The Journey Begins

This blog is, more or less, a chronicling of my seven months in Beijing, China.

While the journey here began officially on January 20th, 2011, this trip was years in the making. Those of you who know me well know that I am an International Relations/Politics and Asian Studies Major, and that I spend innumerable hours studying Chinese in any given semester.

Why? Why spend the time learning a challenging language, especially since I have studied Spanish? The answer is complicated, and not one I entirely understand myself. It is one part adventure, one part intrigue, one part the thrill of linguistic challenge, and several parts bullish perseverance. This trip is a test of what I have learned in college thus far and what my entire college career has been preparing me to do.

I was not originally sure I would be doing a blog while in Beijing. However, having just returned from Yunnan, I realize now that this trip deserves a blog. The experiences of this laowai may not be like those of others, but this is my time in China as I perceived it.

WHAT IS LAOWAI(老外）?


In this blog, I will inevitably be referring to Chinese terms. I will do my best to define them all as best I can.

Perhaps one of the most important Chinese words for a foreigner in Beijing to know is "laowai". Meaning foreigner, or literally "old outsider," it is a Beijinger or a Chinese person's way of identifying travelers from foreign countries. I am, most definitely, a laowai. I have been informed as such multiple times, often by children in the street who point at me and exclaim in surprise "LAOWAI!" Or, just as likely, I hear the term whispered between adults in undertones of wonder or, occasionally, distain. To be fair, your average Beijinger could care less about my laowai status. To a Beijing native, the laowai are a part of life, much like the KFCs or Starbucks that are scattered throughout this immense city. However, when I venture beyond Beijing's urban sprawl, my hair, my skin, my eyes, my very foreign appearance is a source of interest. In other words, the word "laowai" is never far from my mind.

Thus, I named this blog the Laowai Chronicles. For seven months, I am that nebulous identity of laowai, perceived of as a foreign entity by the Chinese people, and constantly reminded of my foreignness. Now, I do not resent this role. I knew I would be playing this part in China. I acknowledge it and I own it. My intent when I came to China was not to become Chinese. My intent was to see with my own eyes a culture that is becoming increasingly important on the international stage. Thus, this blog is for myself to remember what I saw, and how people saw me. It is also for those who want to know what I am experiencing in China.

This intro post is dry, I know, but I felt this blog needed some justification beyond just "Well, here's a blog folks!" In the next few posts, I will be detailing my entry into China, my adventures in Yunnan, and the rest of my time in China.