IES Global

The driver of one coach, whom we’ve seen quite a lot this month, is now rather famous amongst us all and pretty talked about in the TTC office.  On day one he introduced us to his pet.  In a small teapot, he takes his pet with him on all of the tours- everywhere in fact.  This pet is the fattest, mellowest and most content I’ve ever seen of it’s kind before in my life and is unbelievably tame.  His name is John.  John, the cricket.  And yes, he’s a cricket.

As the interns piled on the coach that mild Thursday morning, Joseph, our most handsome advisor, enquired about John and asked Mr. driver where he was.  John was currently asleep in his teapot (surely in hibernation) sitting on the dashboard of the coach.  Joseph took a peak through the spout and sure enough there he was, lazy little John the cricket, snoring away as snug as a bug! The interns crept onto the bus as not to wake the sleeping mini beast and from one cozy habitat, seamlessly to another -before you could say John-the-cricket, the bus arrived at the Birds Nest.

 From the Olympic Village, the cityscape is stunning and the striking sky scrapers of Soho stand up for why Beijing is the capital of the up and coming economy of the world.  The interns gathered for a final traditional TTC group picture and after some perusing of the picturesque and blowing of kisses from the happy hecklers, it was time to rebus and get back into the group.

On route to a more Summer-y Palace than last time, an excitable Alan Jia, one of our lovely Chinese advisors told of his romantic tales at the enchanted setting.  He explained how he took a boat down the lily-laden river of the Summer Palace with his girlfriend and proclaimed his undying love to her.  And what a fine choice of location to do so, for the Palace is the most beautiful place I have ever seen.  It is a Beijing favorite, especially among the females, for its dreamy allure and quixotic charisma.

On this day a pounding rhythm echoed through the seasonal fortress, exuding an air of excitement and pace.  Up in the hills and through the trees was a drum and fan ceremony proceeding with elaborate costumes and traditional face paint. Several interns disappeared through the woods to join the festivities and re-emerged sometime later in piggy backs and shoulder lifts in a carnival manor.  Others perfected their hacky sack skills with their beloved feathered shuttle cock as some newfound romances strolled hand in hand beneath an eager winter sky.

All romance turned to cheer at lunchtime as poor Alan attempted to tuck into his plate.  With no chopsticks provided at the western buffet Allan was struggling to use a knife and fork.  After a many a hopeful stab and some awkward wrist action our Jessica stepped in.  Jess, one of our intern managers at TTC, often has the office in floods of hilarity due to her Northern ways and extremely quick wit! “Try and scoop it m’lov” she suggested to poor old Alan, red cheeked, giggling nervously.  The more he tried the more he failed. Now he knows what it’s like for us lot, alone in a Chinese establishment fiddling our fingers furiously around the chopsticks trying to grasp that slippery kung pow peanut! “Just scoop it Alan” she dourly instructed, as everyone around him was finishing up. 

John the cricket surprisingly slept through lunch- he doesn’t seem the type to skip meals, if you know what I mean? He even slept through a live performance from the ‘3D’s’ upon boarding back on the bus.  The 3 David’s from the short course interns felt it necessary to conjoin for the day and basically become a poor mans Oasis/ rich mans JSL (or whatever they’re called).  However nobody can fight their urges and refuse a sing along, head nod or toe tap to good ol’ ‘Wonderwall’. 

Joe adopted the camera for the next stint of the day at Houhai Lake, where the interns raced each other in rickshaws and depending on the sheer man power of the peddler, gained success or failure over one another.  The array of avid kite flyers were back in full force in time for Spring, near to Starbucks and provided a graceful spectacle for a cultural coffee break.  Whilst on the subject of spring, it was the last official day of Spring festival and you could really tell winter was almost over and out.  The lake had lost it’s skaters, the sun had lost it’s bobble hat and the interns sauntered through the hutongs sucking on juicy strawberries and haw fruit.  Spring has spring and Spring Festival had almost sprung right outta’ there. 

And still John the cricket slept peacefully and without a single stir, as interns clumped back up the stairs onto the bus.  He was missing an eventful day, though he’d probably seen it all before- more than once or twice.  Mr. Driver assured Joe that John the cricket had been fed during their larking at the lake.  And in that time, John had cleverly suggested that they take a trip to the Silk Market before dinner.  So that’s exactly what they did. 

With graduation night and the farewell party looming, Jess and Joe were after some last minute bits and bobs for the big night.  Jess purchased some finishing touches for her outfit and Joe was summoned to invest in some new eyelash curlers for a certain other advisor.  Disclosing no names- no, not James Joyce. (My original pair were so sharp that I noticed they’d started chopping my eyelashes right off!!- not a good look.) 

The hardcore bargaining and quick fire bartering built up a fervent appetite for a Peking duck dinner and the interns were escorted to a nearby restaurant to feast in true Beijing style.  John the cricket failed to make a public appearance that day but is apparently pretty shy anyway and was maybe sulking due to end of Spring Festival. 

Luckily our interns are neither of those things and all pushed on through after dinner to the farewell party in Sanlitun.  It was farewell winter, farewell Spring Festival and farewell Beijing.  But hello to the next chapter in their Chinese adventures...