Big country, small world

Back in February 2004, I traveled to Beijing on behalf of the World Bank for working meetings to finalize the Chinese strategy study for the Clean Development Mechanism. To avoid distractions, the drafting team met far outside the city center at the Jiuhuashan Sport Resort. When I arrived at the Beijing Airport, I wanted to find out where it was located and approximately how much it would cost to take a taxi there, but the location was off the typical tourist maps, and no one seemed to know where it was.

A woman was standing nearby and asked if I needed some help. Her name was Lina Wang. She said she knew where I wanted to go, since her parents live in the same general area, and she enquired at the tourism office on my behalf how much it would cost to go there. They quoted some insane price for a limo, so I ended up just taking a taxi. But her assistance was much appreciated - at least I knew approximately where the resort was located, how long it would take to get there and how much it should cost...

We exchanged cards, and I said I would stop by the Gucci store that she manages once.

Time passed. Our A+B missions were always too packed, so I never managed to look Lina up, until last October, when I was on vacation (also with Walti, my business partner, Conrad, and his partner, Susanne). I made a point to go to the Gucci store - it turned out to be the one located right next door to the Lee Garden in the Peninsula Beijing - but Lina was not there.

Now comes the amazing story: I met a woman at a yoga class at the Lee Garden last night. She was very friendly, and we got to chatting after class, making plans to do things together in the future. When I got back to my room to check whose business card I had, I realized that this was the Lina Wang that I had met 2.5 years ago by chance! I look forward to this budding friendship - it seems it was meant to be.