So after not doing too much the past two weeks, I was starting to get a little antsy to see something other than my campus and the UChicago center. This coincided happily with my classmate's final presentation on the Beijing markets, more specifically the Zoo Market, which she explained has the lowest prices. So on Sunday, a me and a couple friends went down to the Zoo market, to see what we could see.
Walking through the market, I was reminded of why I don't go out a ton in Beijing- waaaay too many people crammed into waaaaay too small of a space. It was so insanely packed, I can't imagine how people could go shopping just for fun. As mentioned, the prices were good, but I was looking more for gifts for everyone at home, so I didn't buy much. I was thinking about getting a pair of "Uggs", and some of the misspellings were funny - "Nggs", "UGCs", or best yet "Aukstalia". :) The Zoo market was a lot like other ones here in Beijing, absolutely packed with people, and about 7 stories tall. The Zoo Market was a little different, in that it was far more "legit" - they don't have a lot of knockoffs and aren't geared towards foreigners.
After the Zoo Market we went to Wangfujing, where I've been a couple times before, with Charis and then once other time. I tried to buy a knock-off Tiffany's bracelet, but the lady wanted 85 RMB and wasn't willing to drop it very low. Having tempted Asta and Eddie to come with me with the promise of scorpions ad other assorted things sold for sale there, after going to get my dad's Christmas gift, we went to get Asta and Eddie a deep fried scorpion. Asta bought it and ate two, and then I ended up eating one, too! It was pretty decent - deep fried and covered in seasonings, so that was what you tasted. We also got fruit covered in sugar, and then also deep fried ice cream. The deep fried ice cream was so terrible, it was just covered in cold oil - a waste of 10rmb, that's for sure.
It was fun to go back to a place I'd been at the beginning of my stay in China. I was a lot more friendly and willing to talk to the sellers a lot more - one said, "Hello, you want to buy?" to me in English, and I told him, "It's okay, I speak Chinese!". I also got use the line, "I'm a poor student, I don't have much money!", though even then the lady didn't give me much of a discount. Another shopkeeper thought I was Russian, which isn't the first time I've been thought to be from Russia. I kind of like it, it means I look European. :p
Showing posts with label being social. Show all posts
Showing posts with label being social. Show all posts
Monday, November 15, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Center Opening 3, or, A Climatic Day
On Wednesday, I took a bus to the Shangri-La hotel, which is much closer to Renmin, which meant I didn't have a long trip. The benefits of a shorter trip, however, were counteracted by the fact that I was there at 7 in the morning, since guests and breakfast would be there at 7:30. During breakfast, I helped alphabetize nametags (for 600 people, which can get messy) and greet guests. Once the first forum of the day started, I got to eat breakfast (From Monday until Friday, I didn't have to buy myself a single meal!) and then go sit in on the panel discussion. It continued this way throughout the morning, and in between panels I helped set up the next one, and met another Nobel Laureate in the VIP room. Just prior to lunch, all the student volunteers got to meet President Zimmer, which was neat – he's a very nice guy, as was everyone I met this week! At lunch, student volunteers again joined tables (thankfully, not planned seating this time, so everyone sitting down was less of an event). I ended up sitting next to a doctor and the head of the humanities division at school, and as throughout the week, had a great conversation about Chicago and life in general. One of the things I enjoyed most about the event was that I got to meet so many people – so many of them know so much and have such great stories, I would love to be able to take each of them out for a one on one lunch to get to know them. But with budget and time constraints, this was the next best thing. :)
The food at the lunch was a combination of Western and Chinese, with nothing terribly exotic. The dessert was divine, and I realized it was a very good thing that Wednesday was the last official day of the opening – otherwise, I'd be fat by the end. After lunch, there was another panel, and then I took the first shuttle over to the Center. At that point, exhaustion was starting to sink in, right up until the point we got to the Center. I was so excited to actually be in the Center and have everyone get to see it, that the adrenaline kicked right back in and carried me through until the evening. There was a string quartet playing in the lobby, and waiters circling with appetizers and drinks, with more free coffee in the reception room! Once guests started arriving, I ended up giving tours of the center, since I was one of the few people who had already been there. I got to meet someone from the Consulate in Hong Kong (though I forget his title, though he was really nice!), and the former party leader of Taiwan was there, as well, replete with a pretty heavy security detail, who all looked terribly official with the ear wigs and pins. (It made me wish I was important enough for a security detail!)
The ribbon cutting itself was really cool – there were roughly seven ribbon cutters, and the ribbon was held by several girls dressed in traditional Chinese clothing. I don't have any pictures of the cutting itself, but it was really cool, even if slightly anti climatic. After the official opening, I just wandered around talking with different people, getting to meet more alumni and administrators. One of the administrators was telling me I should make a career out of opening things, since the new UChicago library will open the spring after I get back. He was saying that he suggested to the committee that they have a parade/ ceremony for the first book placed in the library – while it's only a short walk from the old library, they could parade it around campus and have different VIPs carry it, kind of like an Olympic torch. The idea sounded so delightfully nerdy and in keeping with Chicago's character that I shall do my best to promulgate the idea upon my return!
Overall, Wednesday was less chaotic and just as fun, although I was sad to see it come to an end. I had such a fantastic time meeting so many different people, and I wish I could do it all over again!
The food at the lunch was a combination of Western and Chinese, with nothing terribly exotic. The dessert was divine, and I realized it was a very good thing that Wednesday was the last official day of the opening – otherwise, I'd be fat by the end. After lunch, there was another panel, and then I took the first shuttle over to the Center. At that point, exhaustion was starting to sink in, right up until the point we got to the Center. I was so excited to actually be in the Center and have everyone get to see it, that the adrenaline kicked right back in and carried me through until the evening. There was a string quartet playing in the lobby, and waiters circling with appetizers and drinks, with more free coffee in the reception room! Once guests started arriving, I ended up giving tours of the center, since I was one of the few people who had already been there. I got to meet someone from the Consulate in Hong Kong (though I forget his title, though he was really nice!), and the former party leader of Taiwan was there, as well, replete with a pretty heavy security detail, who all looked terribly official with the ear wigs and pins. (It made me wish I was important enough for a security detail!)
The ribbon cutting itself was really cool – there were roughly seven ribbon cutters, and the ribbon was held by several girls dressed in traditional Chinese clothing. I don't have any pictures of the cutting itself, but it was really cool, even if slightly anti climatic. After the official opening, I just wandered around talking with different people, getting to meet more alumni and administrators. One of the administrators was telling me I should make a career out of opening things, since the new UChicago library will open the spring after I get back. He was saying that he suggested to the committee that they have a parade/ ceremony for the first book placed in the library – while it's only a short walk from the old library, they could parade it around campus and have different VIPs carry it, kind of like an Olympic torch. The idea sounded so delightfully nerdy and in keeping with Chicago's character that I shall do my best to promulgate the idea upon my return!
Overall, Wednesday was less chaotic and just as fun, although I was sad to see it come to an end. I had such a fantastic time meeting so many different people, and I wish I could do it all over again!
Center Opening 1, or, Nobel Laureates and Singaporeans!
On Monday morning, I woke up early to take the subway downtown, to the Grand Hyatt Beijing, which is right by Tiananmen Square. Charis had told me that there were about 10 Chinese students who had volunteered to help with the Center opening – herself included- and figured I could probably help out, too. The first all staff briefing was that morning at 8 am, so I had to leave Renmin pretty early. However, the hotel had free coffee, which made up for it entirely! The staff briefing was primarily just to give us an idea of what would be happening the next few days, and I very quickly realized that the opening was going to be intense – the staffing guide was 29 pages long, and the event had three different venues over the course of three days. Compounded with the fact that one of those venues was the Great Hall of the People (China's Congress, essentially, though they have no real power), with all the security measures that come with it, and you have a crazy week ahead of you.
So before getting into what I actually did, a little background on the opening: It was set to take place September 14 and 15, although staff arrived in Beijing by Saturday and was working the few days prior to the 14th. On Tuesday the 14th, the only event we had was a Nobel Laureate forum, with four of the UChicago Nobel Laureates) and a dinner. However, the forum and dinner took place at the Great Hall of the People, which complicated matters. Because of security measures, every guest had to have a literal golden ticket – a gold colored invitation that permitted him entry into the Great Hall. These tickets were distributed to the registrants the day before and the day of the event, with VIP's tickets being delivered to their hotel rooms. We also had planned seating, which also made things more complex. On Wednesday, events took place at the Shangri-La Hotel, closer to the center. In the morning, we had breakfast and a couple panel discussions with Nobel Laureates and other dignitaries, followed by lunch, a few more panels, and then shuttles over the the new Center for a reception and the ribbon cutting. With three different venues, we also had shuttles to and from each location for the guests, making things even more complex.
On Monday, I helped out primarily with registration, and ensuring people got their golden tickets. We had a pick up booth in the lobby of the hotel, which was great for several reasons – I got even more free coffee, and also got to see a lot of foreigner/important people from the University in Beijing. A lot of alumni in the area had come for the event, as had many professors and administrators from the University, including President Zimmer and the Board of Trustees. While my work on Monday consisted primarily of checking people off for their tickets and stuffing folders, I also got to take James Heckman, one of our Nobel Laureates in Economics, down to the press conference, which was kind of cool – we talked a bit about the museums in Beijing and China's history. He was a really nice guy, and it me realize an obvious fact – Nobel Laureates are people, too! :)
As I worked the registration table that afternoon, I got to meet a couple of the administrators from the Booth School of Business campus in Singapore. They were quite possibly the most jovial and friendly people I have ever met, and it was a ton of fun getting to know them! We staffed the golden ticket table until 7, during which time I got to crash the faculty only reception (I only stayed long enough to give a professor/surgeon in the med school his tickets, though). After finishing up there, we went up stairs to the business lounge, where they had appetizers and drinks (While I am of legal drinking age here, I stuck to fruit punch). It was great to get to eat some more Western-style food (by which I mean, cheese and crackers), and talk more with the Singaporeans, who are again, the friendliest and nicest people I have ever met. They ended up taking me out for dinner that evening, giving me lots to eat and good advice on life, as well as encouraging me to come visit them in Singapore (an offer which, if my budget allowed, I would happily take them up on!). I got back to my dorm room around 10 pm, and fell into bed so I could do it all over again the next morning!
So before getting into what I actually did, a little background on the opening: It was set to take place September 14 and 15, although staff arrived in Beijing by Saturday and was working the few days prior to the 14th. On Tuesday the 14th, the only event we had was a Nobel Laureate forum, with four of the UChicago Nobel Laureates) and a dinner. However, the forum and dinner took place at the Great Hall of the People, which complicated matters. Because of security measures, every guest had to have a literal golden ticket – a gold colored invitation that permitted him entry into the Great Hall. These tickets were distributed to the registrants the day before and the day of the event, with VIP's tickets being delivered to their hotel rooms. We also had planned seating, which also made things more complex. On Wednesday, events took place at the Shangri-La Hotel, closer to the center. In the morning, we had breakfast and a couple panel discussions with Nobel Laureates and other dignitaries, followed by lunch, a few more panels, and then shuttles over the the new Center for a reception and the ribbon cutting. With three different venues, we also had shuttles to and from each location for the guests, making things even more complex.
On Monday, I helped out primarily with registration, and ensuring people got their golden tickets. We had a pick up booth in the lobby of the hotel, which was great for several reasons – I got even more free coffee, and also got to see a lot of foreigner/important people from the University in Beijing. A lot of alumni in the area had come for the event, as had many professors and administrators from the University, including President Zimmer and the Board of Trustees. While my work on Monday consisted primarily of checking people off for their tickets and stuffing folders, I also got to take James Heckman, one of our Nobel Laureates in Economics, down to the press conference, which was kind of cool – we talked a bit about the museums in Beijing and China's history. He was a really nice guy, and it me realize an obvious fact – Nobel Laureates are people, too! :)
As I worked the registration table that afternoon, I got to meet a couple of the administrators from the Booth School of Business campus in Singapore. They were quite possibly the most jovial and friendly people I have ever met, and it was a ton of fun getting to know them! We staffed the golden ticket table until 7, during which time I got to crash the faculty only reception (I only stayed long enough to give a professor/surgeon in the med school his tickets, though). After finishing up there, we went up stairs to the business lounge, where they had appetizers and drinks (While I am of legal drinking age here, I stuck to fruit punch). It was great to get to eat some more Western-style food (by which I mean, cheese and crackers), and talk more with the Singaporeans, who are again, the friendliest and nicest people I have ever met. They ended up taking me out for dinner that evening, giving me lots to eat and good advice on life, as well as encouraging me to come visit them in Singapore (an offer which, if my budget allowed, I would happily take them up on!). I got back to my dorm room around 10 pm, and fell into bed so I could do it all over again the next morning!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)