I miss fresh air

As one of the main epicenters in China, Beijing has many great qualities. Fresh air, however, is not one of them. Since my arrival, I have not seen a day with blue sky... the air is heavily polluted like the smog in L.A....probably due to the ridiculous amount of cars and taxis. The dust in the air makes me want to wear my sunglasses even when it's not sunny outside. Additionally, it seems like every guy in China smokes, which is clearly evident in the bars and even at home. My relative's rockstar bf smokes like chimney, leaving his several ashtrays at all the main areas of the apt. I hate the smell of smoke so I guess I'm anxious to find an apt of my own. I think I need an air filtration system or something. Other than that and the ridiculous amount of bureaucracy you have to go through just merely settling in, the food is great and things are relatively cheap in China (i say relatively speaking, compared to the U.S. but you can easily spend the amount you usually spent in the U.S. if you don't watch your cash outflow). I look forward to exploring more of the city and taking lots of pictures. Will keep y'all updated. :)