In Wudaokou Watch, we profile a different Beijing-based student from abroad each week to hear about their life in China's capital.

You may not recognize the name Todd Chaddington. The Indianapolis native has kept a low profile here in Beijing, mostly avoiding the Wudaokou bar scene, quietly studying Chinese at BLCU in his pursuit of knowledge and in his words "respecting the earth's oldest culture." Yet you might know his Twitter handle: @ToddinChina1 because in his short time he has spent in the Middle Kingdom he has accumulated a strong following, thanks to his sharp and insightful "woke, fresh off the boat" observations. We've long been a fan of the budding China watcher, so when Todd reached out to us asking if he could be interviewed for the series, we were thrilled.

Take it away, Todd!

One thing that most people don’t know about America is that it is actually not the best country in the world. That’s cus no country is the best. I think we should celebrate all differences!

I believed America was the best country in the world. But seeing China, I now know there are many ways to be best.

If I could become a Chinese citizen I totally would. More passports, more freedom!

One thing about Beijing that everybody should experience is communal living. BeiJing people share things in a way Americans don’t. Like toilets, and gossip!

I’ll probably miss the food here when I move back home. Dumplings are so cheap!

If I could enact one Chinese custom, policy or law back home, I think I’d like to bring back the Confusion virtue of community. Sometimes “we” are bigger than “I.”

On the other hand, given China has 5,000 years of history and the west only has 200, I couldn’t possibly say what we could teach China.

One BeiJing mistake you’ll never make again is taking an invite for traditional PeKing duck from a stranger. Some people told me I was hoodwinked when I paid RMB 2,000 for a small meal.

If my BeiJing home was on fire and I could only grab three things, I’d grab my harmonica, my ukulele, and my Chinese dictionary (in book form!).

Five years from now, I’d like to be the owner and manager of a thing tank. Or maybe writing for the New Yorker.

If I could give my pre-China self some advice it would be: "Speak Chinese like nobody is listening!"

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Image: Joshua Earle (via Unsplash)