Beijing at last

I graduated from the University of Minnesota in May of 2006 with a Bachelors Degree of Science in Business. I started working full time for a company in Minneapolis not too long after graduation. Yikes, the real world! It was scary. No more sleeping in til noon and starting the weekend on Thursday nights. This was it, work; but for what? That's what I couldn't figure out. So I decided it was the best time in my life to fulfill what I have always wanted to do. Learn Chinese! As many of you know, I am half Chinese but don't really speak much Chinese or even know much about my culture. Well, I am an optimist and it's never to late! I applied directly to a language university in Beijing and was accepted. I sold my motorcycle (wow do i miss it!) and my car, said goodbye to my family and friends and took off to China (and detour in Australia:) I'll write on that later) with the intention of being here for 1-2 years.
Well, here I am in Beijing at last! I kind of just decided to go and didn't put much thought or expectations into it other than learn Chinese and about my other culture. I was actually in Beijing in August of 2005 and to be honest, I didn't think too much of this place. Despite my first impression, I have quickly fallen in love with Beijing and I haven't even been here one week!
I am living in a city of about 18 million people. Wow, that's a lot. I live in a lovely apartment with my Italian friend Davide whom I met when I was studying in Sweden 2 years ago. There is amazingly good and cheap food everywhere! I live in the Haidian district, which is surrounded by Universities. Since my Uni is a language University there are heaps of foreigners, which is a great thing because I love meeting people from all over the world!
School starts on Tuesday. Back to the good life of sleeping til noon and starting the weekends on Thursday nights, or I think they start on Wednesdays in Beijing!