About
This blog
This blog is about China, and just like its subject, it continuously changes. It will try to bring voices from hidden corners of China, to report about the moods and views of ordinary (and some extraordinary) Chinese, and then to draw some conclusion which, I can promise, will also change time and again. It wont even try to be comprehensive, but it will always be thought provoking – just as China is.
The Name:
Bendi (本地) means local or native. Laowai （老外) is a respectful name for a foreigner in Chinese, sometimes used mockingly. Together they somehow describe my feeling after some years living here, a feeling of getting closer but always remaining an outsider – a very curious place to be.
About me:
Since arriving to China in 2002, I have gradually given up the ambition to “figure it out”. Now I’m just trying to let it figure me out, and it had figured me out from a backpacker to a student then to a teacher, volunteer, tour-guide and for the last four years, a full time writer and journalist.
Thank you for reading
Rachel Beitarie
The other billion project is completely self funded and this blog doesn’t contain any advertisement. If you find the material worth your while and want to help me keep reporting from rural China, you are very welcome to donate here:
Your contribution will be much appreciated