When it rains, it pours.

Myself and the other 20 million Beijingers awoke on Saturday to grey skies and heavy rain. Deciding it would soon clear ("Surely it can't keep this up for long!"), my boyfriend and I enjoyed some downloaded TV and discussed where to go on our hard earned day off. The Museum of China won our vote and bags were packed. Two cups of coffee and two episodes and of "The Restaurant Inspector" later, the downpour continued and the puddled street had developed a distinct flow. Still hopeful, we opted for a quick lunch at home and threw some frozen jaozi in the steamer. Amazingly, it just didn't relent, not even a little. We marvelled at the scene from our 6th floor window and were glued to the window whenever a pedestrian went by and allowed us to use their legs as measuring sticks to assess the depth of the water. Soon a car crashed and blocked the main road and as the lightning got brighter, the thunder louder and the sky turning a sickening yellowy grey, the mood turned apocalyptic. Searches of China Daily’s website and general googling revealed nothing and we could only imagine what might be happening on the streets out of our view.

It wasn't until the following day, when the skies were innocently blue and barely any puddles remained, that I became aware of the seriousness of the situation. Colleagues told of 5 hour long journeys home, of wading through thigh deep water to reach the subway and of badly leaking ceilings. Photos soon emerged of cars floating around like soap suds and manholes that were transformed into deadly, swirling plug holes for the city’s excess water. The current death toll stands at 37. People were crushed in collapsing buildings, drowned in underpasses and some were electrocuted as live cables fell into the flood waters. Absolutely terrifying. My thoughts are with the families of those whose lives were so suddenly lost to the storm.

Perhaps its the enormity of Beijing, but despite the fact that I live here,  it stills just feels like something on the news. Something happening in a faraway place. There was so little sign of any damage around this part of the city and life continues as normal. More heavy rain and storms are forecast over the coming week, as Beijing hits its very own rainy season. So its time to go and buy some cheap welly boots, keep a brolly on one's person at all times and it seems the safest thing to do if possible is just stay indoors and batten down the hatches.

A Birthday in Beijing

One year ago today, on my 28^th birthday, I hadn’t dreamt that I’d be spending my 29^th under the beautiful Beijing stars. And that’s not just because it’s so rare get get a clear sky here! On July 22^nd 2011, there were no set plans in place to move out here; life and work just continued as normal. And suddenly there I was last night- surrounded by new friends, sipping a cold Tsing Tao on a hutong rooftop, attempting to hug a Chinese guy* and star-gazing in the comfortable warmth of a July evening. Unbelievable.

I moved here almost 4 months ago, perhaps like a lot of people who move abroad, in search of something. I’m not entirely sure what that something is yet, but I’ve decided that I’d like to share it with you. I want to write an honest account of my life here; my first impressions of Beijing, the rocky road that is culture shock, the high days, the low days and the in-between days and any other interesting things that happen along the way.  I’m starting to figure out that wherever you are in the world, life is still a series of ups and downs and the best tactic is to embrace it. Here goes! Are you coming?

*After a few beers,  I misinterpreted his move towards the door as as gesture towards a goodbye hug. It resulted in gymnastic attempts to get out of my way and a very swift exit. Ooops!