Friday, May 4: The coolest flight path ever! We flew over the north pole to Beijing - Hello Santa
Saturday, May 5: Taxi ride to the Summer Palace - Just 2 km from our hotel. Stephen gets to sit in the front.
The streets look empty, that was completely not the case.
cyclist with heavy load
beautiful setting at summer palace
We arrived during the sun set, and walked through the park, this was the best light of the day.
phone booth at summer palace.
Matt Galloway is taking pictures
Tolu and I posing. Not sure who is taking the picture.
Stephen, Tolu and Matt G2 - the four of us arrived a day before the rest of the group.
peaceful setting - LOVE
the boat is made out of marble.
A couple preparing for the best wedding picture. I think I took it, don't you agree? Their photographer was off to the right of me.
Have you worn your wings lately?
sunset at summer palace
summer palace, lake and fragrant hill (in the background where the tower is)
me an my hair
it is not getting any better!
but the pictures are :)
Tolu and Stephen
This is how it looks in winter - just a poster I saw
entrance to our hotel at night - everything iluminated.
one of the few signs that made me laugh.
Sunday, May 6: We shopped at the pearl market. handbags, pashminas, watches...
enjoying an iced green tea coffee. It was actually very good.
See, I told you - Stephen meanwhile is studying the map. where shall we go next?
He says, let me finish my beer first
This is where I left the first 200 RMB = $ 27. 3 watches, 4 pashimas, 5 purses, and one travel/car charger kit for my i-pod-nano.
We are entering the Temple of Heaven!
Huge park with beautiful temples and gardens!
Trees!
Flowers!
Resting areas
Finding shade under a tree!
Stephen, move that rock, come on!
Very beautiful park!
Stairs to the temple were decorated with individual flower pots to create this beautiful picture.
I am loving it!
The Temple of Heaven! Read more: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/beijing/heaven/
Streets in Beijing. Why does it look so empty? Well it is 1) Sunday and 2) it is still during the May holiday week.
Lenscrafters and Micky Dee
China is booming. This capital will be the most dominant city in the universe by 2020. Just wait.
high rises, construction, everywhere
Lots of Western companies
Sunday evening, dinner with Crystal (ri) and Mandy (le). Very famous Chinese restaurant, a MUST for all Beijing visitors. Muffy, take notes!
We were greeted by staff in their traditional old Beijing dresses. The restaurant only serves authentic Beijing cuisine, btw - note to Muffy!
All of us - SANS Alexey who arrived later that evening.
very beautful park like setting. Yes we are still in the restaurant. Muffy are you taking notes?
You can have dinner inside ...
or outside on an island
or outside with others
it was quite a walk until we reached our private pavillion! Mandy is leading us.
finally sitting down and checking out the menu - Here Matt G1 and Jim.
Our beautiful 'waitress'. Muffy, check out her fake eyelashes! She had a handfree mobile phone tucked in her other ear.
Matt G2 is trying the Tsingtao beer.
dinner is served family style. Many different plates are placed in the center of the table (the glass rotates) and one can try everything.
A very spicy fish dish.
my new favorite vegetable: Chinese broccoli!!!! where can I get it here?
The dessert was very colorful and tasty
Posing with one of the hostess' who was leading us out of the restaurant.
beautiful and romantic at night
we are leaving the restaurant
still leaving - Oh before I forget. The name of the restaurant: Bai Jia Da Zhai Men, it lies in the famous Yuejia Garden in Suzhou Street, Haidan District. Four Star level restaurant and one of the most famous ones in China. The style of food is Qing Dynasty. http://www.tour-beijing.com/include/shownews.php?news_id=1462
The night before Monday's first class, I couldn't sleep. So I watched Chinese version of American Idol - called Superboys. Here the "Ryan Seacrest" of China congratulating one of the contestants.
Monday, May 7: UNC and Purdue waiting for the bus to pick us up and take us to Tsinghua University. There were 38 Purdue MBA students and 14 UNC MBA students PLUS Finance Professor Roger Stewart from Purdue's Krannert School of Management and me, myself and I.
The East Gate of Tsinghua University
Of course I asked for a snap.
We received a nice package with maps and books and then they left us with a video of the Great Wall which ran for over one hour (including several repeats).
going for a coffee break in the Business School building.
Off to touring the campus after lunch.
Jody You, director of the International Office is giving us a tour of the Business School.
or better said: School of Economics and Management!
the courtyard in between old and new buildings
The new building where all the classrooms are.
entrance to the new building
Of course every school has a mission!
The classroom
Ami relaxing in the classroom
A really nice poster of MBA students at Tsinghua. I liked it.
Matt G2 and Paquita
The entrance of the front building, mainly administration and faculty offices.
Now off to the big campus tour, view back to the business school.
This building is called the main building.
Another view of the main building
A very famous gate. Many parents come here with their kids and take pictures in hopes theit kids will join Tsinghua one day.
Rob (first year full time student from Canada) and Marie (incoming full-time from the US) two of our three students tour guides. Marie ended up being our tour guide throughout the trip
Rob and Marie (aka boyfriend/girlfriend) very very good guys.
Another landmark on campus, the Auditorium.
I was very jealous of his camera equipment. This dude from Purdue had it all... Next year ... I am with it too.
still on campus, very beautiful scenery.
Tuesday, May 8: In class, yes I went to every class session and company visit. Just needed to take this picture of my name tent. Check my middle name and the spelling of Kenan :)
Rachel Cao (exchange coordinator) in her office.
The International office, one big room, 5 cubicles, 3 staff.
Company visit to a Chemical engineering plant. The logo said. Friend-online dot com ... we thought we were at a dating service.
Canary birds in cages everywhere.
Travis from Purdue is 'helping' our Chinese host when his voice fell short due to a cold, so they said. Travis powerful recap of what the host told us was NOT SO COOL and well received.
Still trying to butt in.. Travis.. come on.
Our Travis is more like, get out of here, I cannot stand the smell anymore and my eyes hurt.
The company tour is followed by a presentation by the CEO. It is a start up company and we were the first international visitors.
Tuesday afternoon, after company visit, off to dinner before the tea house. No, not at shooters but at the tree house.
we are going to have pizza in the expat area.
Oh I forgot, of course we also had beer!
Liz is joining me.
Paquita went for a flavored beer, looks Belgian.
See the tree inside the restaurant... Tree House Restaurant - Got it?
bikes everywhere.
street vendors too.
Tuesday evening: Now we are off to the Laoshe Teahouse, for, well tea, and some Chinese Opera.
Stephen, Carlos, Elise, Aliyah, Jinea, and Jim trying tea and biscuits.
Alexey, and some fellows from Purdue.
my table: empty chair (me), Marie, Matt G2, Tolu, Travis, Liz, and Ami.
Let's get these nuts and biscuits, chop sticks are so easy to use.
The performance is starting. here the colors of the olympic rings and mascots.
The first show is about preparing the tea - correctly preparing tea.
Then there was the illusionist. Twinky (girl in white) from Purdue went on stage and did magic.
I liked the dancer.
And the kung fu show.
Driving by Tian-an men Square.
Wednesday, May 9: Next morning, the bus takes us back to school. Very busy streets today. Today all day class until 4:30 PM!!!!!!!!!!!
Literally, I am sitting in a bus watching out of the window. there are no traffic rules it seems like. Red or Green light does not exist.
Lecture on Human Resource, a very good class.
After class, most of the girls and I went to the Silk Street Market. For what? Shopping Of Course!
The outside facade of the Silk Street Market. two more purses, and sunglasses. Now I am all set. At nine o'clock they turned off the lights and kicked us out. I was exhausted.
So we found the boys who were in this bar in the expat are. Here is the beginning of a romance which will eventually end in - either Jim moves to China or I have to make it possible to bring her on exchange to UNC. (why, see girl in white) more more more to come....
Yes she was very cute, and very young.
We had a blast.
Who wants shots, Elise asked? Of course I do!
The girl/boy band performed all night.
Matt G2 bought six roses for all of the six girls from UNC who were there. HOW SWEET!!!!! Thank you!!!
Oh there was also some belly dancing
Jim was happy
The Others from Purdue joined us.
She was actually the much better singer :)
Patricia, I am telling you she is a classy girl, Jim says.
Don't talk about my girl like that.
I need two dozen roses, please! How much?
Mmmmhh, let me bargain a little bit.....
Ok two dozen for one girl, come on lady, give me a good deal!
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here he goes!
Here he returns - she is smelling the roses in the back.
I love her - he says. - yeah right, I said.
and she keeps on singing her way into his heart.
On the other side of the table, Elise is joining in the conversation with the Purdue guys.
Stephen and Jim are showing their new t-shirts: Mao. The lovely girl is still singing in the back.
Matt G1 and I.
not nice Jim
nice beer. not sure if that made me sick?
So finally the lovers met and talked. When will the wedding be? I can't wait to hear about this weeks happenings while I am back home.
The Purdue guy needed to shake his booty.
Where is the lady with the roses, my girl is coming back on stage...
Matt G2 and I
Jim got more roses for his girl-friend.
and she dumps them on top of the stack of roses she received all evening.
Jim is turning his attention to one of the Purdue girls.
Elise is not looking too happy here.
Thursday, May 10: Morning shuttle to the school, on our way to school we saw this line in front of an ATM machine. WOW.
Company visit to CNC, sponsor of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. It says, 456 days, 6 hours 28 minutes and 39 seconds until the opening of the games!
Very sweet and nice guides of the facility.
The five mascots. Bèibei (blue) is my favorite! Read more who they are and what they mean: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuwa
CNC is creating a very nice chip which is suppose to make life easier for tourists visiting Beijing during the Olympics.
UNC's Travis at conference table is taking to Purdue James (seen on plasma tv).
No it is not Starbucks, but looks just like it. Carlos had to pose for me.
The bird's nest, the main olympic building where the opening and closing ceremony will take place.
another view of the nest.
we had to take pictures from the bus as he stopped right on the highway and we couldn't get out.
bull-dozers, construction, China is really preparing BIG TIMES.
Entrance to a cool park, we had no time to visit.
At the Tian'an men Square, close to the 'old Beijing'
This is were I got sicker (just a 24 hour bug) and had to leave the group. It is Thursday late afternoon - I was leaving Friday morning for the US anyway.
