The Knigelverse

Currency Within Borders, originally uploaded by Knigel.

I am preparing for my trip to Beijing in two days. To be honest, I know next to nothing about China. I know tidbits; however, I must be real and accept that what I know is nothing compared with what is there for me to learn. I am looking to this trip as a learning experience of which I must keep in mind to be a traveler instead of a tourist. As usual, I will not mind giving up some comfort for the sake of experiencing something obscure or worthwhile.

I feel I will stick out like a sore thumb; however, after living in Cuba and South Korea, I have gotten quite used to curious attention. I have been told that Beijingers, due to the many foreigners, pay little attention. Still, I’m sure that I’m going to run up against some cultural differences–sometimes people just do not accept Canadian currency.

The one challenge I’m not sure I’m looking forward to is the sea of human flesh that I am about to go up against.