Driving from the airport to the hotel, I was very much amazed by the amount of traffic and the amount of people in China. As I leaned to ask the question about the population, my representative informed me that China has a population that consists of 1.3 billion citizens give or take a few. As we drove and I admired the scenery of withered trees and the dense smog above the bonnet of the car with dim rays of sunshine, we finally arrived at the hotel. The hotel was in fact part of a stadium in Beijing holding the name of ‘Workers Stadium’.

This was exactly as it said, but there seemed to be an array of workers like a stop work meeting but laboring away as they were trying to renovate for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, even though no one really told them that there was five years to go. ‘I thought it was great forward planning’.

Proceeding, to the hotel reception area I automatically spoke in English to the girl who greeted me with a hello and then a blank look just like a piece of A4 white paper ready to be printed with black ink. Instead all she was getting was a load of plain English from a foreigner who was tired, hungry and not understanding Chinese.

With the room key quickly handed over like a taxman wanting money. I grabbed my luggage, and went to my room for a quick tour before loading back into the car and heading to company headquarters where everything was awaiting for my future.
Relaxing in the back of the car like a famous celebrity being dropped off at a gala, I was quickly reminded of the Chinese lesson we had at primary school of people everywhere on the streets and of bicycles whisking on by nearly hitting everything and everyone. Proceeding to stop at the lights and viewing my first portion of the Chinese Army ready to attend any special occasion that quickly arose.

I wound down the window and glanced at the green clean crisp cut uniform, even though it was a slight dark green it looked bright with the small ray of sun hitting and making the image of the withered trees I viewed from the plane seem as though they were preparing to burst into color. As we were only less then ten meters away from the army, I also spotted a solider on guard. His eyes were glaring straight out and not moving but looked sharp as an eagles’ eye ready to attack any unfamiliar sight and sound.

Arriving shortly at HQ’s building near the famous downtown shopping street ‘Wong Fu Jing’, I was beginning to get a little more nervous than on the plane as there were streets full of locals busy selling and yelling trying to grab the attention of every walker passing by.

I even felt that I was being starred at as we left the car and walked with the thoughts flowing from their minds visual in the air reading ‘NEW FOREIGNER IN TOWN, LOOK-QUICK LOOK!’ As we walked to the buildings main foyer on street level, I turned to recap the scene and images of the hawkers and knew that this was one major custom that I would have to over come with time.

* * * * *

Still excited but tired and hungry my main boss greeted me by shaking my hand and then leading me around the office that consisted of many Chinese busy working at their computer or on the phone. I was introduced to a few of the staff with many having at the time unpronounceable names, I gave a very nice polite smile on the one hand and my mind saying ‘What was that again?’

I quickly was getting hungry knowing that all I ate for the whole day was a small meal on the plane from Japan to China, so I headed to the best diversion I saw COFFEE! Filling my cup with double shot strength caffeine and the aroma flowing to my brain, the hunger turned to warmth and relaxation. As many busy workers came in and out of the office, I just sat watching and drinking my coffee while giving the occasional hello plus smile.

The workers in the office were slowly becoming my friends of need in the future. My boss then invited me to sit and relax for a while in his office that had a great soft leather armchair with an aroma of sweet candy in the room. This sweet candy fragrance was not an air freshener, but the essence smell of a smokers pipe resting on the desk.
I walked over to the window to view the city and was struck by the size and square structure of Beijing. The neon’s of the advertising billboards were illumining the skyline and the sound of traffic was beginning to take the rush hour heat. I just stood starring in ore of the buildings and seeing the downtown area coming to life, as I gave small acceptance of making China my home.

Six cups of coffee later we were greeted again by more people but this time it was other teachers who had traveled from their hometown in China to Beijing for the Spring Festival holiday and were eager to meet the new teacher who was about to embark under the company’s family tree. It really was great to see a western smile and an English hello to help ease the uncertainty. We all gathered into the lift heading to the welcome dinner which by this time was 7pm and considered an average working day for many Chinese. The organization of who was taking which taxi was settled on the way to ground floor and I was about to embrace my first real experience of public transportation with consequences.

Piling four people into the small dark red taxi and taking off to the restaurant and being on ground level again I was given a different view of the buildings that I had seen from a top. Moving forward past the people on the sidewalks holding hands, I got a sense that life in Beijing and China was nothing different than back home in the west except for rules and traditions.
Weaving out of the left to the right lane while nearly missing and bumping the next car and cyclist, I held slightly to the rail above the window and thinking ‘will I make it and how did this guy get his license?’

Turning right into an unrecognizable street and veering along, my thinking of being a foreigner in an accident became reality. With a quick screech of the tyres and a short but loud bang, the driver was not happy and began speaking in a tone that was of common language anywhere in the world.

I grabbed my small backpack and eyed at the damage that had both drivers shouting over who was at fault, we rushed into a passing taxi and continued onto where the dinner was to happen.

Thinking back, I really felt like a fugitive on the run but with not being accused of anything wrong.