Mrs. madness, I haven't been to China yet..nor any ASian country yet. But I've been wanting to go off and on which is why I've been following lazily the economic development, politics,etc. of what's happening ..for the past 15 yrs.

It must difficult to live in a country that is not of your choosing at all, not even at the innocent, "honeymoon" stage of exotic destinations.

I Hope that you will immerse yourself with a group of Chinese English-speaking women...Beijing is an intellectual nerve centre for China for hundreds of years and so you will not be isolated.

But it does require the lst step. Since I am Chinese, but I don't speak /understand Mandarin at all, this would be my first attempt to immerse myself in that society there.

OR take a course/volunteer. Since China is experiencing some social problems because of very rapid economic development, modernization, dislocation of families/members between rural and big cities, Beijing would have some advocacy / non-profit organizations started up...and these organizations would be courageous in their work at this point in history. There's alot of work in: environmental protection, occupational safety, women's issues (women's shelters, etc.), counselling (pyschiatry is a relatively new discipline in China), fitness and arts.

Otherwise the city, any city will appear impenetrable and always foreign to you.

I would like to hear about your food shopping expeditions. I would like to know what you learn... there.