These days, as there are numerous constructions going on around campus, the few of us remaining here over the winter holiday have to deal with blackouts – not so very pleasant in the dead of winter, but at least we’ve been informed ahead of time.
Probably the No. 2 must-go-to place for visitors in China is the Forbidden City in the heart of Beijing. Referred to as the Palace Museum by the Chinese, the forbidden City was inaccessible for any common people for 500 years. It served as the home to two dynasties of emperors, the Ming and the Qing, as well as the ceremonial and political center of the government. The Forbidden City first was laid out between 1406 and 1420 by Emperor Yongle. Since then it has been faced with numerous phases of destruction (through fires, etc.) as well as restoration and rebuilding. Most of the buildings that can be seen today are post 18th century. The palace consists of 980 buildings with 8,707 bays of rooms and covers 720,000 m2. It is divided into various sections: throne rooms, ceremonial halls, living quarters for the royal family as well as members of the court, the imperial garden, and more. Today, the palace is open to the general public and visitors should plan several hours for this visit, if …
Today marks a very special day for me. Today, exactly four years ago, I arrived in China. Not for the first time, but in order to stay here. Now, four years later, thinking back to that day of my arrival, it seems like an eternity ago. I’m not gonna bother you with all the many things that have happened during this time, but I’m definitely thankful for those years. It hasn’t always been easy finding myself between three different cultures, having to deal with lots of different challenges, but I will say it has been very rewarding. Thank you everyone who has stayed with me and supported me in these past years. You mean the world to me!
Sorry, for being so bad recently, keeping you posted! My internet has been out for most of the weekend, and still is frequently giving me trouble. Only me and my next door neighbor are affected, everyone else in this building seems to be fine!
I got a new beauty for you this week: “Seek Solace in Small Things” by paperboutique What I love best about this page probably is the rich dark colors – contrasting the dark brown with the deep red. It has such a rich feel to it that it immediately caught my eye in the gallery!
Do not fear going forward slowly; fear only to stand still. Chinese Proverb
It’s been cold around here. So, for the last couple of weeks I’ve made this little fellow my rather sought after companion: my hot-water bag. Got it for Christmas a couple of years ago and I’d say this has been one of my rather useful Christmas presents since coming to China. And it’s very practical, too. It comes with a simple power cord that I just plug in and within a few minutes this pink little bag is all warm and makes me fuzzy – a perfect little guy to give my company when I go to bed. And since my radiator doesn’t always work, it’s even helped outside of my bed to keep my feet warm. In the winter, I couldn’t imagine living without this little guy! Hope y’all are staying nice and warm!
Got you another freebie, based on my layout: “Stronghold”. And here’s the template: Click on the image to download. Enjoy! Note: Please don’t re-distribute this template in any way (you may share the link to this post) and when you use this template, please make sure to credit it to Misty Hilltops Designs.
Another sign that I haven’t quite made out yet … Note: When posting anything in the Fun with Chinglish section, I don’t mean to criticize anything or anyone in any way. I’m simply sharing the fun we get to have with all those great signs!
