Beijing: Eternal Home
I hope Beijing will welcome me again when we meet the next time, with open arms as it did before. ast month, my husband and I moved to Shanghai from Beijing after living there for almost five years. I didn’t expect to be affected much by the move, but I w
Lfinally, writer.
It hosted my struggles when first learning Chinese. My teacher led with the pronunciation of ‘ Ni hao’ ( hello) followed by several more complicated words. I used to take the subway every morning from Huangqu Station on Line 6, where our first apartment was located, to Beijing Mandarin School at Guomao Station on Line 10. Being claustrophobic, I did my best to avoid packed trains and often let several pass before boarding. Although it was challenging to make a daily commute as such, the happiness I derived from spending time with my peers and my teacher while learning Chinese was worth it. Overcoming challenges like this helped me evolve as a person and realize I can overcome my worst fears.
My remarkable experiences in Beijing were also born of the plethora of choices available from the breathtaking scenery of the Great Wall to lakeside views from the bars and restaurants in Houhai. Spending weekend nights at Sanlitun’s restaurants and bars with live music and watching the mushrooming skyscrapers sculpt the ever- changing skyline of the Central Business District left beautiful imprints on my memory.
Beijing is an amalgamation of modern and traditional architecture with historic monuments such as the Forbidden City, Summer Palace and
Yonghegong Lama Temple, which is sated with spiritual energy. Although Beijing is extremely cold in winter, it is quite fascinating to see a white layer of snow blanketing the ancient monuments. It might not be such a big deal if you come from a place where snowfall is common in winter, but as someone from Bangalore in southern India— a very hot place without a hint of snow— the sight is simply breathtaking.
The residents of this city are even more warm and friendly than the structures. I still distinctly remember my Chinese colleagues and boss going out of their way to help me with even the most routine work when I first joined the company in Beijing. In spite of my very poor Mandarin at the time, they made me feel like part of a big family. Once, I attended driving school with my boss, who was helping me get a license. The person at reception asked for my Chinese name, but I didn’t have one then. My boss, with no second thought, offered me his daughter’s name. And every time I went to driving lessons, one of my colleagues accompanied me to translate lessons.
There are also many cultural aspects that I learned from my Chinese colleagues. For instance, I learned about the strong sense of commitment and belongingness within Chinese families which is pretty much similar to that of Indian culture.
And now, while sitting at the General Consulate of India in Shanghai, I feel that the reminiscence of the past is lingering in my thoughts and heart. We often don’t appreciate a place or its people until we leave and nostalgia sets in.
Some say that “old is gold,” and Beijing will always remain dear to me. I have no idea if I will ever get a chance to live in Beijing again, but I like to think that my “first friend” in China will welcome me once again when we meet the next time, with open arms as it did before.