Wednesday, August 20, 2008
中国和美国- China and America
For you Californians, 6PM Wednesday is the Women's Beach Volleyball Final (other time zones do the math). Look for me, I'll be in the 12th row! I'm prepared rep the US as we defend the gold... 美国加油！ Go America!
Monday, August 18, 2008
Marathon Women
Addendum to a previous post: During the opening ceremonies, the Peking U. Students were cheering for Iraq because, in my friend’s words, “they know their country is going through the pain of war.”
After another late night on the town, I managed to struggle out of bed early. The women’s marathon conveniently cuts right across campus, approximately 200 yards from my bed. I bounded across this distance like an overeager gazelle. As the first place runner approached, I snapped a photo through the trees:
As you can see, not the most poetic of photographs. Subsequent attempts also proved fruitless. I quickly gave up, and just watched. Eyes inevitably beat camera. These women were incredible, muscles tensing and shifting with each step, simply flying by. And you could see the effort written in their faces: this race is foot pounds road meets pain. Another thing that struck me was the power of sport to attract such a diverse group of women. It's a shame it went by so fast.
More photos (not the marathon, more exciting stuff)! GoldenBearTri
After another late night on the town, I managed to struggle out of bed early. The women’s marathon conveniently cuts right across campus, approximately 200 yards from my bed. I bounded across this distance like an overeager gazelle. As the first place runner approached, I snapped a photo through the trees:
As you can see, not the most poetic of photographs. Subsequent attempts also proved fruitless. I quickly gave up, and just watched. Eyes inevitably beat camera. These women were incredible, muscles tensing and shifting with each step, simply flying by. And you could see the effort written in their faces: this race is foot pounds road meets pain. Another thing that struck me was the power of sport to attract such a diverse group of women. It's a shame it went by so fast.
More photos (not the marathon, more exciting stuff)! GoldenBearTri
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
下一场雨－ A Rainfall
Just got back from lunch in a torrential downpour. It’s coming down out there like it never does in the Bay Area. So I’m standing soaked in the middle of my room eating a piece of watermelon and listening to the nearby thunder. Watermelon is my favorite fruit; I see nothing but red juicy flesh and black seeds.
From the cafeteria to my dormitory is only about a 2 minute walk, but I still don’t own an umbrella. I walk bravely through the rain in my shorts and flip-flops, puddle-jumping, singing an old song and splashing my way across the square. People tend to stare, cowering under overhangs or throwing strange glances out from under their protective shells. It makes one think that Beijing people are afraid of getting wet. Oblivious, Californians act a bit nuts in the rain. My friend reports getting caught in the rain while running, continuing with a huge smile on her face, and receiving open laughter from passersby on the street. Not jeering, just bewildered.
We can’t help being a spectacle sometimes. My friends went to the US- Nigeria soccer game last night (I stayed home), took their shirts off to spell out 美国加油！（go USA!). My roommate took a video…. probably 30+ people began taking photos. When it hits youtube, I’ll let you know.
Try to post some picture and write on touristy-type activities later today.
From the cafeteria to my dormitory is only about a 2 minute walk, but I still don’t own an umbrella. I walk bravely through the rain in my shorts and flip-flops, puddle-jumping, singing an old song and splashing my way across the square. People tend to stare, cowering under overhangs or throwing strange glances out from under their protective shells. It makes one think that Beijing people are afraid of getting wet. Oblivious, Californians act a bit nuts in the rain. My friend reports getting caught in the rain while running, continuing with a huge smile on her face, and receiving open laughter from passersby on the street. Not jeering, just bewildered.
We can’t help being a spectacle sometimes. My friends went to the US- Nigeria soccer game last night (I stayed home), took their shirts off to spell out 美国加油！（go USA!). My roommate took a video…. probably 30+ people began taking photos. When it hits youtube, I’ll let you know.
Try to post some picture and write on touristy-type activities later today.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Olympic Vignettes
空气－ Air
2AM on the eight day of the eighth month, our taxi flew by the slumbering Bird’s Nest (鸟巢). The air slightly grayed the red glowing embers within the stadium’s latticework. Sleepily traveling the 4th ring road, I experienced the effects of Beijing’s pollution for the first time, a foreboding experience preceding the opening of the games.
I’ve been studying here for two weeks already, but have largely ignored any poor air quality. Of course, I can see the haze that pushes the nearby summer palace a dream’s depth from Peking U. But contrary to my expectations, I run here without feeling short of breath, my eyes do not burn, and I cannot smell Beijing smog. My classmates complain of all these things and more. I thought they were exaggerating their plight until now. Our driver, a quite fellow compared to other cabbies, has left the windows down to combat the stickiness of the humid night. So in rushes the cool breeze of the freeway, but with it the infamous ghost that haunts the anticipation of Beijing’s Olympics. It felt like sitting in a cool yet smoky bar. To the eyes, it makes Beijing appear older and more mysterious.
志愿者－ Volunteers
Timeout－小张 is just awesome. He hooked me up with a pair of tickets to watch the opening ceremony alongside several thousand Peking U Olympic volunteers. Big ups, dawg.
I walked into the crowded (yet orderly) auditorium as anticipation was quickly building. Confusingly, there was a German volunteer on stage, who after a short message launched into some brave but misguided karaoke, a Chinese song. Thoroughly butchered it (harsh words, but I call ‘em like I see ‘em). The next pre-game performance was volunteers from outside of Beijing, who in a show of gratitude to their hosts wrote and performed a parody of the ubiquitous (seriously, I hear it multiple times daily) 北京欢迎你 －Beijing Welcomes You. There’s was called Peking U Welcomes You, and the crowd loved it, laughed and began singing along. The words were projected on the screen, so it was like a gigantic group karaoke performance.
And then the CCTV coverage began. The crowd oohhed and ahhed at each new trick, each dance and drumbeat, and I felt that there was a sense of pride in each reaction, ‘This is our Olympics, this is China showing the world.’ Unfortunately I can’t provide hard facts to back that up, but I just got a feeling. It’s probably a safe bet considering the crowd was largely volunteers.
美丽－ Beautiful
The Chinese student in the seat next to me helped me understand some of the nuances of the ceremony, but was also hilarious to behold. During the entrance of the athletes, whenever a beautiful girl appeared, he began clapping, WOWing and his butt began lifting out of his seat, as if the gravitational pull of the screen were too great. Fittingly for a college audience, the rest of the auditorium followed suit: it turned into an international beauty contest. NBA players and Roger Federer drew huge reactions. But what really fascinated me was their reactions to each country:
Following rather gratuitous applause, my excitable neighbor explained simply that relationships are good between China and Pakistan. Same reaction for Cuba: “Because you two have the same style of government?” I asked in Chinese. “Exactly,” he replied. Others big reactions include North Korea, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and many of the Middle Eastern countries, including Iraq, Palestine and Israel. England, the US and Canada received polite applause, while Germany and Australia fared much better. Of note, whenever CCTV showed a dignitary, regardless of the country, the audience applauded soundly. I thought I heard some laughter during Bush’s applause, but I might have imagined it.
And then China came in, Yao Ming manning the flag. The reaction was grand, but not as great as I’d expected. But most of the crowd was on its feet, and I felt as if the games had really arrived at that moment.
Great opening, and an amazing way to see it!
2AM on the eight day of the eighth month, our taxi flew by the slumbering Bird’s Nest (鸟巢). The air slightly grayed the red glowing embers within the stadium’s latticework. Sleepily traveling the 4th ring road, I experienced the effects of Beijing’s pollution for the first time, a foreboding experience preceding the opening of the games.
I’ve been studying here for two weeks already, but have largely ignored any poor air quality. Of course, I can see the haze that pushes the nearby summer palace a dream’s depth from Peking U. But contrary to my expectations, I run here without feeling short of breath, my eyes do not burn, and I cannot smell Beijing smog. My classmates complain of all these things and more. I thought they were exaggerating their plight until now. Our driver, a quite fellow compared to other cabbies, has left the windows down to combat the stickiness of the humid night. So in rushes the cool breeze of the freeway, but with it the infamous ghost that haunts the anticipation of Beijing’s Olympics. It felt like sitting in a cool yet smoky bar. To the eyes, it makes Beijing appear older and more mysterious.
志愿者－ Volunteers
Timeout－小张 is just awesome. He hooked me up with a pair of tickets to watch the opening ceremony alongside several thousand Peking U Olympic volunteers. Big ups, dawg.
I walked into the crowded (yet orderly) auditorium as anticipation was quickly building. Confusingly, there was a German volunteer on stage, who after a short message launched into some brave but misguided karaoke, a Chinese song. Thoroughly butchered it (harsh words, but I call ‘em like I see ‘em). The next pre-game performance was volunteers from outside of Beijing, who in a show of gratitude to their hosts wrote and performed a parody of the ubiquitous (seriously, I hear it multiple times daily) 北京欢迎你 －Beijing Welcomes You. There’s was called Peking U Welcomes You, and the crowd loved it, laughed and began singing along. The words were projected on the screen, so it was like a gigantic group karaoke performance.
And then the CCTV coverage began. The crowd oohhed and ahhed at each new trick, each dance and drumbeat, and I felt that there was a sense of pride in each reaction, ‘This is our Olympics, this is China showing the world.’ Unfortunately I can’t provide hard facts to back that up, but I just got a feeling. It’s probably a safe bet considering the crowd was largely volunteers.
美丽－ Beautiful
The Chinese student in the seat next to me helped me understand some of the nuances of the ceremony, but was also hilarious to behold. During the entrance of the athletes, whenever a beautiful girl appeared, he began clapping, WOWing and his butt began lifting out of his seat, as if the gravitational pull of the screen were too great. Fittingly for a college audience, the rest of the auditorium followed suit: it turned into an international beauty contest. NBA players and Roger Federer drew huge reactions. But what really fascinated me was their reactions to each country:
Following rather gratuitous applause, my excitable neighbor explained simply that relationships are good between China and Pakistan. Same reaction for Cuba: “Because you two have the same style of government?” I asked in Chinese. “Exactly,” he replied. Others big reactions include North Korea, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and many of the Middle Eastern countries, including Iraq, Palestine and Israel. England, the US and Canada received polite applause, while Germany and Australia fared much better. Of note, whenever CCTV showed a dignitary, regardless of the country, the audience applauded soundly. I thought I heard some laughter during Bush’s applause, but I might have imagined it.
And then China came in, Yao Ming manning the flag. The reaction was grand, but not as great as I’d expected. But most of the crowd was on its feet, and I felt as if the games had really arrived at that moment.
Great opening, and an amazing way to see it!
Friday, August 8, 2008
Madness (and promises)
The city is buzzing right now with Olympic fervor. More on that later.
My language tutor is an Olympic volunteer, and he gave me a ticket to watch the opening ceremonies in the Peking University auditorium with all the other volunteers. In my estimation it's the next best thing to being at the Bird's Nest... if the crowds for the torch relay are any indication, this city is ready to get rolling. I imagine that these college students, many of whom have been putting tons of time into the games, will be a raucous crowd. Perfect.
The ceremony begins in about an hour (5AM California time). Needless to say, I've been busy, but I have posts in the works: Touristing, Great Wall Photos, the Summer Palace, Olympics (air quality), Chinese Friends, Dinner with American Friends and Life in General.
祝你奥运快乐！ Happy Olympics!
PS Also going to one of the biggest parties in the city afterwards. Huge rave in an old warehouse. Raves aren't normally my thing, but I'm stoked anyway.
My language tutor is an Olympic volunteer, and he gave me a ticket to watch the opening ceremonies in the Peking University auditorium with all the other volunteers. In my estimation it's the next best thing to being at the Bird's Nest... if the crowds for the torch relay are any indication, this city is ready to get rolling. I imagine that these college students, many of whom have been putting tons of time into the games, will be a raucous crowd. Perfect.
The ceremony begins in about an hour (5AM California time). Needless to say, I've been busy, but I have posts in the works: Touristing, Great Wall Photos, the Summer Palace, Olympics (air quality), Chinese Friends, Dinner with American Friends and Life in General.
祝你奥运快乐！ Happy Olympics!
PS Also going to one of the biggest parties in the city afterwards. Huge rave in an old warehouse. Raves aren't normally my thing, but I'm stoked anyway.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Friday, August 1, 2008
网到了！ － Internet has Come
Now I'm connected.
FIXED THE VIDEO! CLICK IT, it should work now.
Most recent youtube post: Temple of Heaven
PHOTOS! PHOTOS! PHOTOS!
Photobucket Link: GoldenBearTri
The trick will be finding time... out on the town tonight....
FIXED THE VIDEO! CLICK IT, it should work now.
Most recent youtube post: Temple of Heaven
PHOTOS! PHOTOS! PHOTOS!
Photobucket Link: GoldenBearTri
The trick will be finding time... out on the town tonight....
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