Week 5: Slowing It Down in the Summer Heat

It is hard to believe that I have already reached the halfway mark of my internship. It feels like only yesterday, that I landed in the airport and struggled with calling a car through WeChat for the first time.

Some days have felt like a whirlwind, others, especially more recently, have moved at the slow sticky pace of a Beijing summer. However, I found each meaningful in its own way. At the beginning of my internship, I tried to take full advantage of my time here. Evening trips after work to various parks such as Jingshan park and the Tian Tan Park (Temple of Heaven) offered an initial glimpse in the long history of China and how it still impacts life today.  Weekend trips to larger historical sites such as Forbidden City and The Great Wall of China which offered classic postcard views and further emphasized the endurance of China’s past.

Having speed-run the tourist checklist early, I have been taking the recent weeks more slowly.  found myself appreciating the smaller, quieter moments. A conversation with a colleague over lunch or the sight of Asian uncles and aunties practicing tai chi at sunset—each scene, though seemingly ordinary, deepened my connection to the culture and community I had come to serve.

This week was another scorcher, and to make matters worse, the rain only raised the humidity without lowering the temperature. Stepping outside for a quick trip to the convenience store was enough to leave me dripping in sweat. So, after doing my second load of laundry in three days, I opted to stay in my air-conditioned apartment as much as I could this week.

However, I did make it out to visit my colleague’s university campus this week. Beijing Normal University (BNU) is a top-tier research university renowned for their work in criminal law. First founded in 1902, it is home to around 40,000 students and 3000 faculty members. The first thing I noticed was the height of the average building. At home, the most I am used to seeing is maybe four or five stories. However, the administrative building at BNU boast an impressive twenty-three floors. Their dining options are also top-notch with multiple cafeterias scattered across campus that provide diverse meals to fit any palette. The school also has a strong international exchange program with two buildings dedicated to housing international students.

Our colleague took us around to see the various landmarks on campus. The first of which was a large stone stele that had the school motto inscribed on it: “Learn, so as to instruct others; Act, to serve as example to all.” The stele stands at the center of campus as a constant reminder of their commitment to education and responsibility as future role-model.

The next landmark was the mudao jinsheng which translates to “wooden bell with golden sound.” The bell is a symbol for teachers and moral authority and was famously referenced in Confucius’s Analects. This bell is also a popular photo spot, and we spotted plenty of fresh graduates, in full cap and gown, posing for their families.

Visiting BNU felt both exciting and strangely familiar. While the architecture, language, and scale were new to me, the values of learning, community, and aspiration resonated deeply, reminding me that the pursuit of knowledge is a universal experience. A reminder that comes at the perfect time as work starts ramping up in preparation for my seminar on worker classification next week.

That’s it for now, but as always here are my favorite photos from the week.