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It hits you when you walk off the plane: the sudden surge of hot air in Dubai’s 41°C temperature. This marks the rough half way point between London and Beijing where the final 40 of the global fellows will complete their journey. Dubai is of course more than an airport - even from Dubai International you can make out shape of the skyscrapers that characterise Dubai’s worldwide image as a consumer paradise. Just walking through the airport, which optimises modern design and development, it’s impossible to not notice the Rolex branded clocks; similarly, the duty free shopping is littered with all the usual western brands: Hugo Boss, Lacoste, Paul Smith, at western prices. There was an element in familiar in all this: English speaking boutique assistants and cafeteria workers serving western food. However, flying over the snow-covered Tibetan Plateau reinforced that we were all a long way from home.   

 

Both culturally and historically China and Britain are worlds apart. Of course, China has all the usual global retail brands: KFC has over 2,000 outlets in China and Ray Ban logos don the all the opticians down Beijing high streets. However, this is in contrast to the street vendors and shanty shops that are also present. Take, for instance, the number of street food outlets in China offering noodles, Chuan'r (like a lamb kebab) and Jian Bing (pancakes with a fried egg). More over, with the Pound at roughly 10Yuan many of these foods can be bought for under 50p.

 

I ask Bob (his English name), a Chinese English Student at Beijing Normal University, if this has prevented him from visiting English speaking countries abroad. He replies that if you really save, it’s possible, but very difficult. Bob is one of many English speaking Chinese students at Beijing University training to become a teacher. Originally from Shandong province, south of Beijing, Bob joins us for dinner and helps us order the best food. His willingness to help comprises part of the larger Chinese attitude present in everyone I’ve encountered so far.

 

Dinner, consisting of shared pots of noodles, chicken, beef and vegetables, costs just £1.50; so much food is brought out that much is just left uneaten. Going from London to Beijing is a massive culture change, the money factor forms a part of this. However, beginning language classes, visiting the Great Wall and Tian’anmen Square and Kung Fu sessions await for the next few days; this is only the beginning.