Eric's Beijing Diary

Tonight we had a goodbye dinner for Roger at the Korean restaurant. Roger is a physician from California who has been teaching English at Beida on a short term program. He has been part of our Sunday afternoon fellowship for a few months, but he is returning to California next week.

This being a university community, lots of people come and go. Students, teachers, tourists, and curiosity seekers just coming to see what it's all about. There are more than 50 universities here in the Haidian District. Of course they all hire regular English teachers to increase the proficiency of their students. But since there is so much transition, there are also many teachers recruited for short term assignments. Roger happened to be in between things right now, so he decided to take a break and come to China. Folks like Roger don't usually stay for a long time, because they have other opportunities in life that English teaching in China can't really compete with. But Roger went to medical school in Israel, and he has lived and worked in several Arab countries, including a stint with OM in Lebanon. So he is just the type to take advantage of a chance to see China and discover what doors may be open here.