The eleventh of November, remembrance Sunday in the UK, National Bachelors day in China (not surprising considering the completely lop-sided male to female ratio in this country), but, the day when the Chinese Government turned on my heating. The last week and a half has seen me sporting two layers of bed clothing, among which included a jumper and my walking socks (imagine thick wooly football socks but only half the length) in my struggle to maintain that 37 degrees Celsius that my body has become so accustomed to. Never the less, victory is indeed mine!

I hate UCAS!

There, I said it! The thing is, I know that 90% of British students agree with me. It just seems like such an impersonal way of applying to university. Not to mention how much I abhor any agent who I believe will lower my chances of success in any field but am unfortunately compelled to go through because of loyalties or Joint-bloody-Ventures (something that is quickly becoming fashionable here in such a capitalist haven). More and more it's starting to remind me of everything I hate back home. It's a good job that most of the bureaucratic bar-stewards are confined to the metropolis areas and leave China's most beautiful country side open to the tourist industry to exploit and deface.

Findings include:

The 20 funniest pictures...Apparently. mmm...That's all I got

Propaganda posters currently ubiquitously litter Beijing's streets and highways. Large colourful billboards plastered with images depicting Africa, it's visually stunning and varied countryside and scenes of rural villages and tribes people. Of course, this is all for China's largest ever political summit involving 48 out of the 53 African nations' heads of state. Although, road users have suffered a huge blow as roads all over the city are closed during certain times to allow rapid progression through Beijing's notoriously slow streets. On top of that, the Airport express way is closed for the entire 5 day summit. How many countries do you know that would put such guests above the convenience of 14 million residents?

A lot of these nations regard China as "their second home" and are making massive trading deals to aid both China's rapid economic development and Africa's struggle to develop their countries and overcome poverty. Part of this is rumoured to have come about as a result of mass exploitation and neglect by the West (who, apparently, are becoming increasingly worried by this) . However, the one thing that did seem to niggle at the African nations was the posters depicting indigent indigenous rural life in Africa,that, perhaps emphasised the stereotype which the world already holds of Africa as being poverty ridden and totally undeveloped. As I write, and the summit continues, I'm quite sure that somebody is receiving a tonguelashing for putting those posters up!

In other news; it took a hell of a long time. Maybe too long. Another creative murder

A new breed of weapon developed to be used against Allied forces in the Middle East .....Birds!

Also, today, I managed to check out what are known as the Fragrant Hills (香山) for free thanks to a colleage of mine. An idealistic view of Beijing from the north really put it's vastness into proportion and we also caught the magnificently clear sunset featured to the left. Nowhere else except China are you likely to constantly stumble upon such beauty.

Living in China is as interesting as it is diverse. And by interesting, I often mean perplexing. For example:

Whilst in the quaint town of Dali, very traditional Chinese town, buildings, atmosphere, etc... I was offered ganja by a middle aged woman at 9am while drinking coffee outside at a really nice cafe. I've been to Amsterdam a few times, lived with a junky...But never.....9am?!?

Also, during a lesson, teaching a class on Monty Python's Flying Circus (pointing out all of political attacks on the British Government (that were in power at the time) that were, well, let's say...As subtle as a brick. The students were amazed that something like that was allowed to be broadcast in the first place), the subject of the Mongolian Empire came up. I explained: "Yeah, from Mongolia, around the 1600's, took over most of Asia and part of Europe on horse back. The world's largest empire (with exception to that of King George V's), which would have probably eventually spanned the globe if Ghengis Kahn had lived another 100 years in good health." Of course that is open to debate, but the consensus is often reached that world domination was a realistic objective. I wasn't so much surprised as I was disappointed by the response of: "NO, no! That was the Chinese empire. Mongolia was ruled by China during that time and it was China that invaded and conquered a lot of eastern Europe."
Now, as I told them rather bluntly: "You don't have access to the same historical documents as I do."
"But it's true, that's what happened"
".........." It's not my place to argue about this, but the whole time, I couldn't stop thinking about another incident in Tibet. Which, of course, isn't true and never happens! I have nothing but pity for these deceived people.

Never the less, there's no where I'd rather be.

except maybe here. An alternative to drink driving that is encouraged! Jumanji is real! And, why can't our chavs be as creative and funny as this?