A day in the life of Justin Kwan, September 2007

I have some-what of a routine now. After an adventurous summer of traveling and reunions, it feels kind of good to have something to do everyday; responsibility if you will. I came back to Beijing with the intention and need of finding a job. I found one. I moved out of the University district, aka 'little Korea,' to a more central location in Beijing. I love the move. I also bought a scooter for less than my mountain bike in the US cost. I didn't realize how small Beijing can be until recently.
I woke up this morning like any other morning, I prepared an espresso then jumped in the shower. It was a beautiful blue sky day. I went outside and jumped on my scooter to scoot over to the market to pick up some clothes I had made from my tailor. On the way I stopped and got some fresh fruit from a local vendor. I made some small talk and finished my banana, then I was on my way. The clothes looked nice and they fit just right. xie xie. I took the long way home to enjoy the day. I got home and prepared another espresso then hit the books for an hour or so before I went down the street to pick up some lunch at a local restaurant. I grabbed some food to go, then went home to eat and get ready for work.
I work from 1-7. Part of that time is spent making lesson plans, building relationships with clients and colleagues, MSN, studying Chinese, oh and teaching English. Its a pretty cool gig and all the people I meet are extremely nice. People also look up to me. I am a teacher now. Yikes!
After work, there is usually always someone to meet up with for dinner or some fun. Tonight it was hot pot. yummy. Life is good.

I need to write another one of these daily life journals next week and I need to make sure I am able to write about going to class, somewhere.

Allasio at Last!

Kais and I just relaxing on the way home from a Disco

Me, Davide, Kais, Nathan and Omar on a walk in the mountains

The sun is rising, the weather is sweet here....

Davide took us to his Seaside home at Alassio. It was great to be back to the sea after a week in cold and dreary London. Davide was right about how everyone goes to the seaside for summer holidays in Italy. During the day the beaches were completely packed with people basking in the sun or cooling off in the water. We stayed here a couple nights but we said we could be content with staying here the remainder of the trip! Again, we ate good food, relaxed during the day, and partied at night! This was definitely a summer to remember...

Osteria Della Vittoria-Buon Appetito!

Best Italian food I have ever eaten

I thought this was a neat pic and very Italian feeling

That is a guy with the look of pure contentment

Bellisima! Beautiful Italian country side

My roommate from Beijing, Davide, always talked about an amazing restaurant near his countryside home. He promised he would take me there someday and that day came. Davide explained to me that this is a unique kind of restaurant. They produce everything themselves. We started with appetizers of fresh green salads and tomatoes with the most tender, thinly sliced pieces of veal with a dressing. Then we had a sort of spaghetti bolognese and ravioli. The pastas were amazing and home made. Then we had Tiramisu with some dessert wines. The Tiramisu here was the best one we had throughout our trip in Italy, and we tried many places. It was divine. (my mouth is watering).
The pasta, beef, wine and tiramisu all came from the land that they owned. Davide described this restaurant as we might know as 'organic.' It was amazing. Amazing. (once more) Amazing. I will, someday, visit this restaurant again.
After the meal we had a well deserved sizze i cafe and then hit the road going west to the coast.

Beijingers in Milano

Davide, my roommate, always tells me how horrible Milan is in the summer, that nobody is there, its hot and there is nothing to do (unless you have money). True, but one thing I found that never fails is that it is all about the company you are with, no matter where you are. The top picture was taken after aperitivo while walking around the streets with friends from Italy whom I met in Beijing, Minneapolis and even Sweden. Aperitivo is great, its like happy hour with a bunch of Italian dishes (buffet style). You can help yourself as long as you buy a drink. So 10 bucks got me an amazing mojito and a full stomach of great Italian dishes and snacks. I think we took advantage of the free food!
The second picture is some Friends from Beijing, Kais and me in the "chi-fer-man stance" as I like to call it. This is a very common position to see people standing/sitting in in China. I call it the "chiferman stance" because the first time I saw it I was with my dad fishing. He squatted down in this stance with a pole in one hand and a cig in the other and looked like he could sit there all day (or until a fish bites). In China it's not just a fishing stance, but its a cool name for it (at least I think so!).
It was great to see my friends from Beijing in Milan! It made things easier when I we left Beijing knowing that we would see each other again outside of Beijing. We were in Milan less than 24 hours before we headed to Alassio and a small pit-stop at the best Italian restaurant I have eaten at!

London Time

The newly-weds

Going for a ride...I miss my bike :.(

Big Ben

Truth must be told, I didn't just randomly plan a European adventure, I planned to go to London since October of 2006 when I heard my good friend Rupesh was going to get married there. Plus, I got a good deal on my airline tickets since it was almost an 'around the world' ticket!
Omar, Nathan, Qais (my friends from MN) and I arrived to London just how I imagined it. Cold and dreary, but I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. The main reason we were there was to celebrate the marriage of our friend Rupesh. It was a traditional Indian wedding that was really interesting. the ceremonies, clothing and jewelry are something to experience. Not to mention the food, I love Indian food!! I think London has to be the best place to get Indian food in the world (without getting diarrhea [that burns]).
One of the in-laws got a new Aprilla about a week before we arrived and after talking about bikes for a bit he asked me if I wanted to take it around the block. I said "you don't have to ask me twice" and was gone around the block. This is where we were having some problems communicating with British English and American English. You see, in the US if we ask someone if they want to go take a test ride "around the block" it means go ahead and see what my bike is made of. I guess in British English it means "around the block." I took that bike for a nice long ride "around the block" and on my way back i was greeted by a British Team of Indians (or Asians as they call themselves in England). Wow, were they concerned. Great Italian Engineering. 150cc's compares to a 600cc rice burner.
Did some more touring of London, the bridge, Big Ben, Tate Modern Art Museum, Central, etc. Cool place. I need to go back again because there is so much more to do there than we had time for.

Barcelona, the second time around

Friends I met in Sweden, two years later.

My good friends from Minnesota that I traveled with over the next 3 weeks

Camarero! Table for 19, por favor.

After spending a little over 4 months in China it was time to jet set to a holiday in Spain....and London and Italy! It feels like it was so long ago since I was in Spain, my first stop on this European adventure. I must say that Barcelona is my favorite European city because it is an amazing city and on the sea but also because of the company (as my good friend Qais always says "its not that place, its the company you are with").
It was great to see my amigos from Minnesota after being away for over a half year. Not only was it great to see them, it was great to see my Spanish amigos that I met in Sweden over 2 years ago! Not only was it a reunion with my friends from Minnesota and my friends from Sweden but it was also a reunion with other European exchange students that I met my last semester at the University of Minnesota. We had a dinner together and out of the 19 people at the table I knew all but 2 people. It was great to bring everyone together again and it was also a good time for others to meet new people. However, I must say, it took some planning to get everyone here at that time!
Tapas, beaches, paella, wine and a bike tour occupied most of the time we were there...or maybe just the beach! I new this was the beginning of an unforgettable summer. What could be better that seeing old friends in Barcelona? Next stop, London.