Beijing III - Ivey China Study Trip (12/11/08-12/15/08)

Note - this and the next few posts are a bit delayed (been extremely busy with school since getting back).

This was my 3rd time in Beijing in the past 4 years with the first being in 2004 for dragon boat, and the 2nd time in summer 2007 during my trip around the world. I had expected to see a lot of changes due to the Olympics taking place last summer and I was not disappointed. The cleanliness, hygiene, and English proficiency had all markedly improved, although not to the point where it no longer felt like the China I knew.

This time in Beijing was also particularly special as it was part of our school's China Study Trip elective - instead of just seeing touristic sites, we were meeting with business leaders, Ivey alumni, and touring factories. It was an irresistible opportunity to see a side of China most people never get to see. We also had a chance to dine with the Tsinghua MBA class, considered to be the "Harvard of China", which was quite nice. I was also fortunate enough to meet an old colleague on my own time and get an update on the medical industry in China (across from the bizarre new CCTV building shown below)

Along the way, we did however, do *some* touristic things. Quite memorable was climbing the Great Wall while it was covered in snow and ice. The lack of tourists and the crisp sunny and cold weather really created an indescribable timeless atmosphere which I would like to experience again. The Olympic venue (both at day and at night) was very impressive and the scale of it doesn't hit you until you visit it when nobody is around.

All in all a great start to a month-long vacation!

Singapore

This was my first time visiting Singapore, and like many who have never visited this place, I carried the preconceived notion that this place would be small, sterile, and extremely hot and humid; fortunately only the last item held true.

I was there more for a fact-finding mission than for vacation as I am trying to figure out where the best place for me would be following graduation and this was on the list. I had the opportunity to speak to people from all walks of life about Singaporean life, work and law; whether it was a Nigerian entrepreneur, a local taxi-driver, an elderly couple on the MRT, or an ex-pat high-level scientist, they all told me roughly the same story - this country is a great place to realize opportunities and while the government is strict, they are benevolent and clean. The Singaporeans themselves were a very gracious and warm people, and the city was by all means not at all sterile [as can be seen from the pictures below]. Granted, it was Formula 1 weekend AND the first time it was held in Singapore, so perhaps the energy and the crowds were a little higher and busier than normal. All in all, I think I might just be able to call this city home one day.

I want to thank everyone who took the time to help me understand this place, and for giving me honest and candid opinions of what I should expect and be aware of.

New York, NY

So - I figure that I might as well continue this blog for future interesting vacations. Having been back in Toronto for nearly 3 months, I became restless again. I decided to use some of those points I had accumulated over the past few years to fly to NYC and visit some old friends. Wow - the city was so full of life! All these sights and sounds, down to details in the metro system, seemed so eerily familiar from all the movies and TV shows that have bombarded me with this city's imagery for my whole life - but it was far more than that. The city really does never sleep, and I fully intend on going back soon. I even had the chance to brush shoulders with a couple of celebrities - purely by chance! How odd is that? Anyways, my vacation worked, despite not really being relaxing at any time (in fact, probably tiring myself out even more than when I started). Thank you Lisette for putting up with me in cramped conditions for all those days, showing me really what the city has to offer, and thank you Lori for coming into town to meet me for that optional meal between lunch and dinner! I will be back.