Eric's Beijing Diary

Went to a banquet at the Great Hall of the People this evening. The Office of Foreign Experts Affairs had organized this event to celebrate the 55th Anniversary of New China. I had a class, but the powers that be had ordered the Software College to change my schedule so that I could be thee. I boarded a bus with other Foreign Experts from here at Beihang University, and we worked our way through Beijing traffic to the center of the city. Tiananmen (The Gate of Heavenly Peace) on one side, and behind it, the Forbidden City. On the other side, the huge square, bordered by the National Museum, Mao's mausoleum, and the Great Hall of the People.

It's hard to say how much the fifties style design of this building was influenced by Russian vs. Chinese architecture. Or perhaps European. It is rather square and plain, but still impressive for its size. Although it is a government building, it is also used as a convention center. Most of the Foreign Experts seemed impressed with it, except for one ABC sitting near me, "Is this some kind of famous place or something?"

The food was very, very good. Very delicious salted fish and lots of other meat and vegetable dishes. That's not unusual for Beijing, still it is always interesting to taste yet another unique course. And everyone seemed to enjoy the food, with the exception of one finicky foreigner, who sat patiently waiting for the fried rice. I guess he was allergic to sea food or something. That's alright. I ate a little extra smoked salmon for him.