A Korean Tsinghua University student died last week in Wudaukao (pictured), the resturant/bar/shop area just south of campus. The cause of death is unknown. There are conflicting stories about what really happened.
The “official” story is this, told by teachers at Tsinghua: The evening of Friday, March 28 was rainy. A female Korean student was walking with an umbrella while talking on her phone. Approaching the railroad tracks, she apparently went under a fence and was hit by a train, killing her. Talk to students, especially ones part of the large Korean community here, and a different story emerges.
Word on the street is that the girl was murdered by a black cab driver. Black cabs are operated by regular people who hire out their cars for short trips, like between Wudaukao and the various college campus in the neighborhood. Two separate sources say the student was ushered into a cab, then stabbed.
Believe what you want but I tell you this: There has been no “official” email or news report on what happened. Korean students balk at the train story and others students have confirmed the murder story through conversations with black cab drivers.
TIC
In China, we have a saying, TIC. This Is China. We say it every time we see or experience something uniquely China. Kids pooping on the side of the street, traffic rules more like suggestions, filthy alleyways filled with trash, bike-carts piled high with cargo, $0.50 beer and more all fall into this category.
Not only does the unsafeness of our nearby shopping/eating/partying area fall under TIC, but the lack of decent communication from the school or any media outlet is also TIC. The most we got was a warning in the form of a sign in our classrooms suggesting we watch out for our safety.
