A new year offers us a chance to do something fresh, to set goals and accomplish things we’ve been meaning to do, even if some do think this new year brings the end of the world. Here are some resolutions you may want to consider that relate specifically to life in Beijing.
1. Make meals with fewer imported ingredients
This is definitely one I’m going to be pursuing this year. I’m fed up with having to go to an import store whenever I want to make a meal just because I’m picking the wrong types of meals or I don’t know good substitutes. A new and truly lovely resource for this is Market2Meal, a cooking blog written by an expat in China.
2. Make a local friend
If you find yourself in the expat bubble (like me), it can be difficult to find a Chinese friend who speaks enough English to become a friend. I suggest tutoring or getting a tutor. Many people who are looking to learn English have enough to communicate the basics, and as their English or your Chinese improves, you’ll get to know them more. I’ve enjoyed getting to know both my English students and my Chinese teacher. To find a student or a teacher, look on The Beijinger classifieds or ask your friends for recommendations.
3. Record your experiences abroad
However long you’re in China, you’ll want to make sure you’re recording all the craziness. Believe it or not, at some point most of this will start to feel normal and not worth recording, and it won’t be until long after you leave that you’ll wish you had taken better notes. I highly recommend trying 750words, a challenge to write 750 words each day for one month. It’s tough but feels really great to accomplish something like that. If you’re more into photos than words, consider making a daily photo journal, posting a picture a day for a month or even the whole year, to record your life.
4. Get to know Beijing better
One way to do this is to start with the expat magazines. Pick something from the upcoming events to attend, even just once a month. At the end of 2012, you’ll have done 12 things to connect more with the city. If you’re really ambitious, pick one each week and see how well you know Beijing in February or March compared to right now. You many also just want to make it a point to go to each end of each subway line and explore for an hour; you might be amazed at how things change on the outskirts of Beijing. (Just don’t try more than one or two of these in one day—it could be exhausting!)
5. Connect more to those back home
I always find myself wishing that I kept in better touch with my friends back home. Granted, we aren’t going to be close like we were when we lived two blocks from each other, but I still like letting them know when I think of them. If you feel this way, make it your goal to connect with one friend or family member each day via a simple note or picture. I find it best to go with small notes; long emails tend to be overwhelming for all parties involved, and we often don’t actually get around to sending them and/or replying to them. Smart phones make emailing pictures easy; just take a funny China snapshot and send it to a friend with a simple caption. Think simple and quick, and don’t expect responses from everyone. If once a day is too much, try once a week.
Whatever your resolutions for the new year, I hope that it finds you happy, healthy, and more at home in Beijing than in 2011. Here’s to 2012!
Have a goal for 2012? Share it in the comments field. Is yours related to life in Beijing or simply to life in general?
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My only resolution this year was to make sure I am always happy. Although, looking at your list, I like the sound of making a local friend. I have many friends here in Beijing but now that I think about it, they’re all from various parts of the world and none from Beijing! Not good, I think I’ll also have to try and make a local friend too this year
Excellent resolutions! Part of your resolution to get to know BJ better should include hanging out on the west side more… hehe.