraphist, there was something really mesmerising about him that I can’t put my finger on. We then went for Tea ; Jasmine tea. Now I know England loves to represent the tea love, but you haven’t had tea until you go to China.

We then decide to go on a boat, not thinking about where it takes us, how long the journey is or how to get back.. we just jump on and its all systems go! after going absolutely snap crazy, taking pictures of boats, water,  other people .. anything! Half way through journey my camera starts to die, and my phone – which left me to photo-bomb other peoples photos and sit and relax. Anyone that knows me well knows I’m not a water person, the idea of boats troubles me ( I don’t see why we need to float on water which we can’t breathe in) not being able to swim is probably the real reason that I don’t like boats.. but anyway.. there was something so relaxing and so beautiful about this little boat. Everyone was talking but if you took a second to take it in , as cliché as it sounds, it took your breath away, just staring out, the mist not allowing you to see an end to the lake – just boats floating along, Chinese people waving and taking photos – I felt famous!

We finally reached the other side of the lake, getting out it was all uphill, but the higher you got the nicer the view. It was beautiful, the detail on the buildings was so intricate it was hard to get your head around how people had painted the palace and that at one point an emperor lived there.

After spending 6 hours walking uphill, most of us couldn’t feel our feet but jokes were flowing, the more tired we got , the weirder we got. We finally decided to call it a day, seen all we wanted to see, so we attempted to make our way back – turns out we were a lot further than we thought – like – a lot further. We decided to get back by boat so we jumped on rode back to where we started ready to leave the door.. until.. we realised that our trip to the summer palace seemed to ignore the actual summer palace. We  had limited time so I ran up like 50 steps, which felt like 500, saw the palace took a few snaps and went back down. Like most the day us girls had been waiting for the boys, who had so much more energy than I think I’ve ever had.. they decided to run around the palace, which was literally like 400 steps.

If you’re visiting Beijing, DEFIANTELY go to Summer Palace – it was one of my favourite sites!

Tips: look at a map before you start exploring!

Ni Hao, China – The Forbidden Palace

Closest Metro station:  Tiānānmén Xī

Opening Hours: 8.30am-4.30pm

Tip: TAKE YOUR STUDENT CARD (big discounts) , if you’re not a student or forget your card use a drivers license or any other ID (they usually don’t check)

First Weekend and I was ready to do what I love doing at home : THE TOURIST ATTRACTIONS. I love nothing more than to get the ol camera out at every little thing we don’t have in England like; a Chinese tea glass, tasty shrimp, boats. You name the most menial object I’ve got it on camera roll. First we visited the Forbidden Palace, about 8-10 stops on the subway we were ready to go , all 15 of us. Now, for those that have not seen the subway in Beijing, it puts the London underground to shame. Complaining at being in someone’s armpit? Try being in an armpit, a face, and a but while being pressed up against the window. I will never complain in London ever again. If the carriage looks busy and you can’t see a space to stand ; don’t wait for the next one.. push your way in and stand there for 20 minutes trying to ignore your need for personal space. However, air conditioning and phone signal are all available in the Subway, you can also buy gift cards for McDonalds on your way out too.

The forbidden City, is huge, I don’t know what I expected but it blew my mind at the utter scale of the area. It was palace after palace in the same design each having its own history and its own characteristics. It was utterly amazing. I was also surprised by the sheer amount of people, what seemed to be local people. Unlike in England where tourist sites were filled with .. well.. tourists. It was cool to see so many Chinese locals that were interested in their own culture.

We were equipped with our own local, Alex – another intern who gave us the best tips on what to do in Beijing. Without him we would’ve probably never left the forbidden palace, not only because of its beauty and scale but because we didn’t know where the exit was. When it came to Lunch time, Alex gave us the local knowledge and guided us to a restaurant down the road. Yea, down the road. If Leeds is down the road from Manchester. I kid, it was a nice walk, a hot sweaty walk. We went down a small local road where we were the only tourists in site and sat down not knowing what to expect at Alex ordered the food. First they come out with a small bowl of what seemed to be the Chinese version of peanut butter, then a range of spices and herbs came out to add as much as we wanted to the dip ( not soup). Then the raw meat came out, and a pot of boiling water. Yes you guessed it ; CHINESE HOT POT. A traditional dish where you would sit down and literally cook your own food. Me being vegetarian for the month had a healthy meal of potato , which took about 4 hours to boil. I can’t complain the atmosphere was lovely, everyone dropping their food into the hotpot, most of it never to be seen again because of our limited chop stick skills, it was a great experience.

NI, Hao China – Arriving and Induction day!

After a 7 and a half hour journey on the Ryan Air of China – I’m finally in CHINA!

we were greeted by the CRCC coordinators and taken to the hotel; our hotel was Century Towers, I was in the middle of Shaungjing; near restaurants and the subway! so the holiday (I mean work) begins! The first day was mainly filled with introductions, the usual blah blah blah… we then had our first meal in china – traditional Japanese. Sushi and Salmon, I was in heaven, it was a simple meal but it had so much flavour. My oh My, I’m getting hungry thinking about it.

Day 2 was the CRCC induction, we learnt the basics of Chinese business etiquette, it was crazy different to the UK. Even handing out business cards was starting to get me nervous, oh yes.. did I not mention.. we have business cards.. stand aside fellow students I am a business woman (hear me roar)!… ( too weird?). In China you have to hand over your business card with two hands with your name and information facing them, most of us couldn’t help but do a little bow at the end as well. You can’t put the card away until the person has left . It’s not that complicated but the idea of doing even the slightest thing wrong sent us into panic. We all wore business attire to the induction day, walking down the road, made me feel like I was on an episode of the Apprentice, a swarm of suited and booted westerners walking towards a restaurant called ‘Sea food and Dumplings’ ( actually very nice inside). The induction was helpful, with a bit of Mandarin at the end, sending us further into confusion.