Lao Beijing (Sort of)

So, tonight was Girl's Night, which I was invited to by my friend Heather who has lived in Beijing for about two months.  The other girls who came were her friends, or friends of friends, most of whom had been in Beijing for even less time.

Having always lived in fairly Western apartments, worked for international companies, and spent time around an overwelhmingly expatriate crowd, I have never felt like much of an expert on Beijing.  However, as the girls brought up various topics tonight ranging from restaurants to bargaining to tailoring to lighting fixtures and apartment redecoration to wine glasses, I realized that I knew all the answers.  It was a very weird, but good, feeling.  After 2 1/2 years I can finally refer to "old" friends in Beijing and understand bottom prices and know the best way to get many things done.

In some ways being the expert for the night felt like a rite of passage, but as I made my way home and thought about the many errands I need to run tomorrow (and don't know how to say the words) and negotiating my lease for next year with my Chinese landlord, I also realized I have a long way to go.  Oh well...just keep pushing forward on the uphill climb.