I know what you’re thinking – this can’t be Beijing.
Well, we found it hard to believe as well when we found ourselves in Renmin Park in the heart of Beijing over the holidays. It was seriously a welcome relief. You almost felt like laying a mat with strawberries or just rolling on the carpet grass. For the record, it was 10yuan a person to get in, but well worth the conservation penny.
Anyway, that’s my husband taking a break from what’s been quite a crash entry into MBA life. I wonder how I would’ve coped if I took up that offer to IMD, which is well-known for its ultra-intensity. (10-month intensive).
Peking University hasn’t exactly been kind either, but I guess they did have the intention to send the students into shock therapy so they appreciate the months ahead a little better.
We both admit it is a rather trying period for us of late.
Love certainly evolves in itself when a couple is put under different layers of stress. For one to be dealing with a full-time MBA in a top Chinese college, lugging 10kg of course material and dashing for the subway, then through the hoards of Beijingers, then queuing for tickets, being jostled, making it for the BJ-TJ speed train, and finally climbing onto your electric bike on the final lap – EVERYDAY – it takes alot of dedication. As a spouse, coming home to a very tired husband is still very much a comfort, but we inevitably fall into the same conversation trap of the daily grind. The coarse grainy type that is.
I have a tendency to be impatient and overachieving, and when I don’t see sufficient improvement in myself of my partner, my insecurity kicks in and I try to put us both on higher gear. Even writing this line already sends alarm bells to my head of my irrational response. Vincent on the other hand, is a patient and steady-handed. Without his clockwork Swiss training and level-headedness, he would probably have given up on China’s transport system long ago.
And above it all, he still tells me he loves me, everyday.
Anyway, Mel (ma BFF) came by Tianjin yesterday, and it was probably god’s grace, or just really timely.
Mel’s getting married in a month’s time, and despite her insane schedule and work demands, she took the time to listen to us rant over a German beer and prok knuckle (in Tianjin, yes.) I won’t go into too much detail here, but the one thing that she said that really should stick with us through these trying times is that ‘the most important thing is that you have each other’. That is priority.
You’re right Mel, as cliche as it sounds, I should count my blessings, and hold on to them. At least we know it’s there when the smog comes around.
Little Roots in China 
Hey babe,
I’ve just caught up with your blog and finally know what you guys have been up to these past few months. Kinda knew you were in China but never got down to asking what for… sorry! Enjoy your time there. Will be following your adventures online.
Hey Yilin!
Well thanks for dropping by. Figured i had to jump on the bloggy bandwagon when it comes to a place like China. Too much is going on and you kinda wanna make sure you don’t forget over time. 🙂
Hope all’s well with you Mrs Cho. Your coco is really really adorable! (and i don’t say this just to please a mama). You guys must be having so much fun being mum and dad!
Hey babe beautiful post… miss you guys and look forward to reading more updates! JoJo1 xxx
Aww what a sweet post!
Hang in there! Hope you both get into the swing of things in China soon, after a while it gets easier, you no longer feel bullied, pushed and jostled fighting the system that actually isn’t so hard to understand afterall. Big thumbs up to Vincent diving into the world of a totally different language and style. I miss bicycling in Beijing even cars always try to knock you down and drive on the pavements and I miss arguing with taxi drivers and dodging spit from cars when i’m cycling past.
I hope you both grow to like Beijing/Tianjin and grow into each other even more!
at least there’s nice jiaozi, astrill, cheap clothes, great nature hikes/walks, no system and the potential for creative solutions and a whole lot of new things to discover. xx
Babe, haha seems like you’re reminiscing on the ‘good ol’ days. :p
Yeah, the funniest thing about life is how much we think about the hardship when we look back, and these become the fondest memories…
Anyway, yes, some things about China we’re still trying to get a hang of – the biggest being the distances.
Hope all’s greeeaat down south. We’re thinking about spending New Year’s there! you gonna be around? :)))
Thank you 🙂 Parenthood has its good days and blah (just a tiny bit) ones, thankfully more of the former than latter.
Yes, running a blog takes a lot of effort but we’re glad we documented our travels diligently despite the infuriatingly slow and spotty Internet connections at times, late nights, uninspired days, etc. We printed out the entire blog into glossy books – four volumes – and it’s so nice living our memories all over again.
May the wordsmith in you be always inspired to log your precious memories of China in this blog.