Chapter 13
Hi everyone,
So after hearing the interesting legend
about the Happy Meeting Fortress that Mr
Lee told us, we decide to take a bus to the
Forbidden City in order to learn more
about the Chinese history. It seems that
both my teacher and I find it fascinating.
Since the Palace Complex is too far away,
we agree to book a hotel on the outskirts
of the city. Russie and I have had a very
tiring long day so we need a good rest. We
catch a bus to our hotel but it appears that
the journey is too long. The roads of the
cosmopolitan city are very busy and the
bus is crawling along. We don´t regret it
because it gives us the chance to see some
of the soaring skyscrapers of Beijing.
Russie turns to me and says:
“Frank, there aren´t many parks here. I
wonder where the children play in their
free time.”
“Oh, teacher, they are busy doing their
homework! Also parents don´t often allow
their kids to play outside because of the air
pollution.”
I explain to my teacher that because of the
heavy traffic, Beijing has been badly affect-
ed by the car fumes and people often have
to wear a mask when they are out.
Russie seems puzzled and tells me:
“But in England more and more people
move to the countryside because of the
clean air and stress-free lifestyle. Why
don´t Chinese people do the same?”
“Because the towns and the villages here
are quite poor and don´t offer many op-
portunities for young people. So if they
want to succeed, they must live in the cit-
ies.” I try to explain, “My parents moved to
Shanghai when I was little so that I could
have a better education.”
Soon we arrive at our hotel and check in
quickly despite the fact
it´s fully booked.
Dozens of languages
are being spoken
around us. We de-
cide to have a short
rest and then go out
to eat locally.
Suddenly my teacher
turns to me and says
she wants to go shop-
ping on her own.
Russie feels confi-
dent that the lan-
guage barrier won´t
obstruct her com-
munication because
it appears many
people speak Eng-
lish. I wonder what
she has on her mind.
Cheongsam- a traditional Chinese dress
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