Do you know the feeling you get when you want to transfer an experience to someone else but you don't think they'll fully appreciate what you're saying and you know words couldn't possibly do it justice? I have a feeling many of these blogs over the next couple of years will be that way.
Nonetheless, Lauren and I have rooted ourselves in the midst of the chaotic city of Beijing and we will do our best to bring you along as best we can.
We've been here for 2 weeks and it feels like 2 years. The first night we got here we hopped on bicycles (bikes are THE mode of transportation in China) to head to dinner and rode 2 miles on the shoulder of the road against 5 lanes of screaming traffic. It didn't take long for us to realize we "weren't in Kansas anymore." We have quickly acclimated to accept horrible traffic as the "new norm." Speaking of transportation, we have become quite fond of public transit. And if you ever wonder where all the 1.3 billion people are in China, hop on a Beijing subway during rush hour.
I started orientation for my MBA program the day after we arrived and have been going non-stop since. The "non-mandatory" mandatory orientation has been fully China. What I mean is that it is Chinese custom to throw a huge opening and closing ceremony for events (see Beijing Olympics '08). Aside from the strenuous battle through traffic to get to campus, it has been great getting to meet students from my class - a great cross section of talented individuals from all over the world.
Lauren is doing great and I've been encouraged to see how she has embraced China! She even ate eggplant today for lunch! This is a feat that I dare say would not have been accomplished back home. We are still looking at different options in terms of what she will spend most of her time doing here. I think she is going to post an update so she can expand on this and her thoughts on China.
Overall, we've been blessed in our time thus far. We have an incredible apartment that we pay peanuts for, we've met some amazing people, and we feel like God has called us to this place for this time in our lives. We sure do miss some "comforts" back home, but we are living and loving the expat life here in Beijing. School starts next week and I will likely be very busy, but between Lauren and myself we will try to keep you up to speed on our lives here on the other side of the pond.
