Beijing Then and Now: Jens Hoydem and Khalil Mussa

For our October Issue, we invited local personalities to recreate photographs that inspired fond memories. Here are the stories behind those snapshots and those Beijingers, in their own words.

Jens Hoydem and Khalil Mussa, BLCU, 1997

Jens Hoydem and Khalil Mussa, Nearby The Tree, 2011

THEN

What were you doing there?
JH: I guess we had dinner and a few Yanjing Beers after a football game. Fortuna restaurant was our regular hangout and place to eat. By chance, the name of our football team was Fortuna, too, and they had pictures of us hanging on their walls. Food and beer were cheap and good, just what students needed – although the owner lady always tried to cheat us on the bill. You’d find the occasional cockroach on your plate, and they had no toilet. Back then, we had fun in places like Solutions, Success Club, Poachers, Nightman Disco or at the floor parties of our dormitory. Later – perhaps it was 1999? - the Den opened and was all the hype. I remember they first wanted to call it Solutions II. Great times!

What were you doing in Beijing?
JH: I studied Chinese at BLCU.

NOW

What are you now doing in Beijing?
JH: I’m currently working in the logistics and air freight industry.
KM: Trading in sourcing and food distribution.

What has changed for you?
JH: Not much, I’m still the same dude … though I am married and have two kids now. When I look down, I see bit more of a beer belly. The name of the football team has changed, too. It's Beijing Celtics now. And Vintage Vikings. And Sexy FC!
KM: I’m married and have two kids now. I changed my football team 10 years ago to Sexy FC. I weigh 10kg more.

What has changed in the city?
JH: It got bigger. It got more expensive. More shopping malls, more money. More douchebags. More fancy cars. But also more clean, more green, more parks. More schools and hospitals. More Olympic venues. And better – no joke! – traffic!
KM: Now there are lots of buildings, shopping malls, cars, bars and restaurants. People got richer, life more expensive … and so much more to count.

Anything else you'd like to add?
JH: I love Beijing.
KM: I don’t know how, or why … but I am still here.

Click here to see the October issue of the Beijinger in full.