I heart being an international student in Beijing. But every once in a while, I need an escape from my life here. Sometimes a girl just needs to get away from the “Woo Crowd.” What’s the Woo Crowd you ask? Well let me tell you. International students are congregated in Beijing’s Wudaokou area. They come from all different countries and usually our medium of communication outside of classrooms is English. I like to refer to us as the “Woo Crowd” because of Wudaokou, and also because  cries of “WOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooo!!!!!!!!” can be heard anywhere within a 5 mile radius.

Don’t get me wrong. I love to have fun. I love hanging out with my friends. I love being the nutcase that I secretly am. But I came to China for more than just a collegiate experience. For something totally unique to this amazing, bustling city. That’s where The Hutong comes in. It is a melting pot of creatives drawing in everyone from artists to tai chi masters to culinary chefs. For the past year, it has been my haven. I was privileged to teach my own photography courses and floored that there were people who wanted to learn from me. And then the news spread. Friends would ring me up and say they read of my classes in The Beijinger. City Weekend. Time Out. Even China Daily. Whoa.

I need to write a full other entry on how amazed I am at the doors that have opened to me through photography. But this entry isn’t about that. It’s about the wonderful people who believed in me when I was full of doubt and gave me a platform to share my passion. Mostly, it’s about my amazing friendships with people here. Some weeks ago, I decided to throw a rooftop barbecue party with some friends in Da Wu, and bring them out to The Hutong. It was like trying to mesh together my two different worlds here. And I loved it. Joel provided some amazing culinary stylings, Simon dj’d and there was good times had by all.

Joel working away and Stacy stealing cake batter

Meet Alex and adorable Theo. Alex is our Chinese Medicine practitioner and a Qigong master at The Hutong. How much do you want to baby-nap Theo???!?!? So cute!

Joel insisting on teaching me the anatomy of baby garlic shoots

This is the tea room, where I often teach. And where we hold meetings for the Beijing Photography Club

Mark and Stacey, dressing up The Hutong they originally came as tour guides from Australia and fell in love with Beijing and later founded The Hutong.

Roof top view of The Hutong

Les peeps!! I should probably have shot this before we devoured Joel’s culinary magic

I kinda have a girl crush on Monica. (You would too if you met her) She writes over at kapookababy.

Oh Beijing. How will I ever be able to leave thee?????