Time is flying by

I was busy during last weekends so it have taken 3 weeks before I have the opportunity to write this update. Today, I am relaxing at home, which is also nice once for a while.  Yesterday night, we went to an electronic music festival, not really the type of music I prefer, but I enjoyed it. The location of this music festival was in an industrial park, on different spots a DJ was playing music supported with laser light effects and together with an enthusiastic audience the atmosphere was great! I have enclosed a few pictures, just to give you an impression.

Last weekend, we visited the Prince Gong's mansion in Beijing. This mansion was built by a corrupt official during the Qing dynasty and constructed in the same style as the Forbidden City. It looks quite new, because it has been renovated recently. If you are visiting this place, I would suggest you to take a guided tour, but of course we didn’t, so we just looked at buildings without knowing what their meaning is. Fortunately, after a while we met a voluntary guide, who was conducting a PhD in Chinese culture, so he could tell us about the history of the mansion and why it was built in this way.

On Sunday, in the same weekend we went to Panjiayuan, which is a market where I can buy Chinese ‘antiques’. I was looking for a painting for my living room, but there were so many choices and every painting has a special meaning. I couldn’t make a decision, so I have to go back another time or maybe I will find somewhere else one I like.

Three weekends ago, I had my oral exam, which was quite difficult. Although, I prepared well for this exam. As my teacher of the conversational class told me, they don’t let you easily pass this exam, because this is at the highest level. I will see what my results are. Now, I am using my afternoon class to prepare for my written exam.

Next weekend, I will be in Hong Kong, because I am only allowed to stay for maximum 90 days after entering China, so I have to leave China and I come back again. I am looking forward to it; see and feel how Chinese people live in a more western society.