Happy Easter - Our Beijing Trip Part 1

I am very behind on blog posts, but writing to you from Tokyo!

We decided to go to Beijing this year for Easter break!  I knew it wasn't going to be an easy trip.  Traveling in and around China is highly, highly stressful - and it is even if you can read and speak.  

As I so presciently told a college hallmate upon my return to the U.S. back in the day, "China was the usual morass of love and hate." Little did I know how much the sentiment would still ring true exactly the same 22 years later - though probably a little more love now than hate, despite the frustrations. 

But it was really important to me for the kids to see and partake actively in the local culture, to encourage and inspire them to be proud of their heritage, to appreciate their ethnic and cultural background, and, let's face it, to embrace learning thousands of Chinese words through simple rote memory....  I can't say we succeeded on every front, especially the last point, however, undeniably the trip was a success.

On this trip in 2024, the growing divide between China and the West seemed more palpable to me than ever.  I think Michael felt the same.  But that's not necessarily a bad thing, and I honestly walked away from Beijing loving it. I was and continue to be enthralled by the sprawl and immensity of the city - the sheer weight of its culture, history and presence seems to infuse every activity.  I found the people to be positive and optimistic, kind and curious to children, and very family orientated.  Most importantly, throughout all of our encounters, whether it was in ordering food, dealing with service people, or being out-bargained and out-manuevered left, right, and center at the local markets, I felt a steady, persistent thrum of conviction from the local populace, of the inevitability of the future of the Chinese people.  

Airport! Pickup from the airport by our friend's company's drivers. Quick dinner, shower and bedtime. The boys were so cute playing around before sleeping. After the kids were in bed, Michael and I went for a walk near the hotel.  

The next morning, we woke up to a phenomenal, beautiful day - bright blue skies, sunshine, no humidity, just perfect.  How beautiful are the parks?  We stumbled upon a group of couples dancing in the park, and a big flower festival celebrating spring.  The cherry and peach blossoms were in bloom, and we bought some pinwheels and ran around the park capturing the breeze.  One of my favorite moments was when I went to buy roasting seeet potatoes from an old man pulling a very traditional, old cart, and he had a brand new, snazzy WeChat QR code for mobile payment.  Even the most humble street vendor does not take cash.

On the second day in Beijing: the view from our fancy executive suite and adjoining room at the St. Regis (in the Chaoyang District near all the foreign embassies), the boys weighing themselves at the fitness center, and Michael and Lola swimming in the pool.  We then went to our friend's apartment for a playdate.  They used to be our neighbors in Hong Kong but have relocated to China for a period for work.  It was so lovely to see how the kids picked up seamlessly and played together as if they had never been separated.

For dinner that night, we went to a delicious lamb hotpot restaurant that also had hand pulled noodles and live opera singer performance.  We got our own private room.

How cute are these guys? We really enjoyed having the suite to run around.