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Beijing Memos '04
台湾５日目
昨夜は夜市
今日は未定
明日は香港経由でロンドン
peak inside my CD will find songs by Nick Drake
On my way back to Cambridge
but before I do...
Current stop Taipei
Tomorrow, will visit the Chinese National Treasures Museum.
列車に乗って太平洋を見る。
台北は一日雨だった。。。
台北で気づくこと。
１）大陸と比べて人，特にお店の定員の丁寧さ
２）日本からの影響と日本への意識。ＮＨＫは見れる、看板に日本語表記は結構ある、日本で人気！をうたう商品
（大陸ではあからさまにこう日本を宣伝しなかった）
３）色濃く茂る緑はやはり南国
４）島の小ささ（台北から高雄まで電車で８時間かからない）電車で一周も結構できそう
５）コンビニ（便利店）、カフェの多さ、旅行者にはありがたい
６）夜道に並ぶ屋台とけばけばした看板の列は香港の様
新疆自治区と甘寧省へ行った時の旅行記完成
Posted photos of Xinjiang and Northwest China here
日本での正月は久しぶり。
大晦日は神田明神へ。お神酒と甘酒、そして搗きたてのお餅。今年は大吉！！ 頼むよ、かんだ明神。
BGM (try listening to): Clover Nova
新疆自治区と甘寧省へ行った時の旅行記完成
Posted photos of Xinjiang and Northwest China here
About this time of year, the NY Times Magazine publishes something like their "A year in Review". Of the articles, I enjoy, (for lack of a better word) the Obituaries. Obituaries are essentially biographies but with a bigger net. As they are limited to those who past away during the year, they dig up people who otherwise might not be recognized. It is a mini-biography. The daily obituaries, a mini-mini biography. It gives the not quite so famous, their due share of recognition. They are quite interesting lives to read about.
I spent my quite night of December 27th in Beijing reading about /Ken Caminitti -the Houston Astros baseball star who died of steroids- /Marlon Brando -no introduction needed here. Certain his biography is in the works. /Mary McGregory -star columnist in Washington.
About the earthquake and tsunami that has wreaked havoc across South Asia. As the saying in Japan, a step ahead is darkness. None of us knows what awaits at any moment. I feel awful for the people that suffered, but I probably should not say so now. I find people in and in front of TVs all to casually expressing shock to be superfluous. I will wait to it soaks on me before I should say anything...
BGM (try listening to): Bela Fleck and the Fleckstones -bluegrass
新疆自治区と甘寧省へ行った時の旅行記完成
Posted photos of Xinjiang and Northwest China here
My roommates are a bit panicky.
I will be leaving the country on the 30th and we have yet to find our replacement. Otherwise our deposit of one month rent (3000 RMB) is gone for good.
Panicky spoken Chinese, or any other language for that matter, unnerves me. But to my surprise I can still catch a bit.
It snowed again...It snowed the day before. Today the temperature reached minus 7. Nothing like a steamed meat baozi in this weather. It is cold enough that my teath aches and I can make the insides of my mouth rattle with little effort. According to weatherforecast from the master at the steambun stop, tomoroow morning will be even colder.
My departed English roommate left me three books, /Nausea/ by Sartre, /On a Chinese Screen/ by Somerset Maughm and /Life of Pi/ by Yann Martel. The bitter weather outside made for a convenient excuse for me to cuddle inside. I put on some music (Kenny Drew -jazz piano) sipped instant coffee and read. Before I knew it I was dozing off, slouched on my desk.
寒いと歯がしみる
北京は昨日に続き雪。寝坊助の自分が起きたころにはすでに雪かきも済んでいた。ネスレのインスタントコーヒーをのみながら、ジャズ（Kenny Drewピアノ）をかけながら、小説を読んでいた。インドの少年の話（Yann Martel "Life of Pi"。
ぬくい ぬくい。
途中、寒い、寒い、と近くの肉まん屋に避難。外はいつものような人通り。赤らませた頬を外着から覗かせたパンパンに着膨れた子供。そそくさと道を急ぐ人。歩道で何か立ち話しをする人。寒さでピンと張り詰めた外の空気にふれるとちょっと現実に戻る。竹篭の包子から立つ蒸気。雪降る外を眺めて頬張る包子は幸せの味がする。 おなか一杯の包子で駆け足部屋に帰り本に戻るも、知らぬ間に夢の中。
BGM (try listening to): Kenny Drew by Request
新疆自治区と甘寧省へ行った時の旅行記完成
Posted photos of Xinjiang and Northwest China here
永六輔の講演
母親が大好きな永六輔が北京日本人会のクリスマスパーティーでトークショーを行うという。実は毎朝毎朝ＴＢＳラジオにかじり付く母親を冷ややかな目で見ていたこともあったが．．ミーハー（ちなみにミ−ハ−って何語？）振りを発揮して聞きに行った。
しかしこれが、面白い！！トークの達人は開演４：００なのに３：３０の開場から、「内輪だけ」といってさっそく話していた。テーマは色々でよく飛んだ。まず自己紹介と合わせ来ている洋服はピーコに選んでもらったという話から始まり（眼癌にかかったピーコに義眼をプレゼントしたお返しとのこと）。そこから義眼に移り（DavidBowieやカンボジア首相フンセンも義眼だってしってた？）、２千円のはなし（裏表紙の源氏物語の光源氏は作品中のすべての登場人物と性関係もってたこと、そんな源氏物語を２千円札の絵柄とするのは皇室に失礼だと「米国」の研究者が言ったこと、そして今は、新札の話題の影で２千円札をほとんど見かけないこと）、そこからお札の話（お札の長さは今は使わない「１尺」の半分だということ）、あとは良い医者、良い患者の１０か条（患者「ご臨終ですと言われたら、死んだふりをしましょう」）。こうたくさん書くとネタをバラしているみたいなのでそろそろ止めるけど、笑ったり、ふぅ〜んと頷いたり、しんみりしたり、あっという間の７０分だった。
母親じゃないけど、永六輔さん、いけてます！
永六輔ネタ：彼は実は中国生まれ。妻も現地の日本人学校に当時通っていた。彼は何十年も各国の日本人学校で講演を行っている。
鳳凰電視台: "NEWS -Hu Jin Tao's visit to Aomen"
新疆自治区と甘寧省へ行った時の旅行記完成
Posted photos of Xinjiang and Northwest China here
中日コミュニケーション研究会シンポジウムというのに参加
日本人の方が多かったが、日本、中国両国からメディア関係者、学者、学生が大勢集まった。テーマはコミュニケーションギャップの改善。主だった発表は：中国メディアの現状分析：人民日報等、党機関紙の発行部数減少；市場化と大衆紙の拡大、さらにはネットメディアの台頭。中国は現在市場化と規制緩和により新聞業界は過剰競争状態にある。また中国では購読より、店頭販売が主流となっている。これら要因により各紙は読者獲得に必死であり、目を引くスキャンダラスなNewsを求める傾向が見見られる。逆に比較的冷静中立な報道を行うのは人民日報となっているという（確かにそう感じるかもしれない。「日報」のBBS/掲示板を見れば日本を擁護するような意見も掲載されているのをみることもある）。 しかし人民日報も購読率で北京市でさえTop１０に入らないらしい。現在中国では日本のように全国的に影響力を持つ新聞紙は無い状態だという。各大都市では何紙もが争っている状態。 他にはディスカッションで「中立、冷静報道」について議論が交わされた。一人日本の全国紙編集経験者は「中立」基準を作る非現実性について意見を述べた。それにはまず中立という観念のの主観性、他には如何ほどであれ内外の考慮事項もある。中立冷静報道というものは各当事者が自覚し現実的制約の中その都度、勝ち取るものであって外から規定できるものではない。他にも同様意見があったが思うに、双方自立メカニズムとして「中立報道」に関し、行動規範というのがあってもよいと思う。確かに「中立
」は主観的概念であるが、社会にあって主観的、相対的観念で無いものなどあるのだろうか。最低限、根拠なく且つ意図的に事実に反する報道に対する規制とか。でもこれを規制する法律は多分日本ではあった気がする。 とにかくなかなか考えさせられるシンポジウムでした。しかし自分は勉強が足りないな、考えが周らない。
Sammy Davis Jr. & Count Basie: "Girl from Ipanema"
新疆自治区と甘寧省へ行った時の旅行記完成
Posted photos of Xinjiang and Northwest China here
"Rushmore" made my day.
Spent the day shopping for pearls...Beijing is famous for cheap prices. So I went with my friend to take a peek. Pearls galor. The sight of so many pearls in one place dizzied me. I wound up buying a few. Did I really need them. Probably not. It will be a gift for my family,...albeit using my parent's money...........
Then on to rehearse our small skit for tomorrow. Then the movie "Rushmore" (dir. by Wes Anderson). Indeed, the highlight of the day.
Ll cool J: "Mama's gonna knock you out"
新疆自治区と甘寧省へ行った時の旅行記完成
Posted photos of Xinjiang and Northwest China here
最近頑張って現地の新聞を読んでいる。
中国も新聞は意外とたくさん種類が出ている。大概１元から２元（１元は１５円くらい）。中国の言論統制により、プロパガンダばかりかというとそうでもない。種類によるけれどもちゃんと読めるのもある。もちろん政府批判はほとんどないが、良質の新聞はなかなか敏感な所を突いてくる。国際先駆導報という新聞は面白くて最近、「極端民族主義：愛国それとも？」という特集があったりした。ネット上の極端民族主義に対してもその非寛容を非難してた。自尊心がもともと強い中国人には耳の痛いはずの内容であっても掲載していた。またここでの新聞を呼んでいて面白いのは、その教旨的文体：「〜〜である」ではなく「〜〜すべき、〜〜であるべき」というのが多い。そしてまた精神論を語る文章が多い。中国のフラッグシップ新聞 中国共産党機関紙人民日報もそういう傾向がある。だから「マルクス主義の進化を考える」という類の記事が掲載されたり。事実と同じくらいレトリックが多い。要するに情報提供以上に考え方の教旨。日刊紙はそういう傾向がやっぱり強い。
中島敦の山月記を北京に持ってきているので読もう、今日はそういう気分。
Listening to: Scott Joplin "Maple leaf Rag"
新疆自治区と甘寧省へ行った時の旅行記完成
Posted photos of Xinjiang and Northwest China here
中国で 映画 でびゅー？！
しかし期待に反し（それとも期待通りに...）登場時間は１０秒に満たなかった。けれども普段見られない世界をちょっと覗けたのでそれで半分満足。
映画は八・一解放軍 映画撮影所による「太行山上」という来年公開予定の長編映画。2005年に終戦６０周年を迎えるにあたり抗日戦争を描いた作品。
日本側の主要な役者さんは日本から招いていた。これは昔に比べると改善されているみたい。こっちではこういう抗日映画は結構さくさんあって、今もＴＶでよく見かける。昔制作されたやつは大概、中国人が日本人を演じていた。外国人が演じるとどうしてもちょっと変な形(ステレオタイプに描かれる）になってしまう。
さてさて個人的にお芝居がすごく好きなので、日本から来ている役者さんの周りに居るのはちょっとわくわくした。日本からこの作品のため招かれていたのは２０歳台から５０歳台までの個性豊かな方々。今日は７人。名前は存じなかったけれども、出演作を聞いてみると北野武の「座頭市」や藤田まことの「はぐれ刑事純情派」などが出てきた。一人は来年元旦放送の「はぐれ刑事」２時間スペシャルの犯人役を演じているそう。
自分は日本軍の兵士としてエキストラ出演。これまた期待に反し？（自分期待しすぎです）台詞は皆無。役はただただ、ただただ直立不動。演技も何も無かったかもしれない。でも３秒間の映画出演でもなにか嬉しかったような。
最近感じたこと −みんな何かしら昨今の日中関係に強い意見・主張をもっているなぁと感じる。自分はどうだろう？
A film debut!?
I stood in as an extra on a full-length feature film. Expecting great things, off I went to the Eight-One Military Film Studio. The movie, Taihanshan Shang (on Taihan mountain), is about China's anti-Japanese resistance efforts. The movie is due outin 2005 in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of the end of World War Two.
Spent the day in a Japanese military uniform, a few sizes too big. We shot the scene at a Airforce Museum outside Beijing. Our scene was inside a real PLA war airplane from the 50s or the 60s. We were supposed to be Japanese Officers inside an airplane devising war plans. ...I stood blankly in the background, trying my best to keep my stern military expression. In the end my face appears for less than 3 seconds. Though my part was smaller than, or just as, expected the 3 seconds of fame (?) was worth it for a few reasons
Chance to be with professional actors for day.
>Actors from Japan were invited for the movie. They had flown in from tokyo last night. They are no big names, but professional actors nonetheless. We had mo ->re than enought waiting time. these lifetime professionals all had their little characters -or ideosyncracies. We all do. But there was something about them, especially my first impressions of them. They all had this air of confidence.
Another thing was, I saw a bit of how movies were made.
>like today, we spent one whole day to shoot a 3 minute scene. horrible inefficiency. Although, the equipments they used were all neat. We shot inside an old PLA warplane. Lights were set up all around the airplane. Rails were in place for cameras to pan the scene. Special equipments such as SteadyCam were also prepared. Except for time managment, Quite professional, so I thought.
BGM: Red Garland -jazz piano
新疆自治区と甘寧省へ行った時の旅行記完成
Posted photos of Xinjiang and Northwest China here
Paul Van Dyck in Beijing
A world famous DJ came to throw a party at a club -Tango- in Beijing. Ticket 100 RMB (>13USD).
新疆自治区と甘寧省へ行った時の旅行記完成
Posted photos of Xinjiang and Northwest China here
ここ中国に住むと、よく「中国人はああだ、なんだ」と言ったり思ったりしてしまう。もちろん色々な人が居るわけで一括りには出来ないのだろうけど、そう思わせてしまうものが中国社会には実際ある。なんでだろう？
そうは言いつつも、やっぱり、中国人は（あたり前だが）いろいろ居るわけで、今日は「大阪人」に会った。もうテカテカな関西人、話し方からしぐさまで、まさに典型的な明るく「濃い」関西人（関西のノリは好き。でも僕らには中国よりも外れてる）。
彼が日本人であることはもちろん関西人であることにも疑いもしなかったが、実は日本で７年過ごした中国人であった。自分以上に完璧な日本人である。大阪言語、文化をここまで自分のものに出来るのはすごい。日本人、中国人は服を脱げば外見が元々似ていることもある。しかし自分は１５年以上を外国で過ごしているが、ここまでコテコテの〜人（地名）であるかといったらどうかな。
The people you meet
Sometimes you can be inspired by the people you meet. I have been relatively blessed with the people I meet in Beijing. They often have energy I only admire. different people in different places, some interesting types around me.
新疆自治区と甘寧省へ行った時の旅行記完成
Posted photos of Xinjiang and Northwest China here
これからイギリス／米国での就職活動シーズンが始まる。
(僕にとっての...実際は既にかきょうにあったりする）
１社目の面接が近いうちに中国、もしくは英国で。またこれからこれで、忙しくなりそう。今見ているところは会計事務所（公認会計士という資格が将来有効と考え）と国際政治機関（これは競争試験から採用まで道のりが長いのが難だけ）...そして前前、前からアプローチしていたメディア（第一希望：今日は友人伝手のNHK製作者にアプローチ）。あとは友人紹介の投資銀行（米国で働く）やコンサル（何の付加価値を与えているのか不思議だが、社会人として色々な業界を見れるのはプラス...ただまだゼネラリストを続けるの？とも思う）
こう書くといろいろある。
今は相反する二つの考えがある。
一つは今となって、なんでも「働く」ということにそれなりの価値を見出せること。しかし同時になにか強くやりたいことに的を絞るべきだという想い。
My heart rushes as I see all these job application deadlines approaching. No wonder, my roommate was stuck in his room, hogging the internet...
新疆自治区と甘寧省へ行った時の旅行記完成
Posted photos of Xinjiang and Northwest China here
もう師走
温かい八宝茶（バーバオチャ）をすすりながら、「ほっ」。窓の外の景色を眺めれば、今朝の北京は寒々しい霧に覆われている。今日も寒そう。
１２月、去年の今ごろは中国へ来るための準備をしてたのに、もうケンブリッジへ戻る準備。正直、時間が経つのが早すぎると感じる。一度、年を重ねるにつれ、人生における一年の比率が小さくなるためにそう感じるといわれたことがあるけど、本当にそうかも。今年の一年は自分の生きてきた中の２５分之１でした。
北京に一緒に来ているケンブリッジのクラスメートもそろそろ就職活動に本腰を入れ始めた。クラスメートは経済専攻が５人、法律家が二人、そして政治（自分）が二人。それぞれ違う道へ進むのだろうか。
Sipping Babao Cha (eight treasures tea) whilst I stare outside my window. It is a cold and misty day in Beijing. My Cambridge course mates in Beijing are busy sending job applications. Aiya, its time for me to do the same.
新疆自治区と甘寧省へ行った時の旅行記完成
Posted photos of Xinjiang and Northwest China here
ほっと一息、ふゅ〜〜〜〜
今夜の小さなパフォーマンスは成功裏に終わりました！ 大人の雰囲気を醸す、企業パーティー。まじめなプレゼンの後、アマチュアの我らがいったい何をしてるんだ！？ってのもありますが、思いのほか（ほっ）、上手くいった。観客も喜んでくれたみたい。「良かったよ！」とか言われ、ちょっとうれしかった。他にも「君らどこのプロ？」（学生です）とか、リップサービスでもなんでも、誉め言葉は誉め言葉として嬉しい。
今回は今までで最短の準備期間と最多の観客数、さらに言えば初めての客層（中国人、外国人のビジネスマン）と心配尽くしだったけど、終わってみれば案外と好評だった。観客も喜んでくれると芝居はやっぱり面白い！
新疆自治区と甘寧省へ行った時の旅行記完成
Posted photos of Xinjiang and Northwest China here
Back on Stage!!
After a few unexpected turn of events, I will be back on stage tomorrow. Tomorrow evening a friend and I will be performing at a corporate party at an elegant restaurant in Beijing. the audience will be Big-Shot business execs, over 200 of them. Hey, thats possibly the largest audience I will have performed for. If that is not to scare us, the final script was just completed tonight -the night before the performance! Ahh the Jitters. I shall cross my fingers!
ひょんなことから 明日また芝居の舞台に立ちます！
バスで出会った一人のカナダ人と書いた小さなスキットをこともあろうか某スイス系出版社のパーティー会場で演じる！大人２００名超の前での舞台は初めてかも。さらに今日の今日（つまり公演前日）にやっと台詞等が完成。ここまで来ると怖さも開き直りも同時に襲う。上手くいきますように！ Cross my Fingers!
しかし会場であった工人体育館横のレストランは素敵だった。そこは山西省の豪邸の木材をそのまま移した処。二階のテラスまで伸びる太い柱柱にはそれぞれ装飾が彫ってある。そして何より樹の色が良い。薄くも深い樹の色。玄関正面の即席ステージは三方を上階テラスから眺める。レストランなのにそこの空間はさながら芝居小屋。今日下見に行った時、ほおぉ〜っ感心しながら「ぽかん」と見回してしまった。さてと明日は頑張ろう！
新疆自治区と甘寧省へ行った時の旅行記完成
Posted photos of Xinjiang and Northwest China here
北京で仲良くしてもらっている郭君の彼女の誕生会
中国に来て以来、初めてのカラオケ。こっちではカラＯＫという。Ｓ．Ｈ．Ｅとかフェイ・ウォンなどの中国流行歌に混じって、申し訳なく、ビートルズとか数少ない歌える歌を歌う。しかし英語でごまかしても、歌下手だなぁと痛感してしまった。
その後は１６名で夕食会。しかし夕食会もほとんど飲み会状態。ビール２６本を頼んでた。お酒も文化！とのこと。
新疆自治区と甘寧省へ行った時の旅行記完成
Posted photos of Xinjiang and Northwest China here
The inaugural Swedish Jazz Festival in Beijing
at the Ren Club
Nils Langren and Funk Unit
Viktoria Tolstoy
Rigmor Gustafsson
Fredrik Ljungvist
Fredrik Noren
One hot band had a interesting composition. This jazz group was led by Clarinet/Saxophone, Tuba, Drums, Piano, Double Bass. This was actually a good combination.. the rythm bass section was booosted, more power and more colour, with the addition of the tuba.
新疆自治区と甘寧省へ行った時の旅行記完成
Posted photos of Xinjiang and Northwest China here
寒い、
今日バスに乗ってるとき、電光掲示板をみると最低気温は零下５度だって。ＮＹ州に住んでいた時に比べれば別に驚くことも無いけれどもやっぱり冷える。寒くなってきた北京には、あちらこちらにさつま芋屋さんが出てきた。自転車にドラム缶すがたの移動店舗。ほっかほっかのさつま芋は500グラム２元（３０円）くらい。身は甘くて軟らかく、なかなか美味！また新聞紙に包んだお芋は手に持つと暖かく、大陸の冬をしのぐには最適です。
昨夜ちょっとした同窓の集まりがあった。
日本から清華大学（北京大学のすぐお隣り）を訪問していた慶応大／経済学部山口ゼミの学生との懇談会。ビールを飲みながら羊肉の火鍋をつついた。肩組んで「若き血」を歌ってはエール！と絵にかいたような「同窓会」だった（たまたま応援団出身の方がいたためもある）。こういう濃密な会は気恥ずかしいと思いきや、意外に気持ちよく盛り上がってしまった。かつてはあんなに天邪鬼だったのに、なんか不思議。慶応大学同窓会組織である三田会へは今回初めて参加。当日は来年度入学する１９歳から４，５０歳の先輩方まで、日本人に限らず台湾からのかたも、幅広い層で一緒に楽しんだ。自分は特に愛学心が強いわけではないと思うけれども、同窓というきっかけでこういう風に仲良くできるのは、良い。
新疆自治区と甘寧省へ行った時の旅行記完成
Posted photos of Xinjiang and Northwest China here
It is a bad sign, I am starting to hate China.
I find myself frustrated. Everything,
from cars that never yield to pedestrians, to the constant spitting of people, the messy eating habits...the loud chatter and "Wei!!" on the mobile... whatever,
now seem to get on my nerves. Why am I so fidgety lately? Language maybe an issue. Every conversation is a struggle, especially early on. Struggling to speak your mind is very stressful. I dont have this problem to the same degree but maybe the angst of the bad experiences was implanted and never went away.
I almost got myself in a fight today. We got into an argument...in Chinese. The guy kept raising his voice. That itself ticked me off, but not understanding fully, and not being able to speak your mind smoothly added to the displeasure. I now from reason that I should not: 1. make generalisations 2. base my judgement on limited experience. I've been living in one particular city for a very short time. I realize that saying such only shows my narrow-mindedness. But I find myslef, unconsciously, muttering that China is "so" and the Chinese are "that", often in negative ways.
Ahhh, a frustrating day in Beijing.
新疆自治区と甘寧省へ行った時の旅行記完成
Posted photos of Xinjiang and Northwest China here
新疆自治区と甘寧省へ行った時の旅行記完成
Posted photos of Xinjiang and Northwest China here
Robert Begnini's "Pinoccio" on CCTV 6!!
I sit watching this Italian Film on China's own Central TV station.
Read an interesting article in the NY Times. It's about the growing cultural presence of China in Asia slowly taking over the declining US presence. Its worth a look. From the number of foreign students in Beijing, the number of global companies, the degree of foreign press coverage, I notice, first hand, the attention being served over China -the China hype.
Is China another superpower -in model of the USA- in the making?
Somehow I don't think so. In comparing the US to the China, I am not comfortable imagining China in the same light. In terms of economic and technological potential or even military capability, it is not unfeasible to imagine China someday rivaling the States. But is this enough to make a superpower? The USSR had the economic, technological and military capacity to challenge the USA. But what the USSR lacked and China seeming lacks is socioeconomic latitude. What made the USA a supwepower is not only its Might but its Wealth -the quality of living environment, education, cultural/political freedom, and socio-economic opportunity. The USA is were cultural, economic and social output is not forced, but where freedom and opportunity attracts people from all over. From my 10+ years living in the US I cannot help but look back at how comfortable living in that country was for me. Achieving and maintaining superpower status is not just economic and military strength. It is whether the country can continue to attract. Economic opportunity can only be attractive for so long. Somehow, at the current trend, I don't see China achieving the superpower status that some people foresee.
４年越しの再開！！
日吉で同室だった大学の先輩とその友人
おりしも北京大学で再開。
未名湖や西門などを案内してると、なんか自分でも、北大もきれいだなぁって思う。こんどは人民大学を案内してもらおう。
ただいま誠意、敦煌旅行記を執筆中！！
Posted photos of Northwest China here
西安から特快夜行列車で北京へ。
夜６時発で朝６時着、丁度１２時間位。何時もは遅刻がちの朝８時の中国政治の講義にも間に合った。こうでもなければ、はやくおきれないもの情けない…
今回の旅行は先週木曜に出発し５泊の内、３泊が車内。乗ってるときは、汽車のベッドもなかなか快適♪と思ってても戻ってみればやっぱり「バタンッ、キュ〜」と倒れてしまいました。
今回は前回（カシュガル〜敦厚）に続き西へ旅した。甘寧省蘭州からシルクロードの出発／終点都市、西安（かつての長安）まで。偶然シルクロードを戻る形になったけど、本当の目的地は甘寧省夏河。蘭州からマイクロバスに揺られて６時間、標高２８００Ｍにあるこの山間の街にはチベット族が多く暮らす。そこで寒さに震えながら、早朝の行事を見物したりした。何か神秘的なイメージを持つチベット仏教。実際ヤク（バイソンみたいな動物）バターの香りに包まれた寺院や、膝まで届く袖を垂らしながら歩くチベット族はなにか独特の悠々とした雰囲気を醸し出していた。しかし同時にレストランや寺院を案内してくれたお坊さん等と話すとまったく普通に話せる。でもどこかやさしい優しい雰囲気があった。
Posted photos of Northwest China here
明日８時発の夜行に乗り蘭州経由で夏河へ向かう
先週末の平遥に続いての旅行。
勉強しなくてはいけないと思いつつも、北京で机に向かうのも、外出して中国語を使うのも同様に勉強だと自分に暗示。夏河はチベット族の街。標高の高いあるので防寒具をそろえなきゃ。
Posted photos of Northwest China here
Rain in Beijing
I walk to school with a Discman in hand.
Today it was "the MisEducation of Lauryn Hill".
CDs are very very cheap here in China.
10 RMB (=1+ USD) will do.
There are numerous CD/VCD/DVD stores. Most of them are very small. The selections are also very very random, you will find a mix of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and US/European artists all in one place. The selection of CDs will have no apparent order. You may find the Carpenters, sandwiched between jazz pianist Herbie Hancock and rapper Eminem. You can never be sure which CDs you will find in a particular store; I've found Keith Jarret's Koln Concert at the University Supermarket, never to see it again anywhere else. I've also come across at least 3 versions of Norah Jones' "feels like home", one a single CD and another a double CD version. You may find the same album with different covers and different songs. Hey, but they are cheap
Are these CDs pirated?
Hmm Let's see...the CD jacket of one of my album reads,
SEAL "Get it together"
HDCD [HIGH, DEFINITION, COMPATIBLE, DIGITAL]
Maketed and disturted by Universal Music Ltd. All Rigths of Minufac Turer And Of The Recorded Work Re Served Unau Thorized...Publicper Fomince is Prohibited.
So ...
中華の炎
今日、初めてアパートのキッチンを使った
といってもチャーハンをフライパンで炒めただけだが、 さすが中国、レンジの炎の揚り様はすごい。「ぼぉぉぉ！」と勢いよく火をくべた上でフライパンを回すと、えらい料理を作ってるよう錯覚に陥ってなんか気分が良い。
今日はピアノ室で知り合ったドイツ人と昼を一緒にする。彼はピアノ（中国では鋼琴-ガンチン）と作曲を勉強したことがあり、ちょっとした即興演奏もすんなり弾ける。やはり、ジャズとか即興演奏には最低限の音楽理論ベースが必要だと痛感。
それにしても北京は今、世界中からいろいろな人を惹きつけている街みたいだ。
ここ一週間だけで慶応大の時に入っていた演劇サークル「創像工房」の元団員、そしてまた日吉で同じ下宿先-安藤荘という-
の先輩が北京に来ていることを知る！
人の縁とは。なんともはや「驚きものの木」です。
敦煌の砂漠やウイグル地方の写真を載せました。
山西省平遥へ行ってきた。
北京西駅から普通列車の硬椅子に揺られて１０時間。電車の旅も歯茶滅茶だった。まず中国の列車には４ランクあって
安い順に硬席 → 軟席 → 硬ベッド → 軟ベッド
この安切符で向かい席の４人,肩を寄せ合って静かに夜を過ごす。
...はずがそうも行かないのが中国の列車の旅。夜１１時を過ぎるころ鉄道員の若い男がやって車両に来て、なぜか靴下の、車内販売を始める。バナナ売りの勢いで大声を張り上げ「もう夜遅いのわかっているので、手短に！」と言いながら奴は延々と３０分は商品説明を続けた...。そんな中良く眠れるはずもなく眠気眼で夜明け前の平遥へついた。
平遥は中国で唯一、明代の城壁が四方完全に残っている都市でUNESCO世界文化遺産に指定されている都市である。
城門を抜けると、夜明け前の暗闇の中で良く街中の雰囲気が他都市とまったく異なることに気づく。左右にはまだ灯りのつかない赤提灯の列、そしてかすか月明かりから旧字体の看板を掲げる商店や清時代の飯店が列座するのが見分けられる。まるで映画セットになりそうな街だが、町民が依然暮らしている。そこで一週末のんびり過ごした。
Spent the weekend in Pingyao, Shanxi Province.
It is an ancient city still surrounded by city walls. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is superbly photogenic. Ordinary residents still live in the ancient city and its outskirts. 10 plus hours on a hard city train but well worth the pain.
Posted photos of Northwest China here
「おいしんぼの世界」
中国でよい点のひとつ。ここでは何を食べても、「まずい〜」という料理というものには、よほどの限り出会わない。イギリスから来るとすごくその対照が光る。向こうでは外食よりも方自炊のほうが美味しかったりする。しかし中国でも留学生の身分では実はそんなにすごい美味しいものも食べない。普通は面類とか餃子、そして主に学食ばかりだったりする。これも安くて美味しいのだけどね、外国の中華街と比べて値段はともかく味はそんなに変わらないかも。なにより中華街とかでイメージするような漫画おいしんぼとかに出てくるようなすごい創作中華にはまだ出くわしていない。
しかし美味い処を知ってる人は知ってるものだ。昨夜、Ｋさんの友人が尋ねてくるというので大重（＋草冠）という飯店へ連れて行ってもらう。そこは正に「おいしんぼの世界」。気合が入っていた。写真と解説付きのメニューにあるすべての料理に逸話がある感じ。実際、鱶鰭（ふかひれ）と蟹味噌スープから始まり、薬味付き北京ダックまですべて料理人の一ひねりが加えられている。今まで北京で食べてきた中華はひねりがあまりなく、どこで食べても似たようなメニューでちょっと飽きてたところ。その点ここは値段は張るが、とてもよかった。
一緒に食事した方々はＫさん以外面識の無いはずだったが両方面白いところで繋がっていた。まずお客さんのＯさんは慶応大学経済学部ＯＧでロチェスター大学同期入学（自分は学士、彼は博士課程）の友人Ｎさんの知り合いだった。またもう一方のＦさんも慶応ＳＦＣ卒で野球部。そらに今年の夏、官庁訪問で外務省を訪問したときの受付係だった。食いしん坊なので食事のことから書いてしまったが人の縁って不思議。
アメリカ選挙はなんかまた面倒なことになってるみたい。
今日は昼クラスメートと近くの四川料理のお店に行ったの以外特になにをするでもない。なんかだらけているかも。ルームメイトは北京大学のジムに行ってきてた。なにをしてるのかと思ったら、ラテンダンス。
踊るといえば何度か北京のクラブへ行った。これがなかなか面白かった。行ったところは大体２種類くらい：ワールドスタンダードと中国ならではの−チャイナスタンダード。外国人が多く集まるところはなかなかスマート
内装もお客さんも。チャイナスタンダードのクラブもなかなか面白い。北京で行ったBananaという地元の人に人気のクラブ。まず気づくのが金ぴかでけばけばした内装。そして一歩足を日と入れると人−人−人。はっきり言ってラッシュアワーの首都圏JR線以上。人ばっかりで正直踊るスペースが無い。ただ上下に弾むことができるくらい。それでも満足なのか人は増えるばかり。そして盛り上がり最高潮時にはステージに素性の知れない人物がバラードを歌いだしたりする。まったく摩訶不思議な所であった。ここまですごい所はもういいけど...また遊びに行きたい。
Some familiar names written in Chinese
(use Japanese font to display the Chinese characters)
Part 8. "the old man and the sea"
海明威- Hemingway-
The world around me
Even in China, I follow the news pretty regularly. I read the NYTimes, the Washington Post, the Asahi Shimbum almost everday via the net. Throw in the occasional CNN/SportsIllustrated and the New Yorker magazine.
So tomorrow is election day for the American President. Obviously it is a huge election, evident by the interest it has gathered. Polls predict a larger turnout than previous years. The foremost issue is US national security, but as recent bombings and kidnappings show, the issue is not just about US security but of global security. Other issues with significantly less attention include the state of the economy, the budget, international trade and environment which the two candidates have shown a sharp contrast in policies.
Obviously the US election is of great interest even for a hapless Japanese graduate student studying in Beijing. But there are other news of note too. For one, a city in Henan Province is, according to the AP, under martial law as a result of ethnically driven rioting between the Chinese Mulsim Hui and the Chinese majority Han. Although it is hard to see in Beijing, China is very diverse with over 55 recognized minority groups with strong identities. And it is not only the minorities with strong ethnice attachment, the Chinese Han majority have a very strong identification of themselves as the Han.
I wrote "the world around me.."
I easily could have and would have passed by these seemingly influential news save for the luck that led me to Yahoo or the NYTimes on the net. The everyday life I lead in Beijing seems so far removed from these events. I mean today, I went to fix my CD player and took a bus to a new part of the city, to a Panasonic repair shop. I had trouble communicating with the repair person -though the company is global the service was local. This small adventure was the "event" for me. Sometimes I wonder whether and how I am connected to the big news I read about.
Some familiar names written in Chinese
(use Japanese font to display the Chinese characters)
Part 7. "all the news thats fit to print"
紐育時間 - the New York Times-
Taste of Paris in China
Took the subway to the Poly Plaza hoping to get a ticket for the Beijing International Music Festival in session. Lucky for us we were hounded by scalpers the minute we got off the station. After a little barganing we managed to get two 1,000 yuan "VIP" seats for 150 a piece. We were a bit nervous whether the tickets would be valid, but we managed to get in. A sigh of relief.
Tonight was Maurice Ravel's "Daphnes & Chloe Suites Nb.2" "La Valse" and "Bolero" performed by L'Orchestre de Paris under Christoph Eschenbach. The crowd really enjoyed the performance, as I did too. The theatre was very modern, mid-size and was blessed with excellent acoustics. It was simply a good environment to listen to music, on par with other halls from around the world. The small-ness (for a "large hall") made it more intimate. Having the Paris Orchestra's performance this French composer's pieces were a delight, especially the Daphnes & Chloe suites and the Valse. The orchestra and the music swayed elegantly in synch. As for the Bolero, I'll just say this long musical crescendo of a piece must be experinced live. I saw a little boy waving his imagined baton along with the music. There was an "air" of Paris in Beijing that night.
香山−Xiang Shan−に登る。
今北京は紅葉のシーズン。そして老北京（北京ッ子）ならはずせない香山へ紅葉を見に行く。
今朝は昨日と打って変わって穏やかな気候。しかし最近の寒波に恐れをなしている自分は四層も重ね着をして友達と待ち合わせる...さわやかな天気に似つかわしくない重装備で。家から市バスですぐなんだけど、香山へ行くバスは平日にもかかわらず鮨詰め状態。「あんたらいったい仕事は学校は？」と自分らのことを棚に上げて思ってた。ついてみるとやっぱりなかなか風光明媚なところ。たった500メートル強の山なのだけれども、登ってみると結構あり、山道の紅葉を見ながらゆっくりすすんだ。キュウリやプチトマトのおやつをつまんだりしながら鬼見愁と呼ばれる山頂に着く。なんで鬼見愁なんだろう？友達に聞いた気がするけど、忘れてしまった。どこでもそうだが、人が多いのが難点だけれども、天気にも恵まれよいハイキングだった。北京へ来て一度は経験したい、香山登山、これでチェック済み。
おまけ：山の入り口あたりにはたくさん小料理やお土産屋さんがたくさんあってここで初めて小鳥の丸焼きを食べる。見かけはそのまんまでちょっとかわいそうだけど、悲しいかな、とてもおいしかった。
Some familiar names written in Chinese
(use Japanese font to display the Chinese characters)
Part 6. the Big apple 紐育 -New York-
「だんだん」と寒く、はならなく此処最近は一変して冬の寒さ...
朝布団のなかで包まっているのでこの上なく心地よい季節になった。それにしても一気に季節が変わった感じ。手まで冷たくなってしまっている
この季節の変わり目、寒さに少しやられる。
携帯をなくして以来音信普通の友人に会いに行こうと思うも、この寒さで外に出る気が起こらない。授業後、暖かい茄子らーめんを学食で食べた後、特に何をするでなく時間が過ぎてしまった。暖房が欲しい〜〜（ちなみに我が家は予め決まった日に一斉に暖房が入るのでそれまでは重ね着で凌ぐ羽目に）
Some familiar names written in Chinese
(use Japanese font to display the Chinese characters)
Part 5. Giant from Germany 西門子 -Siemems-
吐く息が白くなってきた今日この頃。
心地よい秋も束の間、あっというまに厳しい大陸の冬の気配が忍び寄る。
今週末に両親が遊びに来た。紫禁城や万里の長城は通算5度目で、またのツアーガイドは少々骨が折れた。両親の年齢も考慮し、酒場の替わりに茶芸館へ行ったりしたが、少々天邪鬼の母親を満足させるのは、これは至難の業であった。ただ、最後の晩、全聚徳で北京ダックを食べに行った時、祖父祖母にこういうものを食べさせたいと両親がこぼすのを聞くと、今回の旅行も彼ら自信にとって良い思い出となってくれればと思った。
It's starting to get a bit chilly here. I had to buy another layer of blankets. Spent the day sipping hot tea and reading an autobiography of the Dalai Lama XIV
(a book mostlikely banned in China).
The People's Republic of China covers a huge area of vastly different cultures relgions and ethnicities. They include Tibet, Inner Monglia and the Muslim Uyghur (where I visited just recently) and numerous other minority regions. The central government would probably wish to see quiet assimilation. But both the Chinese and the minorities are aware of the differences. I do not know of the balance between the two sentiments. And how things turn out in the future remain to be seen. However, with the current strengths of the central government it is unrealistic for these areas to seperate any time soon.
A New York Times Reporter of Chinese nationality was arrested in Beijing on charges of spilling government secrets. Obviously this was not reported in any of the Chinese media, but as you can tell by me writing about it, such information can be accessed through the Internet (NYTimes.com): The NY Times website is not censored.
Some familiar names written in Chinese
(use Japanese font to display the Chinese characters)
Part 4. another favorite 肯徳基 -KFC-
BGM: Norwegian Wood performed by
Yoko Hasegawa on cello,
Bruce Stark on piano and Christopher Hardy on percussion
A friend from Japan visited for the weekend.
I again covered the works: Peking duck, the great wall, the forbidden palace and the summer palace. A weekend whirlwind tour part III. Ive now covered three differents parts of the Wall and went to my third different Peking Duck restaurant. My Parents will add another round.
but friends and guests are always welcome.
今週は日本から友達が遊びに来てくれてた。万里の長城や紫禁城に北京ダック。しかしそれ以上に中国人の生活にカルチャーギャップを受けてたみたい。最近は静かな生活。机に向かって黙々と勉強しているのが思いのほか心地良い。今週はルームメイトがご飯を作ってくれると言ってくれてる。これは楽しみ♪
Some familiar brands written in Chinese
(use Japanese font to display the Chinese characters)
Part 3. everyone's favorite 麦当労 -McDonald's-
I lost my mobile,
and numerous contacts, during my vacation.
So these past days were spent trying to locate my friends whose contacts I lost for good. sometimes I went to colleges and companies based on vague recollection that they studied/worked there. Some to no avail.
I had half given up trying. But today as I went to play soccer at school, I stumbled upon a German friend -plays the piano - in the middle of the street. More to my surprise, I found that I stumbled upon a practice session for my soccer club at just the right time and place...Good Luck.
tomorrow a friend will come visit me from Japan
I am working on the travel journal of northwestern China. Below is the kind of place I traveled through 
Some familiar brands written in Chinese
(use Japanese font to display the Chinese characters)
Part 2. 百事 -Pepsi-
10/12/04
Went off to the ancient Silk Road
I returned from my trip to the West. The trip took me from Dun Huang westward to Kashgar almost to the Pakistani border. It was only an 8 day trip but we covered several thousand miles on bus, train and air.
Currently in the process of a travelogue.
旅行から北京へ帰宅。たった8日間ながら敦煌からウイグル自治区のトルファン、ウルムチ、カシュガルと列車、バス、飛行機を駆使し旅した。写真とかをまとめたら旅行記を此処に乗せるつもりでさぁ。
Some familiar brands written in Chinese
(use Japanese font to display the Chinese characters)
Part 1. 可口可楽 -Coca Cola-
10/02/04
Off to the ancient Silk Road city of Dun Huang 敦煌
I am taking a flight to this oasis city tomorrow. It is situated in the western part of China in Gansu Province. I bought a one way flight, and we shall see where how much I can explore from there!
シルクロードのオアシス都市 敦煌へ出発！
I sit watching the Chinese Acrobatics Team perform on the Chinese Central Television's special gala. This is Guo Qin celebrating the fifty-fifth anniversary of Mao Zedong declaring the founding of the People's Republic of China. I went over to Tiananmen Square in front of the Forbidden Palace, along with tens of thousands of other Chinese. The Tiananmen Square is decorated with bright colored artificial flowers, which seem to spring up just for these occasions. This year's new addition was probably the small model manned spacecraft that China flew into space. I took a picture in front of a big picture of Sun Yat-sen facing Mao Zedong's.
Afterwards I walked the city to escaped the noise. First up north past the Forbidden palace, Jingshan Park and through the small Hutong alleyways to the ancient Gulou drum tower on the northern limit of ancient Beijing. Along the backalleys of Beijing, the locals still live oblivious to the noisy spectacle outside.
今日の北京は雨
僕は秋のこの肌寒い位の天候が好きだ。米国東部の秋の天気。明日は中国建国記念日「国慶季」。
ＴＶは建国の番組ばかり。天安門前の長安街の軍事パレードは毎年やるのかな？ 見に行こうかな？
中国の歴代王朝の覚え方を友達に教えてもらった.
これは面白いと思ったのでここでひとつ紹介
夏商与西周
東周分両半
春秋和戦国
一統秦両漢
三分魏蜀呉
二晋前後延
南北朝並立
隋唐五代伝
宋元明清後
皇朝至此完
分かる？
Full Moon over Beijing
Yesterday was 中秋節 -the moon festival.
On 8/15 of the lunar calendar, the Chinese gather and celebrate the full moon. It has its earliest beginnings on the anniversary of a Han people's plot for revolt against the Mongolian empire Yuan, but gradually developed in to a day of harvest celebration.
On this day, the locals eat what are known as 月餅 -moon cakes. In Chinese thought, the round shape of the full moon signifies harmony.
中秋節、月餅、と中国
中秋節はもともとモンゴル族・元朝に対する漢族による決起に由来する。しかし今では豊作を祈る収穫祭。陰暦８月１５日の今日、中国では家族・親しいものが集まり月餅というあんこの入った丸いお菓子を食べて水入らず団欒する。
昨日は夕亜のとこへ遊びに行った。北京大学のバスケットコートで知り合った彼に「清客」された（お呼ばれした）。そこはバスを乗り継いでいくところ。砂埃のでこぼこ道をすすんだところ。すこし汚い集落の中、忽然と周囲と不調和な新しいアパート群が建つところ。
夜、ビリヤードを遊んだ。
薄い赤色の満月の下、小さな料理屋前に屋外ビリヤードテーブルが並んでいる。
遊びに夢中になっていると 突然 前触れもなく、複数の若い男が夕亜をおおいかぶさり、何か因縁をつけてきた。非常にいきりたっている様子だが、何がなんだか意味がわからない。僕に向かっても何か因縁をつけていたのだが聞き取れない。興奮した様子の数人が抑える仲間を振り切って夕亜を数度激しく殴り、蹴った。
最初は意味わからずもなんとか場を落ち着かそうとした自分も軽く一打受けた。ただ意味がわからず、近くで立っていた。一緒にいた他の友人達は危険を避けされるため「不関」（関係するな）と端に寄せた。
７，８人はいた相手方に対して、一方的な言いがかりをつけられ殴られた夕亜は明らかに憤慨していた。しかし相手は多勢に無勢。ビリヤードステッキやあの重いボールを手に握り今にも再度遅いかかりそうな勢いだった。最初はなんとか収まると思っていたが、実際危険な状態だった。「黒社会」の者達らしい。友人は客人である僕を安全の為に別に先に帰そうとした。しかし、手を借すでなくとも先に帰ることはできない、「不要去」。
中国語の下手な自分にはよくわからなかったが最後には一応家へ戻ることができた。しかし友人達は、ひどく殴られた夕亜までもが、客で来ている自分に対して申しわけないと思っている様子だった。これでもう遊びに来なくなるのではと心配していると言った。とんでもない、また遊びに行く。怖い思いもしたが、それより僕の友人達にはなにか気持ちの良いところがあると感じた。
People connection A sunny autumn day in Beijing 在北京中国語語尾之小話 Back in China!! 上野から大手町まで景色を楽しみながらゆっくり歩いた ワン切り電話、 T'was a Jolly Day! Decisions An Ideal Day... ３年後の理想的な一日？ A bright sunny day in Beijing! A rainy week in Beijing... Asian Cup Final soccer match at the Worker's Stadium Fairly exciting day at the office. No not really, but yes. ..as always Seriously undecided. The tug-of-war of Visas The upper house election is to be held tomorrow in Japan. I of course will vote...if I learnt anything from my political science degree, it is the right and duty of citizens to govern politics through their vote. I dare say it is a duty. Flipping through a Japanese trading company's pamphlet, I walked the streets of the Maruno-uchi business section. It felt a bit like NYC. International Trade: the glamour of the business world. Zai Riben zhao gongzuo... Summer -Xia Tian- is approaching in Beijing. Found an Erhu teacher at Beida.
While my dairy has been idle, I have been settling down in Beijing. Che huo le -Car accident Nihao!! Almost run over by a car... I worry about being away from China.
I went to pick up my visa to china.
Got through the 2nd round of interviews.
"...China awaits..."
-the Chinese call it Yuan Fen -the Japaneses call it En
The Beijing city government and the local Japanese Society held a get together of local Japanese and Chinese. It was held at the Ritan Park in south-eastern Beijing. I did not know what to expect but it seemed like a big ordeal. There were journalists and crew from the local Beijing TV station to cover the event. There were fifty pairts -1 each of Japanese and Chinese.
Every outing is a chance to meet new people. Of course the goal of people connection is not for immediate returns. But today there were immediate rewards. One of my new acquaintances took me out to eat delicous Sichuan cuisine near Beida. I shall slowly build up my list of restaurant recommendations :-)
面白い催しがあった
北京人民政府主催日中会話大会
お互いの言語を学んでいる日本人５０名と中国人５０名が日壇公園に集合。初めて会う２人で一組を作りスピーチをするというもの。今の語学レベルでは満足な会話は？と思いつつも、友達を作るせっかくの機会と勇んで参加。
僕が中国で問えば、格好の練習の場、すかさず日本語で答えが返ってる。
「迩的愛好是？」と聞けば、
「趣味は音楽です」と日本語で返ってくる。こんな感じで会話はすすむ。。
豪華商品があたると聞いていたので、パートナー（日本語歴３年）と頑張って小劇コントを作った。「京都で道に迷った中国人旅行者」という設定。
僕が迷子の中国人旅行者役でパートナーが京都のおいらん役。
抽選で壇上に上がるグループは皆中国語が流暢でびっくり。同じように学習暦が浅いのに流暢な人にはもっとびっくり。上手な人のあとにあがるのは気が引けると思いつつも、せっかくの小さな自信作を人にみせたいと思ってた。幸か不幸か抽選で呼ばれることはなかったが、中国語で小作品を作るのはなかなか面白かった。
It is the start of the school season at Beijing University.
Numerous student societies were out at the main square recruiting new members. I, a bit overwhelmed by the large crowd, nevertheless peaked into a few: the Mountain Climbing Club, the Piano Club, the Environment Club.
My aims in China are to build a solid foundation in Chinese and to build a network of good local friends.
I am finding that as a foreign student it is difficult to mingle with the local students. There is little interaction, for one we do not share any classes with regular students. I'd like to make the best of my time here, and joining student societies is one way.
I am planning a trip in China. Possible destinations Lhasa, Yunnan or Dun Huang in the western province of Xinjiang. The planning stages of a trip is definitely a fun part of travel.
北京大学には未名胡という湖がある
昔この湖の名を募ったところ、その美しさに適う名前がなかった為、未だ名のない湖 −未名胡−と呼ばれる。夕日が湖面にたそがれる景観などはため息もの。
今日はこの湖沿いを通って下校。
中国は１０月１日に国慶節というお祝いがあり、一週間授業が休みになる。石家庄以外まだ中国どこもいっていないのでまたスケッチブックをもって旅行に行きたい。旅行ガイドを見ていて、チベットか敦煌か雲南省が良いなと思った。。。
北京は都会です。でも僕らの近く（中心から２０分）ではロバも通ります。
それにしても荷台をしょってパタパタ急ぐロバは可愛いい。
北大からの帰り道をトコトコと歩く
夜 既に更け、橙色電球の薄明かりの下
近場の男たちが人だかりを作っていた。
何気なく横をとおるといつもと様子が少し違う。
人だかりを掻き分け覗いてみると
何時もの将棋ではなくカードの賭け事に興じているようだ。いったい何のゲームかはわからない。皆の熱気につられるようにベニヤのテーブルには一元、二元、五元のお札が赤、緑、青色の小さなお金の山を作っていた。
しばらくして「謝謝ァ！」という掛け声とともに一人の男が札束を片手でサラっとかきあげ敗者を残しホクホク顔で去って行った。
「謝謝シェシェ−、ァ！」このように地元の人たちはよく文章の語尾に「ア」や「ヤ」や「ナ」を加える。会話をやわらかくするためだ
よくこれを真似をしている
上学校ァ！／シャン・シュエシャオ・ァ（学校にいくんだよ♪）、是誰ャ！／シ・シェイ・ャ（あんただれなの？）本当はア、ヤ、ナと使い分けるべきなのだろうが、訳もわからずア、ヤ、ナを乱発している。しかしいったい僕の中国語、通じているのかな…？
spent the weekend at ShijiaZhuan, the capital of Hebei province.
If you can believe it, this was my first trip outside Beijing and my first train ride in China.
石家庄へＧＯ！
留学後初めての小旅行。特快電車に乗って南へ３時間、田舎道をとおり河北省の省都へ友達といっしょに訪ねた。
北京へ出発する前に少し時間を空けたんだ。
以前選考を受けた商社の人事の方と再度会いたかったために。。
ここは通信社を受ける際に選択を求められ断った形になっていた。
先月、ずいぶん悩み考え決めた末の選択。
働きたいという欲求は強い。
なぜ働き口を断ったのか、なぜメディアを受けようと固執したのか上手くは説明できない。単純に志望順位の問題ではなかった。言ってみれば選考に臨んだ上で双方比べてみなければ、いざ働き始めた後、もう一方を（良い意味でも悪い意味においても）漠然としたイメージを持ったまま指を咥えて振り返ってしまうと恐れた。今また同じ状況にあっても同様の選択をすると思う。
「ゆうすけは自ら決断するよりいつも状況により決定されちゃっている」
と言われることがある
（In stead of making decisions, situations seem to decide for you)
だからこそ、今回自ら下せた決断を大切にしたい。だが同時に働きたいという思いも強い。実は矛盾している。自ら下した決断を軽んじてしまうの畏れながらも会社を訪ねた。
貴社にまだ入社できるのか尋ねたが…叶わなかった。
せっかく北京で学べる時間がある中、僕はこのように日本で過ごしている。
就職活動が徒労であったとは思わないし自らの選択を尊重したい。
各職業に対しての自分が志望するか否か、そしてその上での適性や相性もわかってきた。
そういう意味で選択は間違っていなかった。
ただ正直、学業／語学も職業選択も中途半端な状態にあるのがいたたまれない。
これは今日の日記に端的に表されている。中国で一日も多く言語文化を吸収したいという思いから一日でも早く戻りたいと思い。この会社で働きたいという思いから戻るのを数日延ばした。数日という短い期間日本にいるかいないかでも問題でもこんなに悩んでしまうのが今のあせりの何よりの証拠である。正直就職活動にかけた時間は長すぎたのだと思う。
企業からの連絡を待っていた最中、朝6時に着信履歴があったのに気づく。
本来ならさすがに怪しいと思うべきなのだが、わらにもすがる思いだったのだろう。折り返し連絡してみると、すかさず録音が流れだした。もちろんすぐ切る。うん、プライベートの領域に干渉してくる電話関連のいたずら／詐欺は本当に迷惑。。
M．ムーア監督のBowling for Columbine を見る。DVDのおまけについていた監督インタヴューで彼がMark Twainの言葉を引用した。なんか良いなと思ったのでここに写そう,
"Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand"
Mark Twain
Our middle school class met together after 10 years.
Friends I have not seen for so long.
We exchanged stories, drank and sang.
Ahh! How fortunate we were able to meet as mates again!!
Flew home to give my answer to a job offer.
First option, I could accept the offer and halt my applications to the newspapers. The other, I could decline, and have the offer rescinded, meaning I will go back to being a hapless and unemployed graduate student...
They had already waited for a month
and I knew I had to make a decision there and then. But to be honest I did not know the answer that would come out of my mouth until the last moment; not whilst I was sitting at the park amongst other company employees, and not when I sipped coffee at the restaurant where the meeting took place.
I remember muttering numerous times, "make up your f*cking mind"
A whirlwind was blowing in my head. One instinctive part of me was saying I could not accept limiting my options. The other part of me was trying to play this down and was busy thinking of reasons to accept the offer, trying to come up with an image of myself as their employee. After few minutes this succeeded, I had played down my hesitation and was ready to shake their hand. I opened my mouth.
"I have come up with a decision"
I told them I will be taking the interviews for the press agencies.
An honest expression would be that these words just willed itself out. As the words came out I pictured the people I met from both sides, the people I would be working with, from the trading house and the press. But I cannot give a definitive answer as to why I chose what I chose.
what is your ideal day three years into the future?
We, a retired English banker, an American UNDP employee and I, were having dinner when the question came up.
What would be my ideal day
-no restrains, all dreams-
three years in time?
That night at the outdoor cafe, I imagined.
I thought longer than 3 years into the future. I thought of one person, a professor at the University of Rochester. He was a mechanical engineering specialist but also an avid thespian, the lead actor in our production of "Gasping" by Ben Elton we put together in 2002. I wish that whatever I am doing in the future, that I would have the time and energy to enjoy my other pursuits in the arts, music and theatre.
This does not sound like much of a career plan.
But if I were to take anything from this, it would be that I will be happiest when I can make people smile. It may be through any medium, not limited to the arts. I know I sound naive, but that is pretty much what I ask of my future at this point.
大使館の並ぶ三里頓のカフェ
白髪の英国人元Banker、中国系米国人の若いUNDP職員と
三人でこんなことについて話をしていた
３年前（ロチェスター１年目を終えた時点）から思えば、今ケンブリッジ大学院の修士学生として中国で勉強しているこの状況は満更ではないはず。これは外務省職員とはなっていないことを意味するが、それとて外務省職員としてやりたかったこと、つまり一度異国に住み勉強をすることをやっているのだから。現時点での生活は理想的はずである。
ただし完全に満ち足りていると感じない。それは現在を見ていなく、未来に目を向けているからである。未来にばかり気をとられ、今を楽しむ余裕を失っている感もある。 さらに方向性を見失っている、とは言えないが、バラ色の未来も想像しにくい。
３年後はどうありたいのか？
何歳になっても未来像を描くに遅すぎることはない。皆さんも想像してみては？
BGM: Lupin the 3rd
days spent at the Liang ma Qiao UNDP office.
Bus 718 to and 718 back.
Yue lai Yue wode Hanyu Geng Cha de
I fear my Chinese is deteriorating by the day...
between Japan and China
I went to the game with the expectation of seeing a quality football match to decide the champions of China. But I was more interesting in seeing for myself the show of anti-Japanese feeling that has been repoted in the media.
Throughout the tornament the Japanese team played in a hostile environment. That is to be expected in a football away from home turf. What made it extra-ordinary was the jeering through the singing of the national anthem and hostility towards the Japanese supporters.
I wanted to see what the environment was like for myself.
Perhaps out of consideration of the possible effects to the Beijing Olympic Games, the organizers carried out maximum security. As we went through the gates we were greeted by rowa of heavily armed police in black riot gear holding heavy firearms.
Furthermore, Japanese supporters -regardless of which tickets they held- were sent to one section of the stadium where they were franked by 7-10 rows of plain clothes policemen, passing off as ordinary spectators...We found out this later. The screens at the stadium carried slogans calling on civilized behavior from the fans.
Though we felt no immediate threats to our safety, the national anthem was booed. however I must say that it was not to the extent that the music was drowed out. Japan won 3-1 but most did not stay for the awarding of medals. After the game, we were asked to stay in the stadium due to concerns over safety. When we were finally led out to the stadium we saw a mass of Chinese supporters gathering outside. The Japanese supporters left the stadium led by police vehicles afte midnight .
It was quite an experience.
I am not sure whether it was more than what I expected or not.
During the jeering of the national anthem, I felt a little disappointed: anger? not really. Disappointed that even after multiple calls of restraint and that this being the final game of the tournament, it still occured.
I am not too patriotic, rather I fear it more often than not. I just think such behavior are simply not pleasant to witness and goes against basic repect.
But I wrote too much
Granted I barely got out of the office besides fetching for tea. But I am working, albeit a very small part, on a symposium concerning Tibetan Development, the idea of which excites me a bit.
Today. laboured half a day to produce a 3 page draft proposal to show potential donors.
I recently saw a picture my friend took on the plateau between Tibet and Nepal -the third level of the world. Since then I am just urging to travel again,
with my sketchbook that would even better.
Fortunately I was offered a position from Mitsui & Co., an international trading cum global investment company in Japan. After interviews with a number of employees and browsing deeper into the corporate website, it seems like a wonderful position, better than I initially thought. But the only hitch is that were I to accept the offer now, I will forgo the opportunity to apply to other jobs. This includes journalism, which was my initial interest after diplomacy. Thus the touch decision, and hence sleepless nights shall continue.
To lighten up the mood a bit: A good friend of mine H has sent me a complitation CD of music :-)
Am reading: Atsushi Nakajima "Sangetsu-ki"
Went to apply for my entry visa to China.
I really shouldnt have to for I had already acquired a residency permit in China. But the immigration at the Beijing airport had taken it...by mistake(...I think).
Did you know that Visa application costs vary, the fee rangers from high to low between citizens of the US, UK, and other nations. Not only that, but the Americans cannot have their visas rushed.
The Chinese authorities probably feel that Chinese citizens are likewise treated in their visa applications. I've heard complaints of how difficult it is to apply for a US student visas from a few Chinese students.
It is both sides pulling legs. It feels like the childish side of diplomacy.
Received a creepy phone call last night. A person has been asking for my whereabouts. Who this person is, I do not know. When my mom handed over the phone it went dead. Ive had a similar phone call almost a year ago. Were this to happen in my apartment in Beijing or Cambridge I would care less. But when it is your home phone it is a bit creepy.
Tomorrow, will visit a friend who works in an international cooperation agency, just back from Senegal.
さて今日は天気も気分も消化不良.
Ｍと近くへ散歩、お茶を飲みに行く。新しく出来たモール内でコーヒーゼリーを。
最近は友人と会っても職や未来の話ばかりだと気づき始め...
本当は話していても行動を伴わなければ前に進むものではなく、じれったいだけなのです。
僕は影響されやすい所があり、助言を求めているという面あるが、
自分の進む道は自分にしか分からないはず。
「影響」繋がりで
本屋で面白い本を見つけて長い間立ち読みを続けていた。
タイトルは確か "ユダヤ人の大金持ちに聴く幸せな金持ちになる法"。
一つ印象に残ったのは得意なものでなく好きなことをする方が「成功」するというもの。さらに、好きなことが分からないときは、まず目前のものに一所懸命になることから始めるというもの。特に後者の "今現在やることに一生懸命であるべき" という点は肝に銘じる必要がある。UNDPインターンも大学院の勉強もしっかり。
Am listening to... BGM* Dada (PRC) Song F
Am reading...Herman Hesse: The Glass Bead Game
Multimillion dollar contracts, government negotiations in the middle east, venture investments...et cetra et cetra.
But whether I want to work for a trading company I do not yet know. I wonder if it is the life for me. Should I stick to my gut feeling or should I face the hard fact that this is the recruiting season for a jobless graduate student. When is it that I should stop dreaming -searching for my calling- and face the real world?
Job search in Japan (again)...
Took a break from my life in Beijing to attend the civil service interviews in Japan. A bit of a shame because things were beginning to roll in Beijing: My erhu lessons, the UNDP internship, the football matches, and the nightly outings at my favorite riverside restaurant...
My Chinese is rapidly fading.
Uploaded photos of China at Travel Photographs (the cat icon on top).
北京での生活がもう懐かしい？
遠方よりの友人を案内してた時などはあんなに得意げに使っていた中国語、
すでに忘れてそうです…
Days are much longer. With a tail of orange and yellow, the sun slowly sets around 8 pm. Water melon stands, sometimes a truck load, started appearing on the streets near Peking University. School is almost out and the atmosphere here is very pleasant and laid back these days.
The big news of the past week...I bought an Erhu
(a traditional chinese stringed instrument).
I also found an Erhu teacher at the same time. She is a student at the Central Conservatory of Music, a prestigious music school in central Beijing.
Our first lesson is on Saturday. The Erhu I bought cost 450 RMB, about half the price of a similar quality (so I'm told) instrument at the Music school store. It is made of hong mu (red wood) and has a deep moving sound when my teacher played it. Let's see how much I am able to learn this instrument.
It was also very interesting to visit a music school in China. Having had lessons at the Eastman School of Music in the USA, I generally find that music school students are an interesting group. I am fond of, and sometimes in awe of, the fire and focus in their eyes. Of my few visits to the conservatory, I felt that the students there seemed more urban, fashionable and open.
This Monday,
I went to the Beijing Modern Music Festival, where my teacher was performing with her orchestra. ButI did not have a ticket.
What happened next?
She got one of her friends to lend me a black jacket and we walked past the guards into the backstage pretending I was one of the performers. The interaction I had with the other students who helped my out in this short span of time left an impression on me. We tried many differents methods to deceived the guard on duty, all the excuses. I would have imagined my college friends in Japan, the States, or England would have tried the same. I somehow found it refreshing that I would experience the same sort of thing with these Chinese music students in Beijing. It was a bit thrilling but I quite enjoyed it :-)
Posting Travel Photographs . on the web.
Have a look
Er hu is a two stringed Chinese traditional instrument played using a bamboo bow.
After some bargaining I will be taking lessons for 50 RMB and hour. All I have to do now is to buy the instrument.
Locked myself in my room today. Funny thing about our aparment is that you can lock yourself in. When someone uses the key to lock the door from the outside, people inside cannot get out. There is no logic as to its objective, but this is how our apartment works. This morning we found out the hard way when we were forced inside, until a friend came over to unlock the rooms.
I now have a room in Beijing
It is an old teacher's complex outside Beijing university. It is an old three story complex, tucked away, past rows of narrow alleyways called hutongs. It is not lavish but quite homely. And I am quite satisfied with it :)
So now that the room thing is out of the way, I am in search of things to:
First, and very importantly, I have found a piano at peking university that I can use. I currently book a room for 2 hours every week at the Arts Faculty. My task now is to find (1) a Tai-chi teacher. And (2) a Er-hu (a Chinese string instrument) teacher. I have found a student at Beida willing to teach me for 60RMB per hour. It is a little expensive. We'll see if I can bargain down the price a bit when we meet tomorrow.
I am starting to get the hang of speaking Chinese. At least I am gradually able to say things, without receiving the confused stare..
Fifth notice ;) posted Travel Photographs . on the web.
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As we were searching around for apartments in Beijing, our taxi was hit by another in one of the intersections near Beida.
First the good news. we weren;t hit too hard. I went to see the doctor today and seem ok. No concussions after affects or anything thus far. My friends were all ok. Actually, other than that it was a hell of a scary experience I saw a somewhat interesting part of life here (not that I'd ever want to be in an car accident..)
The day of the accident (yesterday) we were driven to the local hospital at Haidian. There we were seen by a local doctor.
The hospital was a university affiliate. I think it was good for local standards. But some bits were still rather strange. First patients must register and get a registration card -a gua hao. Supposedly this is supposed to determine when a patient gets to see a doctor.
But no.
The doctors room is soon filled with every patient and their relatives. I had more than a few patients interrupt me as the doctor was trying to see me. It was a mess...And to make matters worse was my trouble with the language.
And the result is that i could not get a thorough observation. It may not all be like this but my advice to travlers would be is to always get insurance and see the best doctor possible when in a foreign country. This is what I did the next day. Other than a neck that is a little sore, I am OK.
Now the next day (today), we went to the police office to pick up our accident report. This is another interesting part.
Our local police office is hidden behind traditional hutong (traditional small scale living households) in the narrow alleyway close to Beida. There waited a bunch of middle aged men.
They were people from the taxi company including,
the boss (I think) in white tanktops smoking a cigarette,
the driver who I vaguely recollected looking rather sorry,
and a bunch of others with or without business here.
We had kept receipts from the hospital fee and the taxi rides too and from the hospital. The police officer mediated the proceedings. The boss glancing at each of us uttered "dui bu qi" -sorry, and started to converse with my Chinese friends and the police officer. They had come to settle the fees and started adding up the receipts. It came out to roughly 900 kuai (100+USD). However, i noticed that only the actual costsincurred were compensated. And there seemed to be little formal procedure for this. There were no insurance companies in the middle. We took out our pens and added up the numbers by hand. And after 900 kuai was agreeded upon. They digged into their pockets and brought out crummy old bills. We then wrote a receipt -ad hoc wordings. A little lnteresting..
But not all was settled. I had lost my contact lenses in the accident. I wanted compensation. I told them it was the best contact lenses money can buy, from England, 1000 kuai at least. But no 1000 kuai was too expensive they said. He called up some eye place asking how much the best contact lenses would cost in Beijing. 430 kuai they said. We settled for 500 kuai.
I still had to see my Japanese speaking doctor. They said they can pay for this and the taxi ride. The boss offered me a ride in his luxury Nissan Bluebird and waited there to take me back to Beida. He seemed genuinely (?) relieved when I seemed alright after the doctor visit and even happier when I said that my insurance company took care of the doctor fee. Acutally that is when he merrily stopped over at the bank to withdraw the money for my contact lenses...
fourth notice :) posted Travel Photographs . on the web.
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I am alive and well. I thought I would not be able to update my website in china. And indeed I am not able to acesss geocities or view my site here. But there was a way, rather simple, around it and here I am!!
Unfortunately the daily newspaper decided not to hire me. And now I am back in Beijing for the second time since April. After only a week in the first stint, I am still finding my way around Bejing University (Beida) and this huge city of 12 million. My current residence is Beida's Shao Yuan or International Guesthouse (my translation).I live with language course students and full-time students of all ages at this "hotel-like" residence.
I am not doing too bad here. My roommate from Taiwan and I have deep and long conversations in Chinese with me doing most of the nodding excpet for the occasional input.
My Chinese need a lot of work, but I can see it getting better if I can continue to have conversations like this
About the Internet in China.
I can surf the internet (Shangwang) faily easily.
The university library lets us surf the internet for a fee. And there are numerous inexpensive internet cafes. Here the locals flood these internet places to play on-line games and watch movies on the PC. Another favorite pasttime seems to be, like all other places, internet-chatting.
Yes some sites are blocked. These are mostly private sites, like geocities.com/------. For example, I am not able to view my site www.geocities.com/klavier79 here.
When I attempt to access it, sometimes it leads to some page that says
(Ting! -Stop!- you are about to access a -----site in red letters).
But I am able to update my site from a link through yahoo!.
So keep in touch and I will try to keep a fairly constant update schedule.
third notice, posted Travel Photographs . on the web.
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There must be a better way to spend time than
sitting around waiting for a job interview and lamenting about not being in Beijing.
So, I decided to walk and explore the city of Tokyo, specifically the downtown area -literally shita-machi下町 (downtown) in Japanese. I started from Nippori and covered the areas of Yanaka, Nezu, Hongo, Ochanomizi, down to the Imperial Place and Ginza. Tokyo developed from the eastern section, and hence theses areas I covered are older and a little more homely and quieter. I usually rely on the metro,. However, I was a bit surprised to find that all these areas are within walking distance, albeit a good walk. Carrying my handy camera, I spent half a day walking the old neighborhoods, stopping here and there: going down small alleyways and sampling traditional Japanese sweets such as たいやき taiyaki (sweet red bean paste stuffed pastry in the shape of a fish) and 饅頭 (red bean paste stuffed sweet buns). Both rely on sweet red beans -called anko あんこ- and are my personal favorites. The weather was sunny and warm and all in all it was a very pleasant walk.
The almost run over thing I write is about a rather unpleasant experience. On my way to the station in my hometown on my bicycle, a car rudely honked. Because it was so rude I ignored it for a bit until I finally moved to the side. The driver upset by this, swayed his car in front of me as it passed. Hence, the day started in a sour note. But it ended well and thats good for me.
The interview for the daily newspaper will take place tomorrow.
Again, posted Travel Photographs . on the web.
Have a look
Today I called the newspaper to see if there is anything after the final interview so that I can plan my return schedule. Apparently there is one more task -a formality of the offer acceptance.
I asked when this would be.
-The answer was, "we cannot tell you of such schedule when you have not yet been accpeted." Well, there goes my plan...
I feel fortunate that I am on to the final interview. But I have already told them that I am studying in Beijing. Why they cannot take this into consideration, I do not understand.
Went shopping for a pair of pants and a half-sleeved sweater at MUJI
Posted Travel Photographs . on the web.
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The chinese embassy is located in the posh neighborhood of Roppon-gi. After cheerfully picking up my visa I went for a short coffee break in the new-shopping/business/entertainment complex called the Roppongi Hills.
This place is a newly developed complex -a city within a city. The 50+ story high Roppongi Hills Tower stands at the center. Around it are numerous high class stores from Louis Vitton to ....all the other expensive stores I am not too familiar with. Wolfgang Puck has a restaurant here as does many others. There is also the head studio of TV Asahi a major Japanese TV station, a Warner cinemea complex, as well as a Japanese garden.
so I sit at a small open arena sipping my canned-coffee. Daving at the sights around me. I brought my Chinese grammar book with me, but this can only go so far for my short attention span. Hence I shift through my bag and take a look at my passport ...only to find that I was given a wrong visa!
I was given a working -Z- visa instead of the student -X-visa. The embassy had errored. I hurried back, and luckily had it replaced in time.
Good thing I caught this otherwise I would have had some explaning to do at Chinese immigration..
All that is left is one more, the final round.
One of my friends is planning to visit Beijing in May. Looking over the travel brochures with him, I very much wish to be back in China. I know I am missing out on a lot. The plan is to take the Friday flight to Beijing after the final interview
A translation request.
This was a toastmaster (M.C.) document for a party. The difficulty with translation is the numerous expressions in one language that do not have counterparts in the other language.
Take for example, the Japanese expression "Otsukare". This oft-used expression has a meaning halfway between "you must be tired" and "work well done". I have yet to come across an appropriate expression in English that quite matches.
I am ready to post photographs I've taken in Cuba, Peru, Rochester and Cambridge very soon.
BGM of the day in Tokyo: Chen Qi Shen
Well, China has to wait a little longer.
After only four nights in Beijing I find out that I was called in for interviews at a daily newspaper in Japan. I am currently waiting for the second round of interviews to take place tomorrow.
It is the same newspaper I tried for and failed, before I left for Cambridge last fall. We'll see how things go this time around. The good thing is after my experiences in the last 6 months I feel better prepared. 
