Highlights of the weekend:

- The American who runs the pizza place nearby. Learned Chinese words you can’t find in a dictionary from him, before we had even introduced ourselves.
- Beijing nightlife. If the intended club is crappy, just walk down the street, and you can pop into any of the sixteen or so clubs and bars along the way. No queues and few places with entrance fees, and then it always includes a few drinks for free. It also helps to walk with a Western friend, so people don’t think you’re a Chinese gold-digger/hooker. Maybe I should just paint a Swedish flag on my forehead.
- Partying with Swedes. Maybe because I’m used to it, but Swedes are in my opinion the consistently best people to party with. They know their alcohol limit, they rarely get aggressive or moody when drunk, and they have that total lack of self-consciousness that good partying requires. Crazy dance moves are good dance moves.
- The Chinese cab driver confidently explaining to me how Westerners are – not Westerners in China, mind you, but in the West. And this was after I explained I was from Sweden. Of course his knowledge is far superior to mine. To his credit, he didn’t confuse it with Switzerland, and even knew Norway was next to it.
- No beggar children attacking me. Though after hearing the Swedes’ experiences, next time they harass me, I will punch them. Yes, it sounds harsh, but when they lash on to your waist and refuse to let go (as told by Hannah), I’m entitled to get them off of me. Anyone who thinks I’m a coldhearted bitch is welcome to take a stroll through Sanlitun in the evening and experience their youthful charm and innocence themselves.

Lowlights:
- I didn’t get any studying done. Well, not much anyway.