Fall in Beijing

September 21 marked the beginning of fall, and the temperatures in Beijing have already started to drop. I was still wearing flip flops and shorts two weeks ago, but alas, I finally pulled out my sweaters and jackets this week. Although the temperatures are still pretty mild during the day, it has gotten much chillier at night in Beijing.

In the past, whenever the weather changed patterns and turned cooler, I always found myself changing as well. Physically, I'm usually more tired and my appetite starts to increase, while emotionally, I tend to turn inward and undergo periods of self-reflection.

We have a couple more days of work before the October National Holiday in China. Oddly enough, it feels like last year's National Holiday was just yesterday. A year ago, I was still a newcomer to China and adjusting to my new life in Shanghai. Classes ran for about a month, and my teacher colleagues and I were finally getting accustomed to standing up in front of 20+ children everyday.

Last year was also the first time when Ashley, Lauren and I traveled for the first time together in Asia. We went to Yangshuo with the Lesters and Kate, and that was also the first time I rode a tandem bicycle :) . Of the six SHSID teachers, only three remain in China (including myself), while the others have moved home or elsewhere to pursue other opportunities.

A year ago was also the first time I ate dinner at Sun with Acqua, one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Shanghai. The conversations from that night would later lead to a series of debates and discussions that would open my eyes up to an eventual understanding of modern Chinese culture. These conversations soon became my source of inspiration for thought leadership, cultural exchange and the continuous pursuit of pushing myself beyond my limits.

So much has changed over the past year, and it still amazes me how different my life is now compared to my life in New York or even in Shanghai. I used to be the type of person who didn't exactly love change, but I have certainly undergone many lessons during these past 12 months over the idea of embracing change. For a person who used to map out her 18-month plan, I now only want to focus on the present moment, and I'm simply happy if I make it through one day.

Anyway, in a few days this year I will be heading off to Qingdao for some rest and relaxation with my friends. My flights are booked, and I'm ready to experience the city's annual Oktoberfest and China's beaches. It'll be interesting to see the German-influenced architecture and hoards of locals invading China's shores. Somehow the environment I just described doesn't sound as serene as this: