Walking between the Olympic Green and the Olympic Sports Cluster on my way to work I sense it.  Most mornings I enter the security check point with the Birds Nest and Water Cube across the street to my left and the handball venue where I’m working to my right.  If I choose to pass through the back side security check point, I can watch the horses for the modern pentathlon warming up as I detour to the Olympic News Service (ONS) office.  But what I sense is not just at the venues, it’s everywhere.  China is getting ready.

This week the handball Sport Information Specialist Thomas (a German with an Australian ascent) has been drilling us on proper ONS style.  Today we did a series of mock mixed zone and press conference interviews.  Practice, practice, practice, soon it will be the real deal and we will be interviewing the best handball players in the world – no spelling or format errors allowed. 

Yesterday we took a break from the interviews to tour the National Indoor Stadium (NIS) on the Olympic Green.  The twenty thousand plus venue will transform from the gymnastics venue into the court where the semifinals and finals for handball will take place (I can’t wait to work there).  Standing with my newly received accreditation pass around my neck, which allows me into the NIS, I feel important.  But taking a step back and considering what is going on around me my sense of value diminishes.

The 22 of us from Ithaca are getting ready to volunteer at the Olympics – so what.  Beijing, China is getting ready.  When I say Beijing, China I mean BEIJING, CHINA and the fifteen million plus people that go with it.  We have been here for three weeks and the changes are far from subtle.  Where there were piles of metal and glass, now there’s a good as new side walk.  Piles of dirt are now elaborate beds of flowers.  Empty ceilings are filled with national flags from around the world.  Vacant stadium floors are overtaken with shinning playing surfaces, goals, balance beams, uneven bars, and on and on.  Semi-filled buses are now jam packed due to half the public cars being taken off the road (in an attempt to clear out the smog).  Above all the preparations, we are engulfed in what is more obvious and substantial than any other: Security.  Where there was once one guard now stands three.  Where Beijing Sports University (BSU) employed their own security, new guards in what appear to be military attire have taken over.  Corners of campus I didn’t even know were part of campus are occupied by men in uniform 24/7.  Going to lunch midday you are bound to see young men marching by command down the street.  Of campus the security upgrades are just as apparent: Men in camouflage under bridges, police in “SWAT” uniforms carrying guns in the subways, and those guys in the light green uniforms appear at what feels like every entrance to every building and of course in every venue.  Just today as I passed the horse stalls at the handball venue I saw and heard about fifty soldiers chanting and marching within the venue itself.  Three weeks ago I noticed none of this.  Today I can sense myself getting used to it (and the Olympics haven’t even started yet!).  All the security does provide a sense of safety, but it’s there for a reason and it also reminds you that your safety is not a given.  Yet, everyday we cram into buses, push our way onto trains, and pass through metal detectors on our way to work.  That’s when you realize, it’s not me that’s important.  It’s the thing I can’t really define that’s going on around me – I could say it’s the Olympics (and that’s saying a lot), but it feels like something more. 

Berg 

I’ve encountered plenty of surprises in the three weeks we’ve been in China. Whether it's the lack of toilet paper in public restrooms, or the way the crowded subway cars can look and feel like the entire city of Beijing is packed into each one, there have been plenty of things that have taken some getting used to. However, there have been some positive surprises that haven’t been as hard to adjust to, such as how well we’ve been received by the Chinese citizens.

It’s a sad reality that many countries around the world dislike Americans, and we’re so often told to avoid wearing blatantly American clothes or behaving in any way that would play into the “loud American” stereotype. I studied abroad in Australia during the spring of 2007 and many of the Aussies I encountered would make fun of Americans, and/or just act very antagonistic. Out here it’s been the complete opposite. Not only have we not been mocked or made fun of, we’ve actually been treated almost as celebrities by some. It’s not uncommon to see Chinese people taking pictures of us as we walk by, or smiling and saying “Hello,” or “Ni Hao.” Many of us have even been asked to pose for pictures with somebody’s child or girlfriend or an entire Chinese family.

It’s still tough to tell if this is how they treat all Americans, or if we’re just being treated this way because we’re here to volunteer at the Olympics for the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) since just about everyone from here seems to be excited and proud to be hosting the Olympics. Regardless of the reason, the celebrity treatment is most apparent when we walk around in public with our media passes that get us security clearance for our venues. Just the other day, an employee at the flagship Olympic store downtown started laughing and smiling ear to ear with what I assumed (and hoped) was excitement when she looked down to see my BOCOG-issued pass. She clearly couldn’t speak English all too well, and my Chinese is still elementary at best, so when I noticed she was looking at my pass hanging around my neck I moved it toward her so she could hold it. She took a closer look and pulled “Thank you!” out of her English bag of tricks before turning to each side trying to get the attention of another employee to show them the pass. Mind you, this was just after an American customer asked Chris, Adam and I if we were Olympic athletes, so I was about ready to break out a Sharpie for some autographs.

I don’t plan on reaching out to the George Clooney’s and Julie Roberts’ of the world to get tips on how to deal with paparazzi or being mobbed in public anytime soon, but the hospitality from the Chinese caught many of us off guard and has been a pleasant surprise.

Plenty has been said about the pollution, traffic, food and overall culture shock, but one area of the Chinese culture I have found entirely familiar is the nightlife. This is not to say that I or anyone else in the program have extensive knowledge of and/or crave chest pounding bass and seizure inducing light shows, but so far our experiences past sundown here in Beijing have been surprisingly comfortable.

Heading out in groups anywhere from three to 15, we aren’t exactly wandering the streets alone, but it was something I think we were all nervous about at first. There have been a few revelations over the last three weeks. First is that I feel safer in Beijing than I do in New York City – all bartenders and locals have been extraordinarily friendly and accommodating. And the second is that a café, bar, and club are essentially the same thing no matter where you are. There’s still designated areas for awkward standing around, you still have to shove your way to the bar to order a drink, you still struggle to hear your friends talk over the very same horrendous pop music being played in LA or NYC right now, and most importantly to me, they still have pool tables.

Through my own passion for exploration and the endless support of my parents I have been incredibly fortunate to travel around the globe a great deal over the last six years. And the one thing that I have found truer than anything else is that there is no better way to meet a “local” than by challenging them to a game of pool. Last night I took my spot in line around the pool table and patiently waited my turn. When game no. 2 was called I nervously grinded my teeth as my Chinese opponent, a lean man of 40 or so slipped on his very professional looking glove. I’d never seen this before, uh oh. He sank his first four shots, all in impressive fashion but I ended up holding my own. By the time we were both shooting for the eight ball, a small but modest crowd of Chinese nationals stood and actually seemed to be doing something resembling cheering for me. Let me point out that this is the complete OPPOSITE reaction I experienced in similar situations in both New Zealand and the Cook Islands (something about Island cultures?). The game ended with defeat and mutual broad smiles, a handshake and a photograph with dueling peace gestures. I now like to think I’m friends with The Legend.

A great day in China as Dave, Jules, Jimmy and I went to the Forbidden City in the morning.  The Student discount was great as we saved 40 RMB with our Beijing Sport University passes.  That 40 RMB was quickly spent on the automatic tour which turned out to be a must have for the city.

It still boggles my mind how much time and effort emperors spent on their living quarters.  These guys were only living/in power for maybe 50 years if they were lucky, yet we constantly hear about how much time and money they spent on their homes (if you can call a small city that).  

The Forbidden city was really unique because it is literally stuck right in the middle of Beijing.  The city itself must take up at least 2 city blocks on either city of the gate.  Unfortunately, some of the City that is usually accessable to the public has been closed down due to the hightened Olympic security.  Still a must see stop in the city.

The best part about the trip was this picture from one of the signs inside the walls of the City.  I think all the of the IC students in the group have become quite familiar with Dr. Guan's magician cell phone powers.  It seems like whenever we need something, he is quickly on his cellphone working out the next big surprise for the group....so i guess it wasn't a big surprise to see how warmly the Chinese have embraced Dr. Guan.  Temple of Heaven is on the map for tomorrow....the site seeing never stops in this enormous city!!

As I woke up yesterday morning I had no idea what I was going to do.  We were off from work and there was still a ton of things I wanted to see and do before the Olympics kick into full gear.  I was able to accomplish a few things yesterday so the best way to do it is to simply provide a timeline of my day...

10:00AM:  Wake up

11:00AM: Lunch

1:00-3:00: Beijing Zoo

Now this was an interesting zoo.  First off, it was surprisingly priced at about 20RMB (about 3 US dollars).  I figured right then and there it wasn't going to be anything great because I live by the "you get what you pay for" motto.  Nonetheless, we head in with one thing on our minds...pandas.  The pandas were everything we expected, fat and cuddly.  Besides that, the zoo was relatively uneventful.  They even displayed your typical, run of the mill skunk.  We did get to see a few lions and tigers in their unkept and in my mind unsanitary cages.  We also glanced at a few elephants before heading out to the silk market.

3:00-5:00:  Silk Market

This is a place where you can buy everything from knock off Polo's to Sony digital cameras.  However, it can serve as much more.  With this place, it is easy to get suckered to over-paying for an object (a 70RMB Mau watch?) but it's even easier to get a great bargain if you can work the sales men and women.  As for me personally, I didn't buy anything because I don't like to feel pressured into spending money and of course not forgetting my life motto (see above).  But it is quite amazing how much you can knock off the original price.  Chris Lee got a soccer jersey and shorts for 70RMB after the initial asking price was 950RMB. 

Plus it's a great place to boost your self-confidence.  Just walking down the massive ailses where there are countless number of little shops, the vendors will do anything to get you to buy.  "Oh handomse man, you want shirt?"  Or "Oh you look like nice boy, I give you great deal."  By the end of the trip I was called handsome and good-looking at least 30 times.  Sure I know it was fake and they just said that to get my money, but I ain't complaining.

5:00-7:00: Dinner

We went to a nice pizza place.  It was good...lets move on.

7:00-8:30:  Cigar Lounge

After dinner we walked around the area looking for a tobacco shop to pick up some fine imported Cuban cigars.  We found a nice shop, we all bought a cigar, sat outside and puffed away.  It was a gorgeous night and there aren't many greater things to do on a beautiful night than smoke a nice cigar. 

8:30-9:30: Tienamen Square

Since it was on the way, we had to stop over at Tienamen Square.  The square itself was closed for the night but we were able to get a good spot overlooking the largest city square in the world and soak in the night.

9:30-10:30: McDonalds

Is there a better way to end the night than getting a .25 cent ice cream cone from McDonalds?  After a long day of walking in the hot sun a vanilla ice cream cone worked wonders.  

If there is one thing you can count on seeing every single day in China, it's a sign that has been translated from Mandarin to English, that just doesn't sound quite right.  Believe me, I am truly grateful for people allowing me to read the signs around this enormous city, but I do get a kick out of the awkward sentence structure.

Here is a countdown of the best (or worst) signs that we have seen over the course of our first two weeks in Beijing:

4) While visiting the Ming Tombs, our group came across a sign that read "CELLPHONES PROHIBITED DURING THUNDERSTORMS." I am sure cellphones are not a good idea to use while in the middle of a thunderstorm but I have used my cellphone more than a handfull of times back in the states while it was raining and never come across any problems....at least none that I know of yet.  Who knows what this sign says in Chinese, but I am sure that it reads differently in English.

3)  While visiting the New Summer Palace, Dave Portney and I ran into this gem of a sign.....This one is pretty self explanatory as to why I found it funny: "NOTICE FOR PLEASURE BOAT TOURS." 

2) While at lunch this afternoon, our group of seven was reminded that we truly were halfway around the world: "NO FOOD/DRINK FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD." As Jim Rome would say....Hil-Arious, A-Mazing, In-Credible.

1) Finally the number one sign of the trip thus far.  A little bit of backstory on this one before we unveil numero uno.  As the case is with many of the people who come to China, I wanted to see/hold a panda.  Unfortunatley the latter was not going to happen, but we would be able to see some at the Beijing zoo.  Just like everything else in China, the zoo is huge.  Lucky for us, the Bejing zoo had come up with a way to guide people around the grounds without getting them lost, while still allowing them to see all the cool attractions: "AUTOMATIC GUIDE 40 RMB: It's automatic, You needn't any work when you get the every place." .........um in English please.  This sign is truly one of a kind and perfectly represents the difficulty in translating Mandarin to English.

I woke up today to partly cloudy skies and tolerable heat and humidity. This is much different than when we first arrived. As you may have seen in the news recently, Beijing just started making efforts on Sunday to cut back on the city's air pollution. The city has implemented a plan that will take half the cars off the road by allowing cars with even numbered registration numbers to drive on even dates, and odd numbered registration numbers to drive on odd dates. The city has also halted all non-Olympic related contstruction in the city to reduce some of the dust in the air, and all factories in the city and the surrounding provinces were forced to cut emissions by 30%.

I was a bit skeptical of the plan, particularly the part about the cars taken off the road, but last night when we went out for dinner there was noticably reduced traffic for the first day the guidelines started. Not only will it be nice if the lower emissions make the air cleaner, but it will also make it easier and less stressful to get around the city in taxis since we can get places quicker and hopefully without having about ten near death experiences per ride weaving in and out of other cars. And today marks the first time we've had any significant signs of blue skies during a weekday, so we've got that going for us. It's been nice to walk outside and not feel like you've just been hit by someone breathing heavily all over you after wolfing down something spicy. 

All we heard and read about before coming over was the pollution in Beijing and it really lived up to the expectations when we first arrived, but it's been nice to see the sun and the sky from time to time. Hopefully that will start happening a little more frequently with the new measures Beijing has taken to clean up its skies. 

So today was quite an eventful day.  A few of us decided to start off our day by making our way to the Beijing Zoo to see the panda exhibit.  The zoo with the panda exhibit included was only 20 kuai ( or 4 American dollars) so it was a no brainier for many of us.  After snapping some candid photos of these lazy creatures we made our way around the zoo to view some other rare animals; my favorite being the North American Skunk.  I must say that the exhibits were not very well maintained and many of the animals seemed malnourished.  I will leave it at that because I’m not looking to tell a sob story, just telling it like it is.  The best part of the zoo was the photo opportunity many of us took advantage of.  There was an area which for 20 kuai (once again only 4 dollars) would get you a picture with a chimpanzee in a tank top and a diaper; I can't remember what the chimpanzee was wearing. (awful joke, i know)  

Afterwards a few of us decided to venture over to the infamous Silk market to bargain for some Mao Zedong gifts, real Rolex watches, and of course soccer jerseys.  Let me tell you that hearing these vendors say " Hello Mr. Guy" and "I give you good deal handsome boy" will send anyone’s self esteem through the roof.  After being thrown around like a rag doll by the vendors and bargaining down a special 980 kuai jersey to 70 kuai, me and the others ate and indulged in our usual pizza dinner.

On the way back we used our pro navigation skills on the subway to make a quick stop in Tiananmen Square when it is all lit up at night which was also a really cool sight.  After miles of walking and 2 subway transfers we ended our journey at the Shang Di subway stop (where Beijing Sport University is).  I must say though that whether it is the Zoo, the silk market, Walmart, or Wudaokou, we have become pros at using the Beijing Subway system.

The last thing I expected to do in China was to attend an Australian rules football game. However, today that bridge was crossed. A group of us ventured into the Chaoyang District to support the Beijing Bombers (not a hard team name for Ithaca students to support) as they battled the Shanghai Tigers.

Aussie rules is a very interesting game, and to someone who has never experienced the sport before, it looks like just one big group of large men beating each other into the ground. We were able to pick up on some of the rules as we cheered on the mighty Black and Red as they demolished Shanghai.

Honestly, this game wasn't even close. Our boys from Beijing had control of the game right from the start and the Tigers didn't even stand a chance. Though, I was very vocal in my support for the local boys, I had to feel a little sympathy for Shanghai as they were completely embarrassed by Beijing. 

If there's one thing I've learned about living in this city, it's to always expect the unexpected. If anyone had told me that I would be attending and Australian rules football game, I would not have believed them. However, in the end, I was able to experience a completely foreign sport and had a great time cheering on a different team of Bombers.

Submitted for Steve "Scuba" Lauer (a student from the University of Maryland who is part of the IC delegation)

After a week of seeing the sights and tourist attractions, I’ve spent the last few days getting to know the ins and outs of Beijing.  At the beginning of the trip, I would take taxis to get anywhere I needed to go throughout the urban sprawl, home of over 25 million people.  These trips would last at least half an hour passing a constant flow of bikers and pedestrians; intimidating me into thinking that there was no possible way I’d ever find my way around this city alone.  Lately, however, I’ve discovered their efficient subway system and walked down several main roads shrinking the city down to a more manageable size.

On Monday, after being dropped off at Tiananmen Square, a couple of my colleagues and I decided to head down Jianguo Jie towards Oriental Plaza.  On Jianguo Jie lies the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Oriental Plaza (home of the official Olympic Store), Beijing Railway Station, the Beijing Friendship Store, and a Wal-Mart Supercenter.  I wouldn’t be the least surprised if Jianguo Jie directly translated into Main Street, just knowing that anything I need could be found on one road was comforting.

Yesterday, we used the subway system for the first time, using our Olympic Volunteer passes to get a free ride wherever we go (saving two Yuan per trip).  Rather than travel between tall buildings in a hot taxi, we went below them in air conditioned trains fully equipped with televisions and LED maps to track each stop.  By riding extensively across the city the past two days, I’ve learned which parts of the city I need to be in, how to get to the Olympic Village, and the overall layout of the city – rather than sitting back and letting the driver figure it out.

While my alien skin color, foreign tongue, and brightly colored passes around my neck may scream tourist, I now feel more comfortable in Beijing than ever before, traversing from one site to another quickly away from gargantuan buildings and hordes of bikers and taxis.

Wudaokou is the second stop on the Beijing Subway and is a stop almost daily for us!  The subway has become one of our greatest friends because it takes us right into the heart of Wudaokou instead waiting for a taxi!  This section of Beijing has two delicious restaurants that are becoming like a daily habit.  Lush and Pyro.  

Lush is hidden in a bookstore at the corner of Wudaokou but has a real tasty menu.  Breakfast is served ALL day and they serve pancakes, eggs made to style, bacon, french toast, and bagels!  If you're looking for a burger, Lush is the place to go!  I have heard many thumbs up of approval for those burgers!  The french fries are fried to perfection and really everyone leaves with a smile on their face!  And what puts Lush over the edge is it is open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week!  

Pyro is located in a basement a short walk down the road from Lush!  Their specialty is their pizza!  The Margarita Pizza is definitely a great choice!  Its thin crust and very reasonably priced!  You can get a medium pie that is good for two people for 43 yuan, which is like a little more than $6.00 USD.  Perfect for that poor college student!  I can say that I have been to Pyro at least five times since we have been here!  So you know its good! 

But I must go, I may be headed to Lush for lunch because I just can't get enough of the food :) !

The Beijing Opera is full of elaborate costumes, intricate makeup, ridiculous acrobatics, and extremely loud singing. The two and a half hour show is a marathon of drama and singing. None of which I could understand. The Opera is based on China’s past traditions which are full of different dynasties, emperors, and empresses. The painted faces and costumes are used to portray different characters. They are some of the most detailed pieces of clothing I have ever seen.

The Opera was translated onto two screens on each side of the stage, but most of the translation is lost much before it reaches that screen. Being raised on a diet of western pop didn't really leave me with much appreciation for opera, especially opera based on a culture I know very little about.

I did get to move into the VIP seating because they had some extra tickets. That meant I was about fifteen feet away from the stage, and ten feet away from the speakers that were not needed. We were served green tea and Chinese cookies (not fortune cookies) during the show. I can’t say that I thoroughly enjoyed the show but it was a good experience. If you are going to see an opera in China I recommend doing your research before going.

Today we had our first training with the ONS. We finally know a little bit more about what we are actually doing. I am excited to put my flash quote reporting skills into action on the Olympic stage.

Brant

    As we walked outside the hotel to board our tour bus for our destination (The Great Wall) we couldn't help but look up at the sky in awe. What did we see? NOTHING! For the first time since we landed in Beijing we saw no smog or fog or clouds, it was a beautiful day out.  The type of day one can only wish to have when climbing the largest wall in the world.  When we arrived however, things began to get interesting.  As we walk towards the great wall entrance you could see a mass of people on one side of the wall, and an almost completely empty other side.  Well, apparently the President of Mexico and his security decided that he needed one entire side of the wall to himself.  This left a steep and winding climb for all others who wished to endeavor and scale the single side of the wall. 

     For much of the climb the wall was extremely cramped and at times very steep.  The constant stop and go accompanied by the pushing and poking of umbrellas (that many Chinese brought to shield themselves form the heat of course) did not help the situation.  However, once we climbed to the peak of our section of the wall it was a stunning sight.  You could look out and see many more portions of the Great Wall snaking across the mountains and wrapping itself around the northern portion of Beijing.

    After the hundred of photos, group photos and video taken of this immense structure, we started our descent towards the tour bus.  The descent was almost as tiring as the climb in the almost 100 degree weather.  But at the end of the climb when you are exhausted and you just want a traditional Chinese beverage to quench that thirst, what could be better then getting an iced coffee from the Great Wall’s Starbucks Coffee shop.

After a trip to the water treatment plant today I am so happy I got my hep A+B shots. Terms such as activated sludge and sedimentation process to describe the water cleaning process along with human fecal matter floating around was enough to make all of us cringe. Thank goodness its only being used to help clean up the rivers. 

We went and saw what I am calling "The Model Village" today. It is a village that has recently been renovated to reflect the ideal Chinese village. It was really cool. We visited a nursing home (a little weird we could all agree) and took our photos with a 102 year-old lady. We also got to try our hand at Chinese calligraphy, watch some martial arts/tae-kwon doe practice and visit the most gorgeous Buddhist temple. I have never seen such cool stuff. The major shrine to the Buddhas of lives past, present and future was phenomenal. And let's say I learned the hard way that you aren't allowed to take photographs of Buddha. 

Other than that China is shaping up to be better each day. I am finally getting used to bringing toilet paper with me everywhere and using Purell like a fiend. Today brings us a tour to the Great Wall. I hope I don't collapse! But good news there is blue sky and we can actually see farther than 100 feet in front of us. A feat usually impossible due to the fog and smog. 

IC off to the Great Wall of China!

Jules

USB USB! Ipod, Lady hello! What color you like? Friend price...As we go to the market all kinds of ladies are yelling these things at us.  Our first stop was the pearl market where I got swamped with ladies asking me if I wanted to buy pearls, oh wait they were telling me to buy pearls.  I am not a pearl person and neither is anyone from home so that didn't work out for me to well.  We proceeded to go to the top floor where they had the real pearls and everything was in display cases.  The people there were very kind to us, they provided us with water, they gave Katherine a discount, and we also got our pictures taken.  Luckily I had some Ithaca is Gorges stuff in my backpack so we were able to give them something in return.  

We then went downstairs and looked around and I am a sucker for sneakers so I was looking at all of them seeing if I was interested, before I knew it I had a new best friend who said she would give me "friend price" I had to bargain with her to get it to a price that was lower that what it would cost in the United States.  Mario and I both got shoes so in total we bought 3 pairs for $45.  I then decided I wanted another pair, but was exhausted after bargaining so hard for my other 2 pairs that I gave up and they ended up being a little bit more expensive.  We also went to a very upscale fancy mall Starbucks included so we had to stop there and get some familiar tastes back in our mouths.  We were gone for most of the day and we experienced some very nice taxi drivers, one who could speak a bit of English and he knew how to sing Jingle Bells.  He then taught us some Chinese words, so I have been trying to practice.

~Nellie

Holy Culture Shock! After 3 days in China I am experiencing absolutley mind blowing culture shock. I have such new respect for people that pack up and move to a different country without speaking the language. I have never done so much pointing or thumbs-up as I have in the past three days. I feel so foolish.

China is interesting. I will definitley say that. And dining hall food is dining hall food no matter where you go. I cannot believe however how different our American idea of Chinese food is from the actual food people eat over here. And eating with chopsticks. Forget it! I am so miz at that. I am about to give up and buy silverware. But I will persevere. As long as my hands stop cramping up half way through a meal. 

We found the Super WalMart near us today. There are actually 3 of them in Beijing. It's crazy! Talk about cross-cultural influence. I couldn't believe how weird it was to be in an Americanized store that was so different from what I was used to. Steph and I almost cried when we were finally able to buy (and eat) peanut butter. The first real protein I have eaten in three days!

The weirdest thing I have experienced thus far is the public bathroom situation. They don't have real toilets, just a "fancy" hole in the ground. AND NO TOILET PAPER! It is without a doubt the weirdest thing ever!

Well that's all for now. We are all going out to dinner tonight. To think that a week ago we were all strangers. I  guess nothing brings people together like this extreme culture shock

Jules

The chicken is salty and dry and the beef is more bone than meat.  The smog is a permanent cloud blocking out any sight of the sun twenty four seven.  Worst of all the beer is warm and flat; oh yea, there is a toilet in my shower.  Coming to China I expected a culture shock.  I got it.  Right now I am struggling to fight my jet lag as I write this blog.  Were I home in Chester NJ, I’d be brewing a large cup of steaming black coffee.  As it is, I regress to sip a shot sized can at room temperature that taste more like melted coffee ice cream than real coffee.  I tried a red bull too, but in China it is also room temperature and it’s not carbonated.  Through all the minor nuances, I’m constantly encouraged.  We all came to China, to the Olympic Games, in search of a unique experience we would otherwise never be privileged to endure.  Only two days into that experience I’m happy to report that is exactly what is happening.

The language barrier is probably the toughest thing to get used to.  At the Beijing Sports University we are living among our Chinese counterparts and it is absolutely useless to try to speak to each other.  Today we struck up a pick up basketball game with two Chinese men.  No words were spoken between us.  We held up two hands of four fingers signaling we wanted to play four on four.  After the game we agreed, basketball is the universal language.  But not all my hand signals have been as effective.  I found out at dinner today that the reason I have been getting such big portions is because I was holding up one figure (as I saw many of the Chinese students do) to signal I wanted only one portion (not an overflowing plate).  It turns out holding up your index figure is a signal for a full plate.  Learning to communicate is very hard, but it is possible to learn a few words like “hello” and “thank you” to help get by.  Reading the symbolic characters on the other hand is impossible.  And that does lead to some problems.  Today we went to visit a famous garden walking distance from the campus.  It was huge!  After being inside for about an hour we realized we couldn’t find the exit.  Unable to communicate or read the signs it took us another hour to get out.  Once out, we realized we had exited on the opposite side of the garden from which we had gone in!  I was wearing sandals (big mistake) and the soles of my feet were a darkish color by time we were back on campus. 

Luckily, we have just met some students from Delaware State.  They have been here studying Chinese for five months and have been very helpful showing us how to get around. They will be showing us some night life in Beijing tonight!

As our time progresses slowly and surly the surprises of the Chinese culture will become common place.  It hasn’t been all fun and games but after two days: so good so far!

America **** Yea!

            Berg