So I have been back in the U.S. for about 2 weeks now and although it feels good to be back home, I already miss Beijing. I expected to feel this way but I must admit I am a little surprised to be missing China so quickly.  I have been keeping in touch with my host mother via email. I know that even though it might be a year or so before I see her again, I will see her and the rest of my Chinese "family" again.  I feel so lucky that I had the unique opportunity to live with such a wonderful Chinese family.

Hard to believe this is my last week in China! Seems like it wasn't too long ago that I was sitting in my room wondering what China would be like. Its like I closed my eyes and the time came and passed. Two months sounds like a good long chunk of time when you say it out loud, but when you stop thinking about it and just live in the moment day to day, it is shocking how quickly it goes by.

So first of all, I would like to apologize to all of my readers for posting last week's blog almost a week late! Don't worry, like most people, I have an excuse. I prefer to see it more as a reason than an excuse, but here goes it : last week, I was quite busy touring around Shanghai! I won't report too much on Shanghai, but I will tell you that it is an amazing city and I absolutely love it there. As you could expect it is a really unique place, that is home to a really cool mix of Chinese and foreign culture.

Nightlife and Beijing. Beijing and nightlife. The two go hand-in-hand. Never before have I lived in such a sleepless city. Granted I have never lived in any of the major cities in the U.S., but I still can't help but think that Beijing is high up there on the list of best nightlife activity scenes. Whether you like to bar hop, dine late or karaoke all night- Beijing can satisfy your every need.  I am constantly lifting my jaw up to close it because I keep hearing about all of these cool hipster bar/lounges.

Wow! It has only been a week since my last blog entry but I feel like so much has happened. As I get more used to my life here in Beijing, the days go by as fast as a teenage girl changes clothes (aka rapid-fire pace).  The most important event that has taken place has been my recent career change. Although I enjoyed the people that I worked with at China Renmin Publishing Press, I was not completely satisfied with the type of work that I was doing. Because I was the first intern, let alone the first foreign intern to work there, they were having difficulty finding tasks for me to do.

So here is the deal. Remember when you were a kid and the idea of learning how to ride a bike was just about one of the coolest things ever...well, the feeling of being in Beijing and making myself comfortable is something along those lines. Just like a child who is unsteady and wobbly when their training wheels first come off, I still feel a little vulnerable and jumpy in Beijing. I want so badly to kick those two silly little baby wheels away and ride on my own, but I know I need to watch myself or I could fall. And fall hard, if I am not mindful.

One thing that has surprised me about Beijing is how modern it is. I think because Beijing  just recently started to go through a period of rapid development, it has the unique opportunity to expand using the best technological resources and design plans. Some of the buildings I have stumbled across are truly amazing. They are so chic and advanced looking that I almost feel like I am stepping into the future. I have never seen anything like it in the United States. One of my new favorite places to go is this area called Tuanjiehu.

After traveling for almost 24 hours, I can't even express how amazing it feels to finally meet my host family and settle into their lovely three bedroom apartment in the Haidian District of Beijing.

www.youtube.com/watch

Today was a good day. After what seems like weeks of being caught up in a whirlwind of constant studying and work, I am finally getting a chance to take a break and reflect back on the past 4 years of my life. Part of this has to do with today being my last day of classes as an undergraduate and University California at Irvine and part has to do with my upcoming adventure to Beijing!