Parting Shots

Leaving the restaurant, we drove around a neighborhood unlike any I had seen in Beijing. Intimate tree-lined streets with local stores, no hi-rise buildings and no American chains, a Chinese equivalent of Ann Arbor, Michigan or Mill Valley, California. Between that and the jazz club site the night before, I’m getting a sense of places I want to hang out in my next trip to Beijing. And with both the students and my host asking me most every day when I’m coming back, I suspect there indeed will be a next trip, probably within the year and happily so.

Off we went to the airport and another thing that seems to work well in China is that in all the considerable driving (well, being driven around) I did, I hardly ever was in a traffic jam. There was a hint of one going to the airport, but it ended up being mild. The China that used to be famous for thousands of bicycles was already fading out when I came here in 2006, courtesy of a government push for cars (to the distress of the environment). Now there are rows of yellow bikes that a swipe of the phone unlocks and an increase in the number of bicyclists (all without helmets) riding alongside the scooters and cars. I never rode a bus or used the subway while I was here, never touched a single coin or piece of paper money. Or even used my credit card, for that matter. As I’ve mentioned many times, they take care of me here and pamper me like a prince. One could get spoiled. But I won’t, because I actually like the independence of taking care of myself. But when in Rome— well Beijing or Shanghai.

 

Speaking of pampering, my lovely hosts/friends Tonny and Cao Li went with me to the ticket counter and as I was looking at my ticket with an economy seat in row 31, Cao Li mentioned to the agent that if there was any upgrade, I was deserving of it. She looked on the computer and came back, “How about this seat in Business Class?” Boom!!! Amazing!!! I got it! Farewell hugs, boarding the plane, settling in my little luxury apartment and a fond farewell to China. It has been a most lovely two weeks. 

 

And now, “California here I come, right back where I started from!” (9/1)