A Beautiful Mosque in Beijing

 The Islam in China totally surprises me!  Apparently it came over from Persia 1,300 years ago.  Last week I visited a mosque about 40 minutes from CFAU.  It was built in the Yuan Dynasty in the 1300's.  The mosque was stunning and the mood was very tranquil.  My favorite adventure so far in Beijing!

 A Chinese-style minaret      

 The mosque was busy with visitors for noontime Al-Salat/prayer.  

.  I have no idea about this script.  My assumption would be Arabic, but it looks more like Mongolian or Manchu? 

There were government officials milling about in the front (pictured on right).  They monitor for "proselytizing" which is illegal. 

Cute little boy on the bus.  He called me a-yi which means auntie :D 

Today's Air Quality Index

The Air Quality Index measures how much smog, dust particles, toxic stuff, etc is in your air.  Check out today's reading in your city!   

Atlanta GA             54

Elk Grove CA        49

Princeton NJ          40

Miami FL               21

Charlotte NC          21

  Beijing China           332

Woo-wee, check out that triple digit number next to my home sweet *cough* home!  My eyes are red and itchy and I have a headache.  On the bright side,  the AQI varies wildly from day to day.  It's going to rain later in the week, which should bring the number down significantly (as low as the 30s).  Until then I'll be wearing classes instead of contacts, drinking lots of water, and staying indoors!  

My image darkened by the hazardous Beijing air!

You can take the girl out of Nan Ao...

A year out in the jungle of Nan Ao gave me a lasting appreciation for the beauty and peace found in nature.  Yu Yuan Tan/Jade Lake Park is only 10 minutes biking from the CFAU campus.    

Even Beijing, City of Worst Air Quality on the Planet, preserves some space for trees, flowers, and lakes.  

 I found a grassy plot to lay down and do some reading.  Yep, my addiction to electricity knows no bounds. 

This couple takes a more aggressive approach to the park.  Two hiking sticks each!  

View from My Balcony

Four floors up, across from the Main Building where classes are held.
Strangely enough, I also lived on the 4th floor at the Teacher's dorm
in Nan Ao and in my freshman dorm at UGA.

I bike Beijing

Beijing loves bikes!  Like seriously loves bikes.  It seems like just about everyone has one-- young, old, rich, poor, etc.  It's pretty necessary given the hellacious traffic in this city.     

And check out the bike lanes!  Spacious avenues protected by medians.  Mao pushed the bike as the "people's vehicle" and city planning clearly reflects government endorsement (although making left turns is a major pain).  You guys probably know I kind of need a bike where ever I go so I'm ecstatic to see so many cyclists on the road.  

My new ride!  Typical cheap China-made plastic.  But it's been getting me around just fine and as a fellow customer said when I was making the purchase, "Better to go cheap.  They get stolen sometimes."    

Transition - My 2nd Year Teaching Abroad

I've lived in a few types of communities,  1.  raised in the suburbs of metro-Atlanta  2.  studied in the college town of Athens, GA (University of Georgia)  3.  and taught English in the rural township of Nan Ao, Taiwan.

Tomorrow I'm moving to a new community--the epically crowded, notoriously polluted city of Beijing, China! I'm so pumped!  Family and friends, any tips on adapting and thriving in a big ol' metropolis?

My teaching post is also changing drastically, transitioning from high-needs elementary kids to ambitious university students.  I'm really excited to be working with adults again (I did so briefly in college).  Beijing here I come!

Too all family and friends--I love and miss you already!  Message me if you want to plan a video-chat date (Google's works best for me).