Interning in Beijing during the summer vacation felt more like a trip.
It was my first time flying, my first time renting a place alone in another city, and my first time living alone, which was a very novel experience for me.
On July 3rd, I landed at Beijing Daxing Airport at ten o'clock in the evening. The airport subway line had already stopped running, and by the time I reached my accommodation, it was already past one in the morning.
I didn't rent a house until July 7th. During those few days in between, I stayed at a very clean and quiet youth hostel called "Kyoto Youfang," which was very close to the company. The experience was quite nice. I even thought about staying there long-term, but I was told that several days in mid-July were already fully booked.
Later, I rented a place quite far from the company in Shunyi. The room was small; apart from the bed and a wardrobe, there was only a small table and a chair, but I still liked it quite a bit.
During that time, the work intensity was quite high, and I had little time to do my own things. Every day was a cycle of going to work and coming home, which was also a taste of workplace life.
It's worth mentioning that the company is located in Wangjing Soho. When I was in high school, I was particularly fascinated by architecture, believing that buildings are a medium for expressing one's ideas to the world. I loved visiting some famous architectural designs, and Wangjing Soho, as a landmark in Beijing, was naturally among them. Although I didn't study architecture later, I was pleasantly surprised to be able to work in Wangjing Soho.
On my days off, I also visited some attractions in Beijing, such as the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, and Jingshan Park. Places like the National Museum and the Forbidden City weren't that I didn't want to go, but I simply couldn't make an appointment.
Among them, Jingshan Park was quite special for me. When I was younger, I watched a movie called "Beijing Love Story," and the scene with Liu Haoran and Ouyang Nana left a deep impression on me. I vividly remember them watching the sunrise together at Wanchun Pavilion, which is the highest point in Jingshan Park. So, I was already looking forward to visiting Jingshan Park before I even arrived in Beijing.
Eventually, I went there. Although Wanchun Pavilion was closed and I couldn't go up, I must say that the entrance fee of two yuan for the park might be the best two yuan I spent in Beijing.
Viewing the Forbidden City from below Wanchun Pavilion
After I submitted my resignation, on Saturday, August 10th, after finishing work, I officially left my job.
After resigning, I thought I would take another stroll before leaving, so I made a list in my memo. I shopped at the mall and bought myself a set of clothes, and brought some things for my family. I went to the Apple store to try out the Vision Pro and arranged to have a meal with my roommate, who was also interning in Beijing.
Seeing this memo after leaving still brings a bit of unspoken sadness.
After staying in Beijing for more than a month, I feel that my biggest gain was visiting Beijing and meeting some people.
Farewell#
During my internship, I got to know several other interns, my mentor, and others in the company. Everyone was very nice, and I liked them a lot. I also understood that after this, our lives might not intersect again.
I actually hadn't thought about how to say goodbye to them, and I didn't say anything. I planned to leave quietly after work and wait for them to notice I was missing the next day.
However, on my last day, the leader sent a message in our group, formally informing everyone that I was resigning and wishing me all the best. This completely caught me off guard, and I wrote a little essay in response.
Not long after, the other interns came to my workstation to chat with me and said a lot. Even my usually quiet mentor sent me a message, telling me to accumulate experience well, as the requirements in companies are getting higher.
After work, I avoided everyone, took the elevator down, and walked out of the company. Just like I posted, I'm still not good at farewells.
Return Journey#
There were actually only two days between my resignation and leaving Beijing. Due to the rush, the price of plane tickets was quite high, so after considering it, I chose to take the train home.
The train was a green one, and there were no sleeper cars. The journey from Beijing to Chongqing took over 24 hours, and being able to sit through it was all thanks to willpower.
Before setting off, I had already prepared myself mentally and worried about being too bored on the train, running out of battery on my phone, and being uncomfortable. I specifically bought an inflatable U-shaped pillow, a power bank, and a backpack full of snacks and drinks.
Along the way, I leaned against the U-shaped pillow, snacked on little treats, and slept when I was tired, which wasn't too boring.
The train traveled south from Beijing, passing through the North China Plain to Hubei and Hunan, and finally arriving in Sichuan and Chongqing.
As we passed through the North China Plain, all I could see outside the train window were houses disappearing and reappearing, with the ground remaining flat without any undulations. I had never seen such flat land before.
As the train sped along, my thoughts drifted. This was my first time in Beijing, and if there are no future opportunities for work or travel, this might also be my last time in Beijing. Although the city didn't make me feel particularly reluctant to leave, it was inevitably a bit sad to actually leave and perhaps not return.
the end#
This internship experience in Beijing felt like a brief journey that ultimately came to an end. It may not have been particularly wonderful, but it was indeed a precious experience and memory for me. This city witnessed my growth and left my footprints. Although the farewell is a bit sad, I understand that every journey in life has its unique significance. Perhaps this is life—learning to grow and cherish in the constant encounters and farewells.
The road ahead is still long, and I hope that in the future, we can all shine the brightest light on our respective life stages.