On day 3 I took the subway system north and made a pilgrimage to my alma mater, Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU or 北语, as Chairman Mao famously wrote on the main gate). At said gate it appeared I wasn't going to be allowed in, as the security was checking everyone for current student or staff ID. With a bit of polite persistence, however, I blagged my way in and a super green, peaceful campus revealed itself:
I spent a few hours strolling down memory lane (including the exact same spot where I learned to love Yo La Tengo in 2001) and was interviewed for a bilingual promo video for prospective exchange students to study at BLCU - things just flow in Beijing. I then took my leave and navigated the train system eastward to visit a friend from Jagermeister days, Weng Weng. He's an OG musician, business owner and general good guy - Solo is his current bar in Beijing and we hung out with his business partner Rabbit before heading in Weng Weng's Volvo to "that outdoor bar in the corner of Chaoyang Park" where he played a 9pm DJ set.
I met another OG this evening, John from Xinjiang, who described himself as a 中国老外 due to his fair skin, long hair and ever-present guitar. We didn't connect on WeChat, which was a shame, but also refreshing. 如果有缘分我们就再见。
