as of today i have been in beijing for one month! time is a funny thing when you go to a new place. at times it drags and you think you will never see home again. at others, it flies by and you freak out because suddenly you realize that time will run out before you get to do all the things you wanted to. all in the space of one day.

i’m enjoying the moments. i’m enjoying the minutes, even as i count them down, i spend walking to the subway in the morning amidst the hustle and bustle of sellers putting out their wares. i’m enjoying the leisurely lunches we spend each day discovering new holes-in-the-wall. i’m enjoying the chill of the fall breeze, the sunny mornings and grey afternoons. most of all, i’m enjoying the growing familiarity of it all.

highlights:

-being introduced to the most delicious breakfast item, tu jia shao bing, by my coworker. it’s not even available in downtown beijing; my coworker stands in line in the mornings near her home and brings it all the way to me! that’s the good kind of chinese hospitality <3

-chill jazz night at purple haze

-deciding to join mike and jane on their NaNoWriMo (aka national novel writing month) adventure, and lucky for me, tony will be doing it here too! lots of time spent in cafes in november, i suspect.

-again, english people. and german people.

-discovering free delivery. from virtually any restaurant/convenience store/fast food/laundromat/giant discount store you can think of. i justify this with the insane amount of walking i already do… i have a pedometer, i checked! this instantly solves my notorious fear of eating alone. you know how that goes. and if you don’t, ask me sometime because i have some good stories.

-indian food & new friends. i definitely got my craving satisfied.

-coming home to the sound of jazz and the city drifting in through the window. someone was having a very classy party on the floor below. with a cup of tea, a soft lamp and a book, i felt like i was in the most perfect little cafe with a 20th floor view. one of my favorite moments.