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Hey!

The visit to Vigario Geral with AfroReggae and Natura on Monday was great. The programme allows people within the community to have access to music and arts, in an attempt to deter them from entering into drugs and violence, obviously an extremely positive scheme. We also had a talk from an ex-drug lord who had previously been one of the most notorious drug dealers in Rio and had joined drug dealers at age 13, progressing to be chief of the area by age 19, was now working for AfroReggae to help deter young people from entering the world of drugs, and instead encouraging them to develop their education.

On Tuesday we had a talk from Petrobras about their International Corporate Communications. It was really interesting to see how the company had developed, considering they lost their monopoly 13 years ago and are now one of 67 companies involved with the National Petroleum Agency. Considering that Petrobras has 600,000 shareholders worldwide and is 55% controlled by the government, and the Board has 3 government ministers, the company has an almost unique structure.

We went to a match at the Maracana on Wednesday which was really good to go. I was half expecting a fast-paced game with quick passing and decent ball control with a smooth transition. The first 20 minutes were really good, with Flamengo taking the lead. As the game progressed however, Avai got more into it, and Flamengo’s defence was shocking! Flamengo’s off the ball movement and on the ball movement was unbelievably static and resulted in Avai being able to equalise, finishing 1-1. Flamengo effectively lost the game as they should have easily won apparently on paper. Going to the Maracana however is a must for anyone going to Brazil, especially with it being one of the stadiums for Rio 2014.

Sticking with footie, we have been to an NGO (non-government organisation) called Bola Pra Frente. It was one of the best projects that I’ve ever seen...the programme is based around footie in terms of bringing the community together and to give young people an opportunity rather than them simply getting involved in drugs and violence which is commonly associated with the communities. Footie isn`t used to develop people into better players, but the project utilises skills that are common with footie, and sports in general – like the life skills that are developed such as discipline, communication and commitment. A requirement of the programme, similar to most of the programmes is that education is the key, and is viewed as the way to achieve. To relate this to the UK and the contrast, I would argue that people at home can sometimes find it easy to take education for granted. In Brazil, education is seen as the ¨way out¨. (this was also very similar to Sierra Leone, but in a slightly different way).

Yesterday (Friday), we went to a police station...probably not what you`re expecting me to say, but it was really interesting. The emphasis was on how the police co-operate with different communities across Rio. The same recurring subject came up...education. The police are running various programmes to help ensure that people have the opportunity to go into education. A further innovative programme they have recently started is to allow crimes to be reported online, with the idea being that it makes it easier for people in society to report crimes, and it also allows the amount of time that police have to be better used – rather than writing reports, the person reporting the crime begins the case file. The police are also addressing corruption which is sometimes associated with them. We also had a talk from the Tourist Police which believe it or not, supports tourists. Also had a talk with the kidnapping unit, which was really interesting – in Rio they don`t pay ransoms, but in Sao Paulo they do...so surprise surprise, there are currently no kidnappings in Rio, and a lot in Sao Paulo. The visit, which was through Natura, again highlighted the emphasis on working with society, and that people, and society in general, should be given more power in Brazil.

We have had a lesson on Capoeira, which is a kind of martial art that mixes dance and music together. Although some of us were slightly put out of our comfort zones, it was good fun!

Last night we had a `reflection session` where we reflected on the week. This week has been really good and I have really enjoyed Rio and learnt a lot. We`ve got one more week in Rio, and then to Sao Paulo.

I have decided that I’m going to do my project on a sporting theme in Brazil, especially with the rise in globalisation of sport, and Rio having the 2014 World Cup, and 2016 Olympic and Paralympics Games.

See photo of Ed and I after our match. A guy who they called ¨the Brazilian Chuck Norris¨ climbed up a palm tree and got us all some coconuts after!

Next blog...some photos of sunrise – have got up early a few times to see it, truly beautiful!

Take care,

Ian

I titled this blog after a famous quote in China. Today I became a real man! If words could describe the mind-blowing experience I had today, believe me I would share them.

I got up at 07:00 to go for a run with a few others and despite my current fitness levels, the excess pollution and the heat, I didn’t find it too difficult. Although it wasn’t the best idea knowing what we had to face later on! For breakfast, I bought some fresh watermelon for 2.7 RMB (27p!!!!!!) and then we set off to the great wall.

 As we were driving out of Beijing, the change of scenery from the city to the countryside was amazing. Driving through the mountains, we could sense the wall was near and we were all so eager for that first sight of the Great Wall. We visited the Juyongguan district, which is great for tourists to visit and climb the wall. Upon arrival, we were surprised by not only the size of the wall but the amount of tourists there were. People from all over the world had flocked to see one of the world’s great wonders. It is one thing to appreciate the effort that went into the building of this 2800 year-old man-made structure, but to understand it and try and come to terms with the true scale of it is impossible; even having seen it and climbed it. Just to put things into scale for you guys back at home- the walls entire length, including its branching sections, is 8,851km. If you were to draw a straight line from London-Beijing along a map, the distance would be roughly 9,000km!! I still can’t get my head round that!  From the bottom all you could see was flocks of people attempting to climb the wall and being as eager as we were, we were desperate to join them so we set of in smaller groups up one side of the wall. For anybody who is scared of heights or rollercoaster’s, this certainly isn’t an experience you enjoy. I say rollercoaster because at certain points of the wall, you are walking almost vertically upwards and if you turn back, the vertigo kicks in!

To call it steep would be an understatement. About half way up we hit the traffic jam, which was caused because the next turret didn’t have an archway, which allowed two-way traffic. As a result, there was a lot of pushing and shoving and not a lot of movement. Despite this delay, once through we were able to shoot up to the highest visible tower in no time. Two years ago, I was fortunate enough to visit the Himalayas; an experience which tops any other in my life. The scenery today could not have been any more different, but I hold currently hold them both now as the two greatest experiences of my life. The only criticism being that unlike in the Himalayas, the heat is muggy and by the time we were at the top, we may as well have been swimming because we were soaked to our skin in sweat. After pictures and videos, we began our descent, which again was delayed by traffic! At this point, I was beginning to suffer from cramp; a definite side effect from this morning’s run, but I managed it in the end! My short time at the Great wall was indescribable so for that I apologize that you cannot share my excitement; however, for me, it will leave an everlasting memory. 

We headed back towards Beijing, where we had lunch at an average restaurant; it was for tourists and the food didn’t seem to be as nice as other meals. Moreover, they had given us forks and spoons, which confirmed that it wasn’t going to be a traditional Chinese meal. We then set off on the final trip of our day, to the Birds Nest stadium, the venue for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. I was a bit sceptical going there because I had read that it was slightly overrated and not particularly exciting, but as we drove through the Olympic park, I was astounded by how modern everything was. There are buildings in shapes you wouldn’t think possible, which suits the uniqueness of the games; the stadium from outside was like nothing I have ever seen before. Walking around the park, we were constantly hounded by sellers offering us toy mascots, key rings and anything related to the games. Having recently been to the Olympic stadium in Berlin, I was able to draw up plenty of comparisons and contrasts; in terms of the layout of everything inside the stadium, everything was quite similar, however when you look around the stadium, especially from the top, I couldn’t help but feeling underwhelmed because in fact, it is almost identical to Wembley inside. Despite this, I was far from disappointed due to the impressive design and appearance from the outside. We then walked around the Olympic park and had a wonder over to the aquatic centre, which was closed. What should have been a 30-minute visit, ended up taking almost an hour and a half. The reason for this being, that Asher, a 6ft 5 member of our group, looks amazingly like a basketball player, therefore when some of us in the group shouted NBA, within seconds we were surrounded by natives wanting a photo with him. It was quite hilarious to see how many people were asked to be in photos and it’s amazing that we can communicate with each other like this, without the language barrier! 

In the evening, a few of us went back to the restaurant where no one spoke English, however this time we were completely alone. Fortunately, I had been practicing a bit earlier on and I learnt a few useful words and phrases, which allowed me to order for my table with minimal problems. Naturally, there were a few misunderstandings, but this is to be expected and it was nice to be able to communicate with the waiters, albeit only a little. After this, we went out for a bit to celebrate Anne-Marie’s birthday at a bar somewhere in Beijing. 

Tomorrow we are going to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square- two places that excite me very much!! I hope  I have as much to tell tomorrow as I have after today’s amazing experience at the Great Wall. Until tomorrow Zai Jian 

Highlight of the day- Climbing the Great Wall of China. Not everyone can say they have done that!

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My day started VERY hecticly, because for some reason I wasn’t woken up by my alarm, so when I woke up by myself and saw that it was 8.36 and I needed to be downstairs at 8.40 I moved like a total ninja, and was probably only one or two minutes late. And then off to the Great Wall of China.

The journey took about an hour and half, thankfully though the coach was air conditioned so it was a comfortable ride. But even traveling for an hour and a half away from central Beijing, the smog still fills the air, meaning I haven’t seen the sky since Dubai on Wednesday morning, or a star since Tuesday night at Heathrow! Back to the wall though, we all practically ran off the bus, so excited to be climbing the Great Wall of China, but after walking up the first flight of steps (probably about 6 or 7 of them) we realised just how hard it was going to be. I can say without doubt that for me, and my total lack of interest in sport or physical activity of any kind, it was one of the most grueling things I have ever done. The heat. The people. The humidity. The steep steps. They all make it such hard work, and at one point I felt so close to being sick that I almost just sat down in the middle of a staircase! It was definitely worth the effort though, the views were great, although a little smoggy, but mainly because, I’m not going to lie, I was really proud of myself for having accomplished it! It is also a Chinese legend that you are only a true man once you have climbed the great wall, so tonight I shall go to sleep a true man (with my medal to prove it!)

We had a quick stop for some lunch, before moving onto the Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium. This took us to a totally different part of Beijing, that was very new and shiny, and felt far more like Los Angles than Beijing. After getting off the bus I saw a souvenir stand selling the Olympic Mascots - Fuwu- and HAD to buy them, it was also my first shot at Chinese haggling and I got the lady down from 70 yuan to 50. The mascots are called: BeiBei JingJing HuanHuan YingYing and NiNi, which together makes Beijing Huan Ying Ni, or Beijing welcomes you, the title of the Olympic anthem which we’re learning in our Mandarin class next week. The stadium is really impressive, but you can see how bad the environment is, because after only two years or so, it is already looking quite shabby and in need of a good clean! On our way back from the stadium to the coach, we found out that a large group of Westerners creates a LOT of interest amongst Chinese people. It started with just the odd person coming and asking for a photo, and ended up with Asher being mobbed, probably helped by us all standing around and screaming that he was from the NBA and an internationally famous basketball player. From here it didn’t stop until we reached the coach, and I was pleased because I had a group come and ask me for a photo! My China experience is now complete!!!

Tonight we all decided to go to a club, but this suffered a minor hiccup in that where we wanted to go got very lost in translation with the taxi drivers, very lost. But after about an hour and a half, and some taxis going as far as the Great Wall and the Bird’s Nest again (and most of us having to get out the taxi in the middle of a highway and negotiate about 4 lanes of traffic to reach the pavement!!), all but one of the taxis were reunited, and we went off to find a bar. We found a little bar to go to, and it’s clear that the bar/club culture is very different in China. There was live music, but everyone was seated with table service, which meant no dance floor for us- not that we were stopped by that though! We’s soon taken over most of the pub and were dancing and singing along, and the Chinese people seemed to really enjoy the energy we brought. I ended up dancing on the stage, and managed (with some very bad Mandarin) to get them to play Beijing huan ying ni! It was a wicked ending to a wicked day!

I’m working on the picture thing, but as yet no luck! I’m going to try and get someone to help me out tomorow!

Ziajian

Goodbye

I AM A HERO!

Today was one of the days I’d most been looking forward to- the day of the Great Wall!

Driving up to the foothills of the mountain, the area was enveloped in a thick blanket of mist- giving the Wall a mysterious aura.. however, this was short-lived when we saw the hundreds of people making the climb! The journey up the wall was difficult- intense heat and humidity, hundreds of sweaty bodies jammed in together and a very steep ascent! But after nearly an hour of hard trudging, Luke, Katie, Braden and I reached the penultimate turret.. the end was in sight! Thoroughly exhausted, we decided to buy a Chinese peasant-style hat to help block the sun. And, after what felt like the longest 15 minutes of my life, we reached the top of the Great Wall! J J

Yaaay! We were now ‘true men’, heroes of China! Feeling some sense of misplaced patriotism, we burst into God save the Queen-proudly holding the Union Jack! :P  We began the climb back down still singing, but met various fellows along the way, on their own way to the top- we decided to accompany them to spur them on, so ended up actually making the journey to the top 3 times!

Later we visited the Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium, this was far more impressive from the outside than what I’d pictured from the television. Inside was massive, with an amazing view of the pitch and sports facilities. I only have one word for what happened later- NBA! Hahaha :P

That evening was Anne-Marie’s birthday, so a little hotel room party was organised before we all headed out to experience Beijing night life. After mayhem with the taxis, most of us ended up at a small bar with a live Chinese band- we even had some of our own star fellows performing on stage with the talented Sierah and Zac! Then Toles took us to an international club that was brilliant- we literally took over the platform stage, dancing til the early hours..

Today has definitely been the best so far. We could directly compare old and modern China, with the ancient Great Wall and the state-of-the-art Olympics stadium and modern Beijing nightlife. Even though in the centre of Beijing we experience modern, fast China, today strongly emphasised that it is a country steeped in history and culture that far surpasses our own.

Yesterday's opening ceremony helped us understand how lucky we are to be able to study at Beijing Normal University. It is prestigious in China for many different subjects, yet I still find the lessons difficult. We had our first lesson yesterday and it was mainly words we've done before, but my memory for chinese words is minimal! Our teacher gave us Chinese names and mine is Cui Sha (Pronounced twee sha so I can remember it as it sounds like the last part of my name) Cui is a beautiful type of jade and sha is a popular girls name.

In the afternoon we were given a lecture on the Chinese Economy, and although I know nothing about business, it was very interesting to learn about their methods of economic reform but I found her side track onto the one child policy most interesting. We found out that people in China can have two children, a) if they live in rural areas and b) if they both are children from one child families and it shows how different things are from my original perceptions.

In the evening we had a reception at the British Embassy and again it gave us chance to practice our networking skills again. It was really great to have two representatives of the business I am working in in Shanghai, Wall Street English. One of them had been to Salford so we taledk about that, but his football tastes were sadly not to my liking, why support Chelsea?!

Today was our first chance to visit cultural sites. The Great Wall was immense, it was 36 degrees and walking was difficult because of the steepness and the number of people on the wall, but I was very proud of how far I managed to climb having reached the highest point on the Ju Yong Guan part of the wall (I have amedal and t-shirt saying I've climbed the wall to prove it!) , but we came down having lost much weight in sweat!

After this we went to visit the Bird's Nest Stadium, having watched pretty much all the 2008 Beijing Olympics Coverage, it was incredible to be there in real life. The view of the stadium from the bottom was good but from the top, the sheer size becomes apparent (although my legs weren't liking climbing even more steps) Two years after the legacy of the Olympics there are still many people coming from all over to see the stadium, and I really hope the Olympics in London will leave the same impression and introduce a bigger passion of sport of a wider range.

xx

Today was the day we were going to take on the Great Wall of China! I being as naïve as I am didn’t even imagine what I was letting myself in for. After a rather lengthy coach journey of about 1 ½ Hours we made it to the base of the section of the Great Wall we were going to climb. We started of in about groups of 10 as we began our climb of the wall but lets say people were dropping off step by step it was extremely hot and it was very busy it was the worst conditions imaginable for this kind of thing. We were all so determined to make it to the top the fact that we could say we climb the wall and we were true men as the ancient Chinese proverb goes “ those who have not climb the great wall, can not call themselves true men!” The section of the wall had watch towers along the way which we used as rest points also if you needed to stock up on water and souvenirs (vendors were trying all the can to buy there goods by what ever means necessary) by after about 2 Hours the people that was left made it to the top and when we did words can’t describe the sense of pride and relief you felt and not to mention you get to rest it was just unbelievable. After a quick 10 minutes rest and a few pictures with everyone we had to get down as fast as we could because we were already late and everyone was waiting but they were all pleased we made it to the top. After the Great Wall we all went for a buffet lunch to stock up as we just burnt a million and a half calories but all this was on the first couple of days and we will have many more stories to tell! 

It's been another hectic few days in New Delhi so I thought I should get down to writing some more of my blog!

Went to Agra yesterday to see the Taj Mahal...I can now officially tick one of the seven wonders of the world off my list of things to see! Had to get up hideously early for it (meeting in the hotel lobby at 5 was not easy!), but it was definately worth it! It's a beautiful monument, and actually strangely moving - it was built by Shah Jahan to commemorate the life of his wife Mumtaz Mahal who died in childbirth, and in comparison to the hectic streets of New Delhi it was really peaceful which I hadn't expected at all. It's funny, despite having seen lots of pictures of it before, I was still slightly awed by really being there and seeing it for myself! We also went to see fatepur sikri, and Agra fort, both forts dating from the Mughal era...they were really interesting and it was nice to get  bit more of a sense of Indian history - it made me aware of how little I know about the history of this country, something that I think is really quite shameful given that the majority of people here not only speak perfect English, but also seem to know so much about the culture and history of the Uk. I may just be speaking for myself, but I get the sense that in Britain we often have quite a limited knowledge of the history of other countries, and particularly the impact we had on them during the colonial period - something I think is really quite shocking.  

Also talked to Arvind Gupta about entrepreneurship which was really interesting...I know very little about the ins and outs of business, so hearing first hand about the way in which entrepreneurship contributes to an economy and society, and the way in which it differs from 'suit and tie' business was really informative. I found the concept of social entrepreneurship (i.e. innovating and creating products that help the poorest or the needy) very interesting, although I also struggle with the fact that many of the opportunities for creating a profit now lie in finding a product that suits the need of those in absolute poverty...there seems such a divide between both sides of the scale.

The poverty yesterday was difficult to handle...seeing young kids begging for little bits of food and then seeing their faces light up when you give them something a simple as a biscuit reminds you just how lucky you are. We ended up playing with a group of street children on the train platform on the way back to New Delhi and it made me acutely aware that these kids are just that - kids. And no-one that young should ever be doing anything other than playing and having a good time...it felt wrong that we were going back to a nice hotel to sleep and they were going back probably to be punished for the few minutes they spent playing with us...there is so much that it amazing about this country, but the poverty is so hard to see. We were talking to a man from the ICCR (Indian Comission for Cultural Relations) today who said that some people say 'India is a country living in different centuries', and he's right - you can literally walk three steps and go from high development to absolute poverty.

Also learnt how to drape a saree today...I'm thinking I should go out and buy one...there really beautiful although given my bad memory, I might need some help remembering exactly how to make the pleats! And learnt about rangoli, decoration created on the floor outside a house...it's really beautiful - and definately an idea for my final piece!

Anyway, got to go know as it's one o'clock in the morning and i'm on a hunt for chocolate biscuits...

It's been another hectic few days in New Delhi so I thought I should get down to writing some more of my blog!

Went to Agra yesterday to see the Taj Mahal...I can now officially tick one of the seven wonders of the world off my list of things to see! Had to get up hideously early for it (meeting in the hotel lobby at 5 was not easy!), but it was definately worth it! It's a beautiful monument, and actually strangely moving - it was built by Shah Jahan to commemorate the life of his wife Mumtaz Mahal who died in childbirth, and in comparison to the hectic streets of New Delhi it was really peaceful which I hadn't expected at all. It's funny, despite having seen lots of pictures of it before, I was still slightly awed by really being there and seeing it for myself! We also went to see fatepur sikri, and Agra fort, both forts dating from the Mughal era...they were really interesting and it was nice to get  bit more of a sense of Indian history - it made me aware of how little I know about the history of this country, something that I think is really quite shameful given that the majority of people here not only speak perfect English, but also seem to know so much about the culture and history of the Uk. I may just be speaking for myself, but I get the sense that in Britain we often have quite a limited knowledge of the history of other countries, and particularly the impact we had on them during the colonial period - something I think is really quite shocking.  

Also talked to Arvind Gupta about entrepreneurship which was really interesting...I know very little about the ins and outs of business, so hearing first hand about the way in which entrepreneurship contributes to an economy and society, and the way in which it differs from 'suit and tie' business was really informative. I found the concept of social entrepreneurship (i.e. innovating and creating products that help the poorest or the needy) very interesting, although I also struggle with the fact that many of the opportunities for creating a profit now lie in finding a product that suits the need of those in absolute poverty...there seems such a divide between both sides of the scale.

The poverty yesterday was difficult to handle...seeing young kids begging for little bits of food and then seeing their faces light up when you give them something a simple as a biscuit reminds you just how lucky you are. We ended up playing with a group of street children on the train platform on the way back to New Delhi and it made me acutely aware that these kids are just that - kids. And no-one that young should ever be doing anything other than playing and having a good time...it felt wrong that we were going back to a nice hotel to sleep and they were going back probably to be punished for the few minutes they spent playing with us...there is so much that it amazing about this country, but the poverty is so hard to see. We were talking to a man from the ICCR (Indian Comission for Cultural Relations) today who said that some people say 'India is a country living in different centuries', and he's right - you can literally walk three steps and go from high development to absolute poverty.

Also learnt how to drape a saree today...I'm thinking I should go out and buy one...there really beautiful although given my bad memory, I might need some help remembering exactly how to make the pleats! And learnt about rangoli, decoration created on the floor outside a house...it's really beautiful - and definately an idea for my final piece!

Anyway, got to go know as it's one o'clock in the morning and i'm on a hunt for chocolate biscuits...

“The Global economy has had a heart attack”, Sebastian Wood CMG, the British Ambassador to the Peoples Republic tells me. At a meet and greet comprising representatives of Beijing Normal University (BNU), corporate partners and British embassy staff the fellows get the opportunity to network among some high profile people including: the vice president of BNU, representatives from Tata Consultancy Service, HSBC and Mr. Wood. Late in the evening I get the chance to question Mr Wood about the future of the China and the UK’s relationship with it.

China has modernised at a pace unmatched by any other nation. Since the four modernisations unleashed ‘socialism with Chinese characteristic’ in the late 70s China’s annual GDP and GDP per capita growth rate has risen over 9%. More over, in 2005 the growth rate of trade balance shot up by 218%. At an economics lecture at BNU we were informed that since the 70s the role of state industry (that comprised 90% of companies in 1978) has been significantly reduced and now accounts for just 15% of GDP. Although the state still controls railways, civil aviation, urban water, electricity, gas, education, oil, telecoms and defence the part it plays in the economic workings of China is now much less than before the death of Mao.

Of course, this has had both environmental and social costs. This forms much of the dialogue Mr Wood and the Chinese government have: how the environmental damage can be repaired and minimised in the future. Mr Wood suggests that while Britain does not have the influence that the US does it does have the capacity to change the media’s perception of China: as in the case of Ed Milliband’s criticisms of China’s refusal to accept environment reforms at Copenhagen in 2009. Mr Woods reinforces that it’s about give and take: the west must offer its own comprehensive reforms before demanding those from China.

A balance must be maintained in the global economy and the work of the embassy is key to this, especially after the recent slow down. To maintain healthy dialogues with other powers, especially at a time when many nations are tempted to sever interrelations with each other, makes the work of the embassy essential. Mr Wood is adamant that the next few years will go down in history, its fascinating to be in China at a time when this is so. However, if the world economy is to be reform for the benefit of all global citizens than these dialogues between nations must be explored further.  

It’s incredible to think how much we’ve done during the past 48 hours. I suppose keeping a blog has its benefits when you can get a sense of just how much you’ve done.

We ventured out into the city for lunch on Wednesday morning and soon came across side streets littered with irregularly-built shops, cafés and market stalls, giving the impression of being far-flung from our modern hotel building and the University. People were curious about us; I’ve read that Chinese people can stare at foreigners, but I didn’t expect to be stared at quite so much.

I didn’t mind, though. A few of us found a street stall selling noodles, which I quickly ordered and gobbled up- a bargain for about 70p. The nice noodle lady even put them into a bowl for me and sat me down when she realised I was finding the concept of eating noodles from a carrier bag difficult. You don’t get that kind of courtesy often for what is after all cheap fast food.

Back at the University we met for an orientation and then got a chance to go on a tour of the campus with some Chinese students, with whom we talked about everything, from education and aspirations to more sensitive issues like the one-child policy. The two students our group was with had only been learning English (their major) for one year, yet their enthusiasm for Britain and their fluency was incredible. What’s more, it was quite saddening that they had not yet had the chance to visit Britain; they could go and study there for a year providing that they teach back in China for 10 years. If I’m honest, if it was the same choice for me I would think long and hard about my future year abroad for my language degree.  

For the evening we decided that a karaoke bar would be the best way to spend our first proper night in Beijing. Travelling by taxi was a good way of drawing closer to the centre with the Vegas-esque neon lights of new, big buildings giving the impression of a city embracing the future. The karaoke bar itself was spectacularly lavish, and even though I couldn’t get as enthusiastic about the music played as other fellows it was a great way of spending an evening.

Yesterday we woke early for our opening ceremony, all uniformly white-clothed in our BNU t-shirts for our group photo. We started our language lessons as well- mainly reviewing the basics which we’d already learned, but nonetheless they were enjoyable, and the teachers were very friendly. Already I want to continue learning about China and the Chinese language.

We were presented with a unique opportunity yesterday evening of getting to visit the British Embassy, where the Ambassador hosted a welcome meeting for us all, complete with a huge framed picture of the Queen, Victorian furnishing and a massive piano: just what we expect of a far-flung British outpost. Talking to people there was an incredibly informative and exciting experience, and left me feeling convinced that we need to see eye-to-eye with China more in the coming years

Talking to one Chinese guest in particular, involved in Corporate Social Responsibility was very interesting. Amongst many things he made the point that he hoped we would go back to Britain and view China in a more positive light, and to not simply believe the line taken by the media about his country, a point which stuck with me as he explained that above all else he considered China a forgiving country, bearing no malice for the wrongs done to it in the past by western nations. I believed him.