Beijing’s an urban jungle, and in any jungle, we need tools to survive and thrive. As urban jungle dwellers, we’ve managed to blend practicality with style, resulting in the modern bag. Here, form meets function, and what looks stylish and fashionable on the outside contains all our essential survival tools on the inside. Inspired by this, we ask expats each week, “What’s in your bag?” and get insights into which essentials they keep on hand when out and about in the capital city.
Freddy Dodwell is a Singaporean-American who runs an entertainment company based in Beijing. Coming from a family of lawyers, he naturally studied criminology at university in Vancouver, but changed tack and got an MBA instead.
Freddy Dodwell when he was 18, and his daddy
His father didn’t speak to him for three years because of that decision, but eventually, the two reconciled and dad came to terms with Dodwell’s career choice to be in the entertainment industry. Dodwell has hosted several events in the capital, and if you were in Beijing 10 years ago you might even remember him hosting the Beijinger‘s 10th-anniversary celebration in Sanlitun!
“This bag was a gift and the reason I like this particular backpack is the cherry red color! Plus, it’s so compact you can carry exactly what you want in this little bag.”
Here are the items found in the bag of an entertainment producer during Beijing’s frigid winter:
- iPad Mini 2: For sketching out floor plans for events for clients.
- Laptop
- External hard drive: The hard drive is a must-have for producers because you need the extra space for all those media files, be it music, videos, performances, etc. I have 10 years of stuff on three hard drives in total!
- Wallet
- Glasses
- Winter gloves
- Winter head sock
- Apartment keys
- Cologne: This one I’m currently using is by Ferragamo, though CK One was my favorite.
- Hairspray: I don’t need the Beijing winds messing up my mane!
- Thermos: For hot water.
- Toothpaste and toothbrush: Don’t laugh at me but since childhood, I’ve had this habit of brushing my teeth after every meal.
- Last but not least, my headphones!
Clearly a man of style and taste, Dodwell is also a family man who misses his wife and son back in Vancouver very much. He hasn’t been able to visit them in three years and hopes that things will be different soon!
Want to share your Beijing survival tools with us? Shoot us an email at editor@beijing-kids.com, message our official Jingkids WeChat account (ID: beijing-kids), or leave a comment below!
KEEP READING: You Won’t Find Another Bag Like Zoë Woodcock’s, Because She Makes Her Own!
Images: Courtesy of Freddy Dodwell
