Betty has travelled to Beijing several times since 1980, and this is how she has seen the city change.
The Great Wall | |
Then Visiting the Great Wall at Badaling on my first trip, I ran into only a few tourists from local Chinese tour buses. Years later, to avoid the crowds at Badaling, I went to the Great Wall at Mutianyu. My six-year-old son was so excited that he said, “Every step is enjoyable!” | Now Most tourists still see the Great Wall at Badaling, but a great many come to Mutianyu now. Many hikers like to visit the Great Wall at Jiankou for the beautiful sights. There are no cable cars (缆车) and often even no steps. |
Shopping | |
Then In the 1980s, tourists used foreign exchange certificates and the Chinese people used renminbi. Credit cards (信用卡) were not widely used. We visited the Beijing Department Store (opened in 1955). And it was on the street, Wangfujing. Everything in it was very cheap and made in China. | Now People can pay in many new ways such as Alipay (支付宝) and Wechat Pay. Also, credit cards are accepted almost everywhere. Now Wangfujing is a famous street where people can buy all kinds of things. The Beijing Department Store is still there. Goods are cheap. The store is bigger now. |
I was catching a later flight to St. Louis, then on to Minnesota. The seat in front sat a very pretty 1. She smiled back at me, I smiled at her noticing her pretty dress.
The rest of the flight was boring, 2 as I was getting off the plane I noticed her again standing at a gate. I stood beside her looking for my gate, and flight number. I said to her that I had noticed her on the flight to St. Louis and she had on a pretty dress. She said “3”, I asked what flight she was taking? She said to “Phoenix”. We had a two-hour stop, so I asked her 4 she would like to go to the cafeteria for something to eat or drink. She said “Sure”. We introduced 5 on the way. To our surprised, we are the same name—Phyllis.
As we sat she began telling me that the6 told her she was dying of cancer and had less than 6 months to live. She was on her way to visit her children 7 she began taking treatment. She then told me that she had never flown before.
She was afraid she would 8 at the airport and not be able to find her way to the gate, and didn't know what she was going to do for the two 9 she was there. She prayed(祈祷), that someone would meet her at the gate and stay with her until she left the airport. She then asked me “Are you an Angel God has 10”? No, I told her I wasn't an angel, but did God use me to answer her prayer? Yes.
I with me
The meat terrible
There is with my bike
the waiter while he was picking up the broken plate ?
did it take Jenny to ride abike to school ?