Beijing Subway Challenge

On December 28th, 2014, the Beijing Subway system will add one new entire line as well as two line extensions. However, the big change is that it will move from single ride fare to a distance based fare system.  Therefore, yesterday (12/26) was the last opportunity I had to complete something I've wanted to do since I moved to Beijing...to ride each and every line at least once on a 2 kuai fare. The rule was I had to get off and take a photo a a non-transfer station on every line in the system.

Start at 9:40AM at Jishuitan on Line 2.

I convinced two students to join me.  Here's Kevin M. who mapped out an excellent plan!

Hepingli Beijie on Line 5 at 9:58AM

Cuigezhuang on Line 15 at 10:48AM

Oh, and here's my other partner in this challenge, Samantha G.

Beiyuan on Line 13 at 11:12AM.

On certain lines, we did successfully got off the train, took the picture and back on the SAME train.  "Chinese fire drill" on a Chinese Subway.  Yuzhilu on Line 8 at 11:46AM

Life Science Park on Changping Line at 12:05PM.

Beijing Zoo on Line 4 at 2:16.

Huayuanqiao on Line 6 at 2:40PM

Xidiaoyutai on Line 10 at 2:47PM.

Keyilu on Line 9 at 3:17PM

Dabaotai on the Fangshan Line at 3:29PM

Dajing on Line 14 at 3:55PM

Xiaocun on the Yizhuang Line at 4:42PM

We all got seats together for the first time all day!

Gaobeidian on the Batong Line at 5:32.

Last line, at Tian'anmen East on Line 1 and 6:02PM

Success...and overall elapsed time?  8 hours 22 minutes!  Thanks to Samantha and Kevin for being great sports.  This era in the history of the Beijing subway...over!

Go Big or Go Home!

When you are in a relationship you get invited by your partner to random events. This one was a party at Onions' gym. Prizes were given, dances performed and audience participation games were all on the agenda. Near the end, the emcee called row 13, 4th person from the right.....and I was, at that point, the ONLY person in row 13 so I got called up to the stage.

I was in a team competition where water was passed from cup to cup....but only using your mouth to hold the cup!

Not knowing what I looked liked, or cared what I looked like, I went for it, as you can see.

The emcee for some reason focused on me and kept saying        "漂亮", or "pretty" 

At the end, the emcees called me up to the front and were talking in rapid fire Chinese that I didn't fully understand, but they were acting out my technique!

I contest the final result because our teams pitcher had more water, but I think they reversed our team numbers.

The SWAG....body soap, a fanny pack and nice chopsticks!