I’m going for a week – to Beijing. Please, don’t miss me tooooooo much.
Joel Landon Watts is a Masters of Theological Studies student with a focus in Mimetic Criticism of the Gospel of Mark. His interests include exploring the role of mimesis in human civilization, specifically in the study of religion and media, as well as science fiction and the way in which it has allowed mythology to be explored in light of scientific ideals of the past century. Currently, he is a TA for Old Testament at United Theological Seminary under Dr. Vivian Johnson, Associate Professor of Old Testament. His first book, Rhetorical Strategies of the Evangelist: Mimetic Criticism of the Gospel of Mark, is expected to be published by Wipf and Stock early next year. He is currently co-editing a book on moving from Fear to Faith (Energion, 2013).
Wait a minute. That’s all you’re going to say? Vacation, work, espionage, in search of the ultimate egg roll?
I can tell you about some good restaurants if you’re interested.
Chi duole dan juan. (I don’t have tone markers on this computer….)
You’ve been?
About 10 years ago. I was in business with a guy from Beijing. I was there for a month. Mu Chinese improved a hundred fold, but I lost a lot of it 2 months after I came back..use it or lose it.
If I told you, Gary, I’d have to…. okay, fine. It’s for an international trade delegation representing the great state of West Virginia.
Hopefully there will be some good stories to tell (not necessarily theology related).
I can’t promise anything, as my blog is blocked in China, but if I am able to post, I will. I have a VPN client, so….
I mean when you get back….you do not want to do anything controversial in China. They may not let you come back (unless, of course, you work for Walmart, which is their production outlet in the U.S.). The 1st law of the universe,
“profit”, which China understands.
I agree with Gary. While there’s a lot of freedom, it is still a socialist country, and China does not fool around. I wouldn’t even attempt a VPN until I knew other people there and and found out what they use, if anything at all. I know an expat in Shanghai, who said that provincial governments will check for ports that are open or traffic to and from odd ports. I remember him telling me about how many ip’s are behind a router..only businesses can even use a router..like a hotel for example, but they keep logs of all traffic anyway like most employers. I wouldn’t attempt a VPN. Honestly. (especially a free one like JAP..they block the IPs). I’d recommend http://hidemyass.com but they might even block that website.
Here’s the cafe I told u about. It’s hard to find, but print this out and give it to the cabbie (or a local if you’re strolling)
It’s the Miao Cafe. It might even be in a travel book. (you have one, don’t you?)
三里屯南31楼1号
Sanli tun nan sanshryi lou yi hao (Store 1, 31 south Sanlitun)
But South Sanlitun has many expats after 7 PM…the district reminded me of The East Village in NYC. Although your hotel will most likely be nowhere near this district unfortunately.
(Don’t try to pronounce it. Without the tones, it’ll be complete nonsense)
It reminded me of Anime..it looks more Hello Kitty and Tokyo than China, but it’s nice. I have no idea if they have wifi since last time I went, no one had wifi.