This week we had the delight of listening to Chris Thomas deliver a talk about Beijing. Chris, as many know, is also the secretary of the Italian Section of the Circle. He certainly has a talent for languages, as he showed by describing the very basics of Mandarin. We were taken around local markets, the Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square , the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. Chris showed that the structure of languages gives us some insight into other cultures. He also demonstated how adept he was at saying “could I have a glass of red wine please ” in perfect Mandarin !