Enhance your River BBQ Fest experience with these must-have items!
Last night, by the time I returned from the park and began packing, it was already late. Unfortunately, I found that my duffel-style suitcase had ripped while I was packing. It was only the side pockets at the end that were damaged, not the main compartment, but I realized I needed a new bag. If I had been aware earlier, I could have purchased one at the mall. Instead, I did my best to sew up what I could and knew I would have to figure something out today. First, my colleague who was with me suggested taping it up. That was a good idea. He retrieved some clear packing tape from the front desk, and we wrapped it around the damaged areas to secure everything. Then, we thought we would check if the train station had any bags available. Since it was 7 am, nothing else was open anyway. I've always found it amusing to see luggage stores in airports—if I'm here, it's because I have luggage. But perhaps many travelers face broken luggage en route, creating a demand for replacements. Unfortunately, the train station had no shops that sold anything other than food. While my colleague was searching for something, a little girl in a charming shiny Frozen dress approached me to say hello (in Chinese). I responded in kind. She became very excited, which prompted her family to engage with me. Regrettably, my knowledge of Chinese is limited to four words: hello, thank you, no, and water. That left me at a loss for communication. I did manage to use a translation app to tell her parents that I liked her dress, and they conveyed that she was 6. Beyond that, the little girl seemed a bit disappointed by our inability to communicate further. Fortunately, my colleague returned and came to the rescue. We exchanged a few words, and I asked her if she would like to take a picture together. She was thrilled at the idea.
Today marks the last day of the conference, and the organizers have organized a tour for all attendees. It promises to be enjoyable overall, but it also serves as a chance for team bonding, and I'm certain it will provide the sales team an informal opportunity to engage in discussions with the distributors.
Tuesday It feels like we just returned from Estonia, and now I'm heading to China. This trip is for work, so I'm traveling without the children. It's quite a change not having to pack an entire bag just for snacks. I still notice all the child-friendly features (like the low sink at the Bangkok airport that kids can reach), but I don't actually need to use them.
At the extreme eastern edge of Beijing, beyond the highways and skyscrapers, exists a location that resembles a village rather than a major capital.
As we enter fall, there are several new autumn selections available.
While we were at Dulles Airport waiting to board our flight to Beijing, Mei Ling delivered some unfortunate news. She had just finished a long, stressful phone call, and though I didn't grasp much of the Chinese conversation, I sensed that things were not going well. And indeed, they weren't. Cleo's summer camp in Yunnan had been canceled, and the only possible alternative was in Dalian. Not only had I meticulously crafted a whole itinerary for Yunnan, but we had also already spent four days in Dalian back in 2019. While I did enjoy our time there, I felt like there wasn't much left to explore. Dalian is situated at the end of a peninsula, so even if we ventured out while Cleo was at camp, it would be quite inconvenient to reach any new and interesting places we hadn’t yet visited.
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This week, we have discounts on pasta, a film festival, a unique improv performance, and a food festival planned.
The 2025 edition of "Welcome to Beijing: Guidance on Entry, Exit, and Residence Services for Foreigners" has been released.
A conversation with David Horton in anticipation of tomorrow's Beijing Poets event at The Hutong.
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Let's examine the performances that will be energizing the stage.
A fresh initiative from one of Beijing's most enduring creative music agencies.
Participate in the Rumble Renaissance event at Catherine de France this weekend.
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