Finally could see my own blog today, thanks to Anonymouse, Ricardo passed me the link. Have not been able to upload many more photos yet, so no posts for a while, but just wanted to mention that people all over the world are going out to the streets to demonstrate because no-one is actually commenting on the blog nor on the photos, see what you are doing?
(idea and photo by txyko)
In our rooms we have normal toilets, but people were complaining that in the East Wing library the toilets were... just a hole in the ground (not really, just the typical old style toilets, that one may find in military camps, some schools, or other places, plus they are clean and new). So the Chinese found a solution for us... dunno how many people are going to use it though, me not...
This photos are from several days:
-History of Rocketry with Kerrie Dougherty, archaeologist, star-trek/starwars freak and expert in space and society topics
-An entrepreneurs panel, with founders of several companies dedicated mainly to space tourism.
-A cross-cultural negotiation workshop, we were lucky to have a really multicultural group (India, Japan, China and Turkey are discussing on political systems and term of office durations on the right end of the table)
-Our first Chinese class, the teacher was not very prepared but only because she had not expected to give class alone: there were three teachers for the same class, but we were so many that they had to separate us in three groups.
-Our first class meeting, to complain, make suggestions, give announcements... basically to complain, some people are so... spoiled! They are complaining that they have already run out of electricity for the month (it is limited to a certain amount per day) and that now they don't have for the two days that are missing of June. I don't know what they do, I spend 30-40% of what it is allowed per day. They told them to keep their air-conditioners off during the day when they are not there. And they say that they can do whatever they want! (sad part is that the guy is 40 years old or something). Well, I was not even expecting to have air conditioner, look at the poor guys in ESOC!! And it is not so warm in the room, I only connect it in the mornings to refresh the air, but at night I have it off and of course during the day... Normally 4 people live in that room, if one alone spends more than 4 Chinese...
-Lessons on the solar system and the Sun by Green (works for NASA in interplanetary missions, has worked in Goddard, in HQ, JPL... I think he has even worked with the Voyager 1 and 2 missions)
Labels: Beijing, Dan, party/nightlife
Don't worry, haven't turned into an ISU fanatic (yet) but I have to admit I ended up making myself photos with the astronauts we've had here:
-Jeffrey Hoffman, already mentioned him, photo was taken after our first Chinese class, he also joins
-Leroy Chiao, NASA astronaut, 6 times EVA, flown with Shuttles, with Soyuz, more than 6 months on the ISS... He came for a panel of entrepreneurs of space tourism, because he has signed up for a company (Excalibur Almaz) that will make orbital tourism...
Actually we have 4 or 5 more professors that have been astronauts, Tuesday we will have here the first Chinese taikonaut, Yang Liwei
We went to a little park with a lake at night for a talk... nice, but waking up the day after at 5.45 has killed me (to go do tai-chi, next time I go I make photos)
This is the same park during the day.
Labels: Beijing, Dan, party/nightlife
Wizards of bike-transportation... I will get better ones, they are everywhere, carrying everything!
Rose Wong's family...
Went to the silk alley...
What a stress!!! Bargaining so much makes me sick...
The Space perspective with Jeffrey Hoffman (besides having flown 5 times in the Shuttle, he is also an astrophysicist and MIT professor, the photo is actually him repairing the Hubble)
Policy rationale for space activities, with Hoffman too
Economic rationales for space activities, with Cohendet (world-renown economist, professor in Strasbourg and Montreal)
I like the way we take notes: no paper (save trees!!), but writable PDF files (thanks Jorge for Acrobat 7.0)
I did not take many photos... as soon as I get more form other students I will hange them
Already happened Sunday morning. We have to choose between:
I was doubting but at the end I chose the Earthquake one. Good thing is that each of the people from ESOC chose a different one...
Formerly known as BUAA (Beijing University of Aeronautics and Aerospace)
Introductions to the regulations: do not drink too much!
Introductions to the regulations (II): do not fall from bed... does it happen very often here?
This are the computer labs in the East Wing library, that is where I am now, and so fa r the only place where I can connect to Internet. They are really new. Good thing is that it is wifi, so it is not limited to those computers but we can connect in the whole building with our laptops.
One bucket with ice and seven beers 6.5 euro, and that is expensive here...
Street posts selling fruit any time of day
Labels: Beijing, Dan, party/nightlife
(this actually happened on several days)
Of the students that took the one week extra English course before our arrival
Of the staff, the guy standing in blue is NASA astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman
Of all of us, yeah, it took a while
In case you wonder, yeah, this Hello Cafe is the place where we eat. Will talk about the food some other day.
It is not the athelete's village for next year, it is one built for the university olympics in Beijing in 2001
Normally 4 students would live here! So I have 4 beds, 4 tables 4 wardrobes (tiny)... Nice landscape view is on the courtain, my window leads to the entrance of the building actually, ground floor
They are worried about our safety... (this sign is actually on our beds)
On the airport, before Mamen's hysteria
Satisfaction poll at customs: “Greatly Satisfied” (big smiley face), “Satisfied” (sober smiley face), “Checking Time Too Long” (moderate frown) and “Poor Customer Service” (severe frown.) Cannot find a photo though.
At arrival, we met Marrieanne from Norway wh had travelled on the same plane as us
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