Today marks the start of my Christmas holiday and I am flying back to the UK in a few hours. It is also the beginning of my one-month countdown to leaving Xinhua after two years of enough polishing to make Mr Muscle blush. Life in Beijing without suckling on the teet of the propaganda department will be strange at first but ultimately liberating I think (my wallet disagrees with that statement). I plan to try my hand at freelancing full-time and see what crops up.
I’ll save the tearful reminiscence for now but working at Xinhua has been a lot of fun, incredibly frustrating at times but always fascinating. This blog has certainly sustained my interest in the job - and indeed placed it at risk on a few occasions. I suppose Beijing Newspeak will now lose its competitive advantage but I see no reason not to carry it on. I’m hoping to persuade a friend of mine to produce more regular translations from Chinese media, similar to the one about Burma that caused a stir in October, and of course I still have my cameras cunningly dotted around a certain news agency. That was a joke, Mr President, no need to revoke my visa …
I return home with low expectations of gifts that await me. Surely nothing will be able to compete with the gem already given to me by one of my finest polishing comrades: a calendar of the PLA’s military totty in full uniform. “Qingxizhonghua” as its says on the cover. Literally meaning, “Your affection is attached to the country” so probably “Love The Country!” I particularly like Nero-esque Miss October, who is fiddling (yes, playing a violin) in front of a fighter jet while Taiwan is presumably burning. I believe it was purchased from the Military Museum here in Beijing if anyone’s interested. As my comrade said, “When the Chinese are allowed to do proper porn, it’s going to be pretty scary stuff.” On that note, have a propaganda-filled Christmas and a Happy New Year!
9527 | 23-Dec-07 at 4:23 am | Permalink
thanks
i’m reading
9527 | 23-Dec-07 at 4:24 am | Permalink
“Your comment is awaiting moderation.”
Offence,but this sucks.
Trevor Zhu | 23-Dec-07 at 8:41 am | Permalink
Happy Christmas!
I have read your blog for several months. It is you who make Chinese politics so funny:)Thanks!
Trevor Zhu | 23-Dec-07 at 8:42 am | Permalink
“Your comment is awaiting moderation.”
funnier:D
Lazy Aussie | 23-Dec-07 at 11:29 am | Permalink
You can’t tease us with talk of the calendar but not give a picture! I’m sure they’ll be sold out before I get to beijing. Must think of someone who owes me a favour and is willing to go to the museum.
gorbin | 24-Dec-07 at 12:36 am | Permalink
Merry Christmas! Bless
chinese buddhist | 24-Dec-07 at 10:03 am | Permalink
Samuel Johnson said: “SPEAK, THAT I MAY KNOW THEE”. Well!! BJNSPK’s volumes must have made him terrifically well-known to potential employers, but his RESUME (this blog is essentially a resume in search of employment) seems, to me at least, to stand out for one trait above all else: treachery towards employers. Or am I too harsh?
Mike | 26-Dec-07 at 4:21 pm | Permalink
I have enjoyed reading your blog the last few months while I have been in Beijing. It is a shame you won’t be in Beijing blogging while the Olympics are on.
Justin | 27-Dec-07 at 2:04 pm | Permalink
Have a nice homecoming!
I’ll really be missing your Bejiing insight…. but I’ll be really looking forward to more writings of yours!
Happy New Year to Beijing Newspeak! Happy New Year to readers of this blog from Xinhua.
Wiss | 31-Dec-07 at 11:09 pm | Permalink
chinese buddhist- you are too harsh. This blog recommends its author as a critical and independent thinker. Some employers won’t like it, but I’d hire the guy in a second.
Chris O'Brien | 07-Jan-08 at 12:57 am | Permalink
Cheers for all the comments in my absence (of course, I read them and “moderated” newcomers while I was away anyway). Thanks Mike - I’ll still be in Beijing during the Olympics, just not in Xinhua.
unsure | 09-Jan-08 at 9:39 am | Permalink
Has it really been two years?
- from one of the original ‘haters’.
What area of freelancing are you interested in? I have possible work, but writing about the advertising sector. my email is in the box
(can’t remember my user name, though I probably made an angry reply to your first ever post. I blame it on beijing)