Beijing, Bicycles and a Very Big Wall

This week in photos

2008-08-21T06:08:00.013-04:00

I haven't had time to post about all of the things I've done this past week, but perhaps these photos I've captured do a better job of letting you know what I've seen.

People worshipping at the Lama Temple

Students sit inside a historic building at the Art District

A woman sits in front of a train outside the art district

Our professor displays her patriotism before the Gold medal softball game between Japan and the USA

A group of us stands in front of the Olympic rings, displayed near the U.S. House

Saved for a rainy day

2008-08-21T05:10:00.010-04:00

Although things on my blog have come to a temporary halt, things in China have not. We've been pretty busy these past few days as track cycling wrapped up (with the Brits dominating the competition) and now BMX has begun.

Kelsey and I sit at the press conference where Chris HOY (GBR) talks about winning three Gold medals. To his right is Jason KENNY (GBR), who took second place in the Men's Individual Sprint. In my opinion, Hoy was the one of the most articulate and genuine athletes I flash quoted -- and he was definitely touched by his Olympic success. He teared up during all three medal ceremonies.

The problem with BMX, however, is that the most miniscule amount of rain makes the outdoor track too dangerous for the riders. Thus, today's early rounds were canceled and scheduled to resume tomorrow. I can't say we were too bummed, as none of us wanted to stand out in the rain. So we hopped on the subway and made trip to the Silk Market to buy some final souvenirs before our trip expires.

BMX Course

Megan and me at the BMX course

Other than the number of hours we have been working, not much has changed at the office. There are, of course, athletes around every corner. Our job requires us to be aggressive with interviewing and approaching the competitors, so there's no time or space to be starstruck. Still, it's pretty crazy that we're surrounded by the best in the world, people who have been training their entire lives for an event that lasts only moments.

Tonight I am taking some time to pack up some of my things, do some laundry, and catch up with my blogs. Back home everyone is gearing up for school to start, so I've been kind of distracted planning for the semester. It's strange to think I'll be leaving within the week. Part of me is excited to return to America, but another part of me worries I haven't sucked up enough of this country; I feel like I've been here forever, but the time has gone so fast.

Track cycling kicks off

2008-08-15T22:52:00.002-04:00

The first day of track cycling allowed me to witness firsthand an Olympic record and a Gold medal performance by the Great Britain Men's Sprint team.

The team, anchored by favorite Chris Hoy, dominated competition, topping qualifying and then toppling long-time rival France to win its first gold medal in the Men's Team Sprint.

The United States qualified for the final spot in the first round after Poland was relegated by the race jury for deliberately riding on the blue band during the race in initial qualifying. Everyone I quoted from the U.S. said he was happy to qualify after the first round, though they were all disappointed they didn't perform better. Unfortunately, track cycling is not one of the U.S.'s strong sports, but it is growing. I think we'll make up for it with BMX.

Great Britain's Bradley Wiggins set an Olympic record with 4:15.031 during qualifying to better the previous high of 4:15.165 he set at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. The strong ride by the three-time world champion is promising for his bid to become the first cyclist to repeat as Men's Individual Pursuit gold medalist in Olympic Games history.

Aside from the excitement I felt at watching the events and interviewing the athletes post-qualifying rounds and final competitions, we all felt a bit dismayed at the mayhem in the mixed zone. I expected the mass of journalists, but the size of the mixed zone changed at the last minute, which was inconvenient for us. On top of that, some of the BOCOG officials limited the number of ONS volunteers who could be in the mixed zone to three, which puts some obvious obstacles in our way, especially after medal events. If there are four athletes in the mixed zone, for example, three ONS reporters cannot gather quotes from everyone, which means journalists who are unable to get down from the tribunes in time may not get the quotes they need to file stories.

Our managers are doing their best to work out the kinks for us and I expect things to be better today. We also have something to look forward to tonight because we are going to the Bird's Nest to see one of the track events. We don't get off work until 9 or 10 p.m., so we're able to see only the last event, but most people are just excited to see the inside of the venue.

Track cycling trivia

2008-08-15T22:31:00.002-04:00

Here is a list of interesting numbers of the upcoming cycling track competition at the Beijing Olympic Games.

6,000 - Spectator capacity at the Laoshan Velodrome, which is venue for track cycling at the Beijing Games.

198 - Height in centimeters of Jens Mouris of the Netherlands, the tallest rider in track cycling at the Beijing Games.

102 - Weight in kilograms of Carsten Bergemann of Germany, the heaviest track cycling rider at the Beijing Games.

57 - Medals won by France, the most by any National Olympic Committee (NOC) in the track cycling competition.

48 - Streak in years (1920-1968) in which Italy won at least one medal in the men's team pursuit at every Olympic Games.

43 - Age of Juan Esteban Curuchet of Argentina, the oldest rider in the track cycling competition at the Beijing Games.

22 - Number of Olympic sprint events held in the history of the men's track cycling competition.

21 - Medals won by the United States in 1904 in track cycling, the most by a single NOC at a single Olympic Games.

18 - Age of American Taylor Phinney, the youngest rider in the track cycling competition at the Beijing Games.

6 - Total medals won by American Burton Downing, the most by any rider in track cycling.

4 - Gold medals won by American Marcus Hurley, the most by any rider in track cycling.

3 - Gold medals won by France's Felicia Ballanger, the most by any female rider in track cycling.

2 - Total medals won by China in the track cycling competition at Olympic Games.

In case you were wondering ...

2008-08-12T09:31:00.002-04:00

This is what our lunch at the venue looks like every day. The rice is consistent and the other dishes tend to vary. This is also the average amount left in each of our trays at the end of our lunch hour, minus the girthy bananas and oranges that are green.

The art of pin trading

2008-08-12T09:09:00.003-04:00

Pictured above is my BOCOG accreditation, which is similar to my life in that it is marked primarily by my country, my school and now my trip to China. I have acquired these bits of flair hoping to participate in a popular game conventionally known as pin trading. Based on the amount of interest invested in this game, the International Olympic Committe may want to consider adding it as an Olympic sport for London 2012; I've already encountered several individuals with the potential to be gold medallists.

As you can see from my lanyard, I'm not yet an expert. The majority of the pins (with the exception of the Dutch shoes) were picked out and paid for by me, which somewhat defeats the purpose of the trade. But you have to start somewhere, and what better place than at the Olympics, surrounded by people from every country imaginable? The other day, for example, Lauren ran into some Americans who had pins coming out of their ears. This is their 12th Olympics, after all ...

I am most proud of my Dutch shoes, given to me by one of the officials from the Netherlands' cycling team. I'm looking forward to collecting additional bits and pieces from all over the globe so that my pass will reflect my appreciation for the diverse environment I'm experiencing.

Changing the perception of Americans, one cab driver at a time

2008-08-11T09:59:00.004-04:00

I mentioned a few posts ago some of the stereotypes that many Chinese seem to have about Americans. These include the idea that we are rude, lazy, overweight and fond of McDonald's. Although some (or maybe all) of these characteristics may be attributed to certain individuals, I have made it my personal mission to diffuse some of these pre-conceived notions; I want to prove to the Chinese that I come from a country full of thoughtful and genuine people, contrary to some of the "bad apples" they may have encountered in Beijing.

The trouble with my plan, however, is that few Chinese men and women understand enough of my English (or Manderin, for that matter) to appreciate my attempts at making friends.

But I have found a select group of people who are open to my mangled and modified forms of communication, and they're patient with my butchered pronunciations of words that make me sound like I have several dozen marbles in my mouth.

I'm talking about the taxi drivers of Beijing, who recently have been donning yellow suits for uniformity during the Olympics. Typically the members of our group try to avoid the taxi system, simply because we are able to take the subway for free with our Olympic accreditation. But there isn't much difference in price between the $3 cab ride and the free subway, although the comfort of a cab ride most of the time is enough to persuade me toward the latter.

A typical interaction between cab driver and myself begins with me trying to pronounce the name of the university where we are staying; I'm proud to say the number of times the phrase "Chuang mei dash wei" has successfully navigated us home has improved dramatically. Once we are on the road, the driver and I (I prefer to sit in the front seat) start to exchange the minimal words we know of each other's languages.

"Welcome to Beijing tax," he says.

"Ni hao (hello)," I say. "Xie xie (thank you)."

"Welcome to Beijing tax," he says, this time with more enthusiasm and a laugh."

"Mei Gua (American)," I say. "Olympics? Ting bu dong (I don't understand). Ni hao. Xie xie. Chuang mei dash wei. Xi men (West gate)."

"Xi men," he corrects. "Welcome to Beijing."

Then, after a series of hand signals pointing left, right and around the corner, the driver turns the radio on, which is usually playing Peking Opera, Chinese soap radio or really bad pop American music (the least desirable of the three options).

I am unsure how these taxi drivers perceive me; perhaps they think I am a silly American woman, although they seem interested in my BOCOG pass and my muddled attempts at discussion. But the other day I had a breakthrough that made me feel like at least one cab driver in the hundreds of thousands that roam the city had a very positive experience with someone from the States.

All I did was give him a pin, at the end of the cab ride, which displayed a shining American flag that I saw glittering in his hand even after I exited his car. It cost me a dollar at the Silk Market, but the smile on his face couldn't be bought. I don't know what he'll do with the pin, but I hope he sees it as a token of my appreciation for his country, and for welcoming me and my friends into his cab and taking us home.

Blog Potpourri

2008-08-09T06:13:00.012-04:00

Sometimes the day's events are so plentiful that they allow little time to blog. Nevertheless, I would like to ramble about what I've been up to the past few days, hitting on all the questions that journalists should never leave unanswered.

THE WHO

In the few days the athletes have been cycling around the velodrome, I've had the opportunity to meet and interview some of the most prominent people in the sport. On Thursday Lauren and I interviewed Arnaud TOURNANT (FRA) -- [proper ONS style] -- who won a gold medal at the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics and a bronze and silver medal from the Athens 2004 Summer Olympics. He is also the world record holder for the Kilo (1,000m time trial), which he set in 2001. This is no longer an Olympic event, but he has been training for the men's individual and team sprints. Another cyclist, Chris HOY (GBR), who is a friend of Tournant, got within 0.005 seconds of Tournant's record on his second attempt but failed to beat it. Hoy, who is also here to compete, told the media he could not have gone any faster, and he had even more respect for Tournant's talent after his effort.

Tournant is only 30 (many cyclists continue to compete into their late thirties) but he said this will be his last Olympics. Lauren and I were quite charmed by the athlete, who was pleasant and open during the interview. I could only hope that the rest of the cyclists would be as amiable. And we've had good luck so far.

On Friday I got to interview Levi HEIMANS (NED), who is competing in the Team Pursuit. I also got to write my first story about the guy, who quit track cycling after the 2004 Olympics to pursue his studies. He got a job as a bicycle courier in Amsterdam and was able to stay in good enough shape to qualify for Beijing. I love this job.

THE WHAT

They call them Fuwa, or "friendlies," and they are the official mascots of the Games. The five of them -- Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying and Nini -- together form the sentence "Běijīng huānyíng nǐ," which means "Beijing welcomes you." You can't go anywhere (subway, taxi, grocery store) without hearing this phrase because it is the chorus of the 100-day countdown song, a catchy jingle I'm struggling to learn.

The Fuwa made an appearance at the Laoshan Velodrome the other day, and we had ourselves a bit of a photo shoot. If you're following the Games on TV, watch for our friends. Jingjing, the panda, is my favorite. He's the one who holds the gun.

THE WHEN

8.08.08. The day for which the entire country was planning and waiting. It came and went yesterday with a bang, or more specifically several bangs that blazed across the Chinese sky in the form of star-spangled footprints. The Opening Ceremony seems to have left its audience in awe, as several have referred to the performance as the best yet. Maybe you saw them, the glittering green men who created a human Bird's Nest, or the spacemen spanning the solar system of the stadium, representing China's increasing presence in exploration beyond the earth's boundaries. Word on the street is that the performers spent more than 2,000 hours practicing. In the words of Chad Husted, "that's, like, a lot of days." With all of China (and the rest of the world) watching, I couldn't help but feel proud of the country and all its efforts.

THE WHERE

We celebrated the holiday at Paul's, surrounded by a group from the University of Delaware and a man from South Africa who is in Beijing supporting his sister, who is competing in shooting. It was a relaxed evening, but enjoyable. Megan and I plastered our American patriotism all over white T-shirts, just in case anyone had doubts about our origins.

THE WHY

As I write, I am watching CCTV, the largest TV station in China, which is broadcasting many of the events on several different channels. Already we've seen two women win golds in their sports, the culmination of lifetimes of training for 10 pure seconds of victory. That same 10 seconds can break the hearts of athletes who stumble, who crack under pressure or who give everything only to learn it isn't enough.

I remember watching the Winter Olympics as a child with my grandparents, mesmerized by the ice skaters and their shine. I wanted to be them, or at the very least meet them face-to-face. Although I still appreciate the Games for the sport, I feel as though I'm watching the competitions with a new perspective, one that stems from a a feeling that is raw and powerful. And it means more than silver or gold. The Olympic dream continues to pervade the politics, the controversy and the criticism that have clouded the event since the beginning. I am not an athlete, so I can't speak for them, but I've talked to them; I've seen their faces when they cross the finish line first. That's the reason I feel so inspired and thankful to be here, to get a front-row seat as history writes itself. It's not because I will ever have the chance to be an Olympic athlete, but because the same principles that guide and empower these champions can give anyone the agency to achieve greatness.

Third and best post of the night

2008-08-06T11:09:00.010-04:00

The past few days have been full interesting and enjoyable events, but what happened tonight after the birthday extravaganza cannot be ignored.

We're still not sure of the exact cause, but two showers on the eighth floor (including my own) began to spew thick, black liquid from their spouts. It seems to have cleared up finally, but for a while we felt as if we had struck black gold. Oil that is. Texas tea.

If you don't believe me, see for yourself ...

My roommate, Kelsey, holding the "clean water" after the whole ordeal.

Beijing Birthday (Part 2)

2008-08-06T10:40:00.006-04:00

Me blowing out candles on my amazing cake from the French bakery. Thanks Lauren!!!

Although I had an incredible night at the rehearsal of the opening ceremony, I missed out on a thoughtful surprise party organized by friends Lauren Harrington, Megan Jahrling and Traci Gillig. The three, with the support of many others from our group, have been planning the event for a while and were somewhat put out when my plans on Tuesday changed so suddenly.

But tonight, when we got home from the velodrome, I was greeted by a bed covered in American delicasies, desserts and dinner foods. Just when you think your birthday can't get any better, someone goes and buys you cheese and peanut butter. I don't know how she did it, but Lauren was even able to locate some milk (which I have not had since the day I left home) to supplement the Chinese version of Cocoa Puffs she found at Wal-Mart.

What remained of the American birthday buffet when all of us were full.

It was a feast, which featured pizza, fruit snacks, Chips Ahoy, PB&J sandwiches, Ritz crackers, potato chips, cream cheese, "donuts" that tasted like dinner rolls, among other things. But the best part, perhaps, was the cake -- a mound of deliciousness covered in whipped topping, kiwi, cherries and plums, loaded with pineapple bits -- that Lauren picked up from a French bakery after sneaking away from the group. About a third of what's left is beckoning to me from across the room, but I have to refuse because I am still recovering from the meal. It had the potential to be the most unhealthy combination of foods I ingested in one sitting during my entire stay in Beijing, but I won't let it keep me up tonight. Tomorrow is back to velodrome and back to the mystery boxed lunches so many of us have come to dread.

Beijing Birthday

2008-08-06T09:53:00.009-04:00

In Chinese culture, birthdays generally are not celebrated until a person turns 60. This is because it once was an extraordinarily ripe and unusual age and something to recognize. Although I have a few more years before I reach this milestone, I happen to be the oldest person in our group, which I believe justifies the fact that this may have been the best birthday I have celebrated for as long as I can remember.

Amy, Krystyna, Ernst and me standing in the National Stadium after the final opening ceremony rehearsal.

It all started Tuesday, when we arrived at the Laoshan Velodrome bright and early, hoping to interview cyclists who were scheduled to practice. The athlete turnout was disappointing, but we did a few interviews and got some flash quotes entered into the system.

Toward the end of the day, our supervisors informed us that Andy, our sports information specialist, would not be attending the rehearsal of the Olympic opening ceremony, so they gave me the option to take the ticket (because it was my birthday) or enter it into a drawing. I'm all for the good of the group, but this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up -- I think most people in my situation would have done the same thing.

I rode the subway to the Olympic Green with my supervisors, donning my snazzy blue volunteer uniform, and got a peek at the Water Cube and the Bird's Nest. I can't divulge too much of the ceremony (it's super top secret until after the big show) but trust me, you won't want to miss it. The 5,000 years of Chinese culture we've been learning about is all over the place, infused with lights and colors and spectacular visual displays. Also expect some guest performances by famous Chinese superstars, but I won't spoil the surprise.

After the show, which lasted 2 and a half hours, we took a stroll around the Olympic Green and got to see some of the most amazing feats of architecture up close. The pictures don't do these buildings justice -- the lights and colors would have dazzled me all night if I had been allowed to stay.

A Taste of the Olympic Green

A picture inside the National Stadium, before the show began. There are 2008 performers on the floor.

Charades: The Skeleton Key for Communication

2008-08-04T10:11:00.005-04:00

What message do you think this street sign is trying to convey?

Perhaps one of the most comical ironies I've encountered on this trip is the fact that I am often unable to pronounce the name of the university where we are staying, which includes the word "communication." Of the 10 times I've attempted to use the phrase, roughly pronounced "chuang mei da xue," it has successfully gotten me home only 50 percent of the time.

I'm afraid the pursuit of Mandarin capabilities has been mostly unsuccessful, as I have mastered only the key phrases one needs to survive:

Nihao (Knee how) - Hello
Zaijian (Zy chee-en) - Goodbye
Xiexie (Shay shay) - Thank you
Bu Yao, xiexie (Boo yow, shay shay) - No, thank you
Tai gui le! (Tye Que La!) - Too expensive!

Such verbal limitations mandate the mastery of another communication device, one I learned as a child and have been developing during my stay in Beijing. It involves the rapid movement of hands, the animated gestures of eyebrows, the occasional employment of a notebook and a hand-drawn image of (insert noun/verb/destination here).

This approach, I've learned, has been most successful with the cleaning ladies, who come into our room every morning to take the trash and sweep the floor. We can barely say hello to each other but have been able to communicate quite well, despite the lack of a shared vocabulary. It's because a wave is still a wave, a smile is still a smile, and a hand-drawn image of a plunger or a roll of toilet paper is as effective as if the words had drifted off my lips.

Another example took place the other day, when my roommate, Kelsey, was trying to explain to one of the cleaning ladies that the air-conditioner, which stopped working in the middle of the night, was leaking water. Pointing to our water cooler, and then to our air-conditioner, Kelsey effectively communicated the problem, but was unsure whether the woman understood. Rousing from a dream and utilizing the powers of context, I sleepily informed Kelsey that the cleaning lady "planned to call someone today." The lady responded by putting an imaginary phone to her ear, the universal symbol of a phone call. When we returned from work later in the afternoon, the problem had been solved.

Such are the daily miracles of communication, which never cease to amaze.

You can't find that in China

2008-08-03T08:17:00.007-04:00

Every time I talk to someone from home, one question is inevitable.

"Are you homesick yet?"

I can honestly say, to my own surprise, that I am quite happy in China and enjoying every minute of my stay. Each day is an adventure, and the novelty of unfamiliar foods and faces keeps me so occupied that I've had little time to pine for West Lafayette.

There are some things, however, I've been missing ... permit me to list them below:

ANDREA'S TOP 10 THINGS SHE MISSES FROM HOME

10. ICE - I've mostly adjusted to this by now, but it's rare to find a cold drink in China. Even the beer, most of the time, is warm. And if you happen to find a restaurant that serves ice cubes, it's best to avoid them ... our American bodies have not yet acclimated to anything but bottled water.

9. PUBLIC RESTROOMS - This may be an odd thing to miss, but everything is relative. So when you're squatting over a hole in the ground in a bathroom devoid of toilet paper and soap, the ones back home start looking a whole lot better. Even the dirtiest, smelliest bar bathroom in WeLa can't compare to some of the toilet facilities I've encountered on this trip. Not to mention, my backpack has morphed into a mobile pharmacy, replete with hand sanitizer and tissue to enhance the hygienic quality of trips to the latrine.

8. MY PILLOW - The quarter inch-thick bundle of sheet rock that's been posing as my pillow the last few weeks just isn't cutting it. Other people, of course, had the intellectual fortitude to purchase replacements at the nearest Wal-Mart, while I decided to tough it out. Unfortunately for my earlobes, the pillow has proven tougher than me.

7. TACO BELL - I rarely ate the stuff while in the States, so it's unusual that I've had such cravings for it here. Although KFCs and Pizza Huts are plentiful, there are only three Taco Bells in China, two of which are located in Shanghai. I doubt we'll be able to navigate ourselves to the third one before this trip is over, but I'm in the process of composing another Top 10 list, this one describing all the menu items I'll order at Chauncey upon my return.

6. CHEESE - There are so many delicious foods to eat in China, but as far as what I've been deprived of in this country, the cheese stands alone. It's not that you can't get it, although it's not of the same quality you will find in the U.S. Can't wait to get some Colby jack or mozzarella, or maybe a couple sticks of string. (OK, this is the last one for food, I promise ... )

5. DRIERS - It's been a month and I've done laundry twice. Well, I paid someone to do it once and the other time I washed my underwear and socks in the bathroom sink. Today was the first day I experimented with the CUC washing machines, which are located on each floor. Legend has it that the 10th floor washer plays 'Jingle Bells,' but I have yet to witness this phenomenon. The fun really begins once the spin cycle is done. Or, if you happen to launder your clothes in the 8th floor washer, where, conveniently, there is no spin cycle, then the fun begins after you hand-squeeze all the moisture out of your personals. As I type, there are 29 individual socks lined up on our windowsill like fallen soldiers (the 30th sock has been lost to the debris in the battlefield that is my floor). With any luck, they will be dry by tomorrow.

4. WORK - Despite the jobs we do at the velodrome, I find myself with a lot of free time, sometimes too much. I had to leave the Exponent in the middle of summer to attend this trip, and I find myself missing the challenging routine of the newspaper business. Once I return in August, I know there are going to be more long hours of school and work and, of course, the imminent job search that I will undertake in preparation for my graduation in December. I'm looking forward to increasing my personal productivity level when I get back.

3. HOT SHOWERS - Most of the showers I have taken here have been warm, at best. Enough said.

2. HENRY - My cat, who, for obvious reasons, could not come with me to China. And yes, his eyes really do glow like that ... sometimes ...

1. THE PEOPLE - You know who you are. Miss you guys. Eat a taco for me.

Something to ponder

2008-08-02T04:15:00.004-04:00

It wasn't until I began working for the Exponent, Purdue's independent student newspaper, that I discovered how badly I wanted to be a part of the complicated and lively universe known as mass media. With the help of my peers and advisers at the Exponent, I have learned a great deal about the responsibilities that go hand-in-hand with being a journalist; why it's important to present both, if not multiple, sides of an issue, the danger of bias and why it's crucial to maintain the highest standards of credibility.

That's why, in the past few weeks, I've been a little embarrassed by some of the news articles I've seen from newspapers all over the world that seem to be twisting and manipulating, or at least exaggerating, certain aspects of a country that mesmerizes me. There have also been multiple verbal attacks from American news anchors, many of which, based on my experiences in Beijing, have been unfounded.

We've been hearing accounts about limited Internet access for journalists who are covering the Games; I can't speak for everyone, but I have been able to access every site I've tried from the CUC. We've also been told about mass-rioting at ticket booths for the Games, but I think this is a misrepresentation as well. From my perspective, thousands of people in China are working day and night to make sure the Olympics are successful, and it's disappointing to hear only negative reports from the media. Each country that hosts the Games is going to encounter its own set obstacles, but now that Beijing is under the world's microscope, some things seem to be presented out of context.

I want to encourage everyone back home to use discretion when reading about what's going on here, because what you see and hear may not always reflect an accurate picture.

The march of the Blue Army

2008-07-31T11:08:00.011-04:00

We are the newest additions of what is affectionately known as "the blue army." And we are now in boot camp. Over the past few days, we have scrambled to ingest the anatomy of the events we will be covering, as none of us are exactly cycling experts. And though names like the individual pursuit, the Keirin and the Madison once sounded foreign and strange to me, I am developing a seed of devotion to the sport of cycling, which, after some research and understanding, has become remarkably interesting to me.

It hit me strongest today when standing in the mixed zone watching the Chinese cyclists practice on the track. The mixed zone is the area where we, the flash quote reporters, along with other journalists, will stand to interview the cyclists after their race. It's located directly behind the platform where they present the medals, although this causes logistical conflicts because the athletes have to circle around to walk through the mixed zone. Moreover, a gaggle of journalists is not the most appealing backdrop for the medal ceremony, but the organizing committee has informed our superiors it cannot be changed. So if you happen to be watching any of the cycling medal ceremonies on NBC (the lone U.S. TV station with rights to broadcast the Games), look for the dopey, brunette American in the background with a bucket hat and a bright blue bib that says ONS.

Most of our training days include mock press conferences, simulations of mixed zones and drills designed to prepare us for various situations that may arise once the Games begin. I'm thankful for all the practice, and the ONS reporters (Ernst and Amy) have been extremely helpful and supportive. They have been pretending to be the most notable cycling athletes so we can practice our interviewing and note-taking skills. The athletes vary from Theo Bos, from the Netherlands, a young sprint cyclist who is one of the favorites, to Guo Shuang, a woman cyclist from China who we saw practicing on the track today. Other notable athletes we've learned about include Taylor Phinney, an American and the youngest cyclist to compete in the individual pursuit event. Phinney got involved in cycling only about three years ago, but both of his parents have competed in prior Olympic Games. It's probably a long-shot for him to win a medal, but he has a lot of talent for someone with so little experience. His father is suffering from Parkinson's Disease, so there will probably be a lot of interest from the media.

Most of these facts can be derived from the information program we use at the venue, which stores athlete bios, statistics, pictures and fun facts. For example, did you know that there is a cyclist named Kamakazi? Formerly Jamie Hildebrandt, the BMX rider legally changed his name about two years ago after a friend offered him $200. And then there's Katie Mactier, from Australia, who was a businesswoman in advertising until she quit her job when she was 25 to pursue racing. She is engaged to Greg Henderson, a New Zealand cyclist, who lives with her in Spain. They will both be at the Olympics this year.

There are a lot of people, faces and details yet to learn, but every day brings more clarity. We have Friday off and will return on Saturday to do another mock press conference for mountain biking, this one for the moderators. They are going to practice reacting to unforeseeable circumstances in interviewing situations, similar to what we've been working on all week. All the cyclists are scheduled to be practicing on the track by Tuesday, so I'm hoping for a chance to interview some of them before things get too crazy. And, due to the shortage of reporters for our venue, it looks as if there might be an opportunity for some of us to write a few short stories for ONS.

Tales from a Beijing subway

2008-07-30T08:37:00.007-04:00

It's more than an hour-long commute from the Communication University of China to the Laoshan Bicycle Cluster. The hours spent on the subway, however, especially to and from the venue, tend to be some of the most interesting of my day.

Take yesterday, for example. Until then, all of our subway excursions had been timely and efficient, if not mildly crowded and uncomfortable. Imagine our surprise, then, when we observed the massive line extending from the subway entrance, down the ramp and almost into the street. When you're in a country that rarely observes the custom of queuing, the sight of hundreds of people waiting can be daunting, especially when you are trying to make a good impression during your first few days of work.

Luckily, the length of the line was deceiving and we were in the subway in no time, happy to be out of the impending threat of tardiness. But the real adventure, one that is not for the timid or the feint of heart, does not begin until you board the train.

It's a science, actually. Or perhaps an art form, one that can be mastered only with the sincerest observation, dedication and practice. For those at the CUC, it begins at the Si Hui transfer station, where we burst from the subway doors into crowds of people, all of them clambering to the same destination. It's a mad dash up the steps, around the corner, dodging floor mops and suitcases, back down the stairs, jockeying for a front-row position at the transfer train. If you're lucky, your mission will not be obstructed by the occasional unhurried individual. But one false step or hesitation puts you at the back of the line, where you're doomed. The train, previously empty, will have no seats and little standing room, but the unhurried individual you passed earlier will have caught up with you by then and will smash until there is nothing left to smash.

Some trains are better than others. Five out of 10 will have air-conditioning, and many of the new lines feature English-speaking instructions, in case your powers of observation are less than par. And when the woman on the subway intercom instructs you to get ready for your arrival, she's not messing around; it takes at least 1.5 minutes to maneuver yourself in a position where you can see the subway door, let alone exit it.

I'm sure the subway experience here is similar to that of stations in other metropolitan cities, most of which I have not visited. But I suspect the crowds will continue to get worse, specifically due to the influx of visitors for the Olympics, as well as the new policy for traffic control. Cars with license plates ending in odd numbers can be on the street only on odd-numbered days, and vice versa for the even-numbered plates. Thus, more people are sure to use the public transportation system, where they are apt to find me, smashed against the window waiting for the next stop.

Another taste of the velodrome and uniform extravaganza

2008-07-28T07:42:00.012-04:00

We have not had an official photo shoot, but here is a sneak peek at us in our uniforms, in all our glory. We received the gear (three shirts, two pairs of pants, three pairs of socks, one bucket hat, fanny pack, water bottle and really cool sports jacket) this morning. Women received the bucket hats and men received the baseball caps, so some of the women were a little irked at drawing the short stick in the hat lot. But, like other mild inconveniences from this trip, we will make the best of it.

Aside from trying on our uniforms, we got another look at the Laoshan Cycling Cluster, mostly the velodrome. We also met two of the ONS reporters with whom we will be working (Ernst, from the Netherlands, and Amy, from Australia). They have a vast knowledge about all of the events we will be covering, so they shared with us some tidbits about the different races.

Most of the cycling events take place within the velodrome, which houses a track that is 42 degrees at its most extreme angle (pictured below). The cyclists go around the track at speeds of about 50 mph, depending on the race. Their bikes are high-tech creations (some designed by NASA) that are so light you can pick them up with one hand, with little effort. And, despite their small size and low weight, they can cost more than $150,000. Very unlike the rickety cycles we rode around the city the other day.

There were many more volunteers at the venue, most of them Chinese. Their job descriptions range from distributing lunch to other volunteers and staff members to making sure that everything is in order within the facility. I also saw a few volunteers practicing for the medal ceremony, so you definitely get a sense of excitement as the Games approach.

One World, One Panda

2008-07-26T12:11:00.006-04:00

"Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. And today is a gift; that's why they call it the present."

These are the wise words uttered by Master Oogway, a sage-like character in the Dreamworks animated film Kung Fu Panda, which I saw tonight at the Wanda theater complex. We chose this movie because of the lack of Western films playing in Beijing, but also because we were looking for a mindless form of entertainment.

What I experienced during the movie, however, turned out to be one of the most culturally educational and eye-opening experiences thus far.

The movie is about an overweight, underachieving, noodle-serving panda (Po) who dreams of becoming a Kung Fu master. After unwittingly becoming a dragon warrior, the panda (voiced by Jack Black) learns some valuable life lessons and ... well, you'll have to see the movie, but it follows the typical Disney/Dreamworks/Pixar formula of self-realization, infused with humor that even adults can appreciate.

The movie was in English with Mandarin subtitles, although there couldn't have been more than five Westerners in the theater. It's probably worth mentioning that this was our third attempt at seeing the flick, which had sold out the previous two times we tried at two different theaters. Even though this movie has been out for a while in Beijing, interest doesn't seem to have subsided. The theater was full, and the reaction of the audience taught me that some things transcend cultural boundaries. For example, a fat and endearing panda is going to be funny in any country, in any language. This may sound trite, but in a place where so many things are different from what I'm used to, it was nice to be able to participate in the viewing of a movie and feel like I was experiencing the exact same emotions as the Chinese people surrounding me. We laughed at the same jokes. We cringed simultaneously when viewing the maladies the inexperienced panda had to endure when being tested by his Kung Fu master. And I think it's a safe bet that, at the end of the show, we all left with the same light-weight and happy feeling that you always have after a movie like that.

There were also details in the film that I can appreciate more now that I have been exposed to certain aspects of Chinese culture. The importance of the dragon, for example, the use of chopsticks, the knobs on doors that signify societal status, the dumplings (also known as dim sum, a meat- or bean-filled cuisine) are things I would have overlooked were it not for the past three weeks.

So, even though there are thousands of miles and differences that separate China and the U.S., tonight was a perfect example of how humans, all over the world, are indefinitely linked, even if it takes an animated panda to prove it.

The Kingdom of Bicycles

2008-07-26T10:58:00.007-04:00

Beijing is widely known as the Kingdom of Bicycles, even though cars and the automotive markets in China are undergoing vast change. These developments mean the bicycle, which was once the favored mode of transportation, is becoming more of a machine for leisure rather than necessity.

But you can't spend seven weeks in Beijing and not become an active participant in the bicycle culture. Sometimes it seems like herds of bicyclists can be more of a threat to pedestrians than the automobile traffic, simply because they are so numerous. But today, four of us put on our baseball caps, our sunglasses and our running shoes, ready to view our surroundings from the quick-paced seat of a two-wheeled vehicle.

We started our adventure a bit frustrated because it was difficult to locate bikes for rent around the Forbidden City. But once we did, each of us paid 20 RMB (about $3 for two hours), and our self-led bicycle tour began. We were off, zipping in and out of the allocated bike lanes, around taxis, past hutongs, through crowds of people, all while trying to avoid the occasional city bus that happened to cross our path. We were sweaty, to say the least, but we were exhilarated. It took a while to adapt to the aggressive nature of Beijing traffic, but here are some helpful tips if you ever find yourself in the area:

1) Always go around approaching automobiles from the left, especially when encountering a bus. Your Western intuition will tell you to go right, but you'll find the traffic much easier to navigate as opposed to the crowds of people on the sidewalk who, more than likely, will not part to let you through.

2) Horns, bells and whistles are crucial when bicycling in Beijing. We learned this the hard way. This is the best method to communicate with other cyclists and pedestrians to warn of any potential collisions. No horning, no warning, and chaos is sure to ensue.

3) As opposed to what you may encounter in aggressive traffic areas in the U.S., the drivers here are, for lack of a better description, pretty friendly. They honk a lot, but we've come to the conclusion that honks here are drivers' way of saying, "I am rather close to your car/bike/body, excuse me please," as opposed to the more abrasive honk of the Westerner, which, mostly in its undertone, is loaded with profanity and irritation. This theory, of course, has not been tested, but we have yet to encounter any signs of road rage. This, we decided, is a good thing.

Racing for Tickets

2008-07-24T23:14:00.006-04:00

Today two of my peers and I had the brilliant idea of getting up in the wee hours of the morning to make it to the Main Press Center, where we hoped to purchase tickets to a variety of Olympic Games. After a 45-minute jaunt on the train and a brisk walk past the Bird's Nest, we realized we had sorely underestimated the local interest in the approaching event, as a chunk of the 17 million people in Beijing had been queuing since the night before. Some, we were told, had been waiting for more than 48 hours. In fact, when we got there (roughly an hour and a half before the tickets were to be sold) an English-speaking Chinese woman told me she had heard there were more than 300,000 people waiting in line to purchase the coveted passes. Some Google news searching tells me this number was a high estimate, but the crowd was larger than any I've seen during my visit, including the crowd at the flag-raising in Tian'anmen Square.

As we walked past the barricades, most of those waiting were sitting, sweating, sleeping, playing cards; however, all seemed content to be within at least wishful distance of the ticketing booths. Needless to say, we three Americans really missed the boat on this one. I was in such a careless hurry to leave the CUC that I forgot my camera and was unable to document the masses of eager spectators. But thank God for the Internet, where I was able to gather the following details:

First, buyers have been limited to two tickets at the same competition, but officials have said this last batch of 820,000 tickets are for events at every venue (most notably the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube), if not every event. This may be the reason why 10,000 people stood in a line that snaked around the ticket booth by Thursday, despite the 95 degrees Fahrenheit heat. And, as you might expect, conditions such as these tend to make people a little testy, but those who got pushy were quickly removed by police.

The cost for the Games range in price, some of the most expensive being those for the opening ceremony. These tickets go for about 5,000 yuan, or $670. Other sporting events go for as cheap as 30 yuan, or $4.50, such as the softball preliminaries. But even these seem to have been snatched up.

Standing at the starting line of the BMX track at the Laoshan Bicycle Cluster. This is the first year BMX will be recognized in the Olympic Games.

I guess we'll keep hoping for a miracle in the mad dash to witness Olympic dreams come true, but we're all thankful to have access to the Laoshan Bicycle Cluster, the venue where most of those from Purdue will be working. We got a chance to tour the facilities Wednesday and were all a little awestruck. Work and training will continue on Monday, so watch for updates. Until then, I plan on doing some more site-seeing, including a probable tour of some Hutongs (or alleys where locals reside, filled with interesting shops and culture, culture everywhere) and I'd love to visit the Lama Temple, the largest and most spectacular in the city, which is home to monks from Mongolia and Tibet. I am also hoping to make time for a bicycle tour of the city, especially now that I have purchased a pair of comfortable shoes.

Silkworm kabob, and other treats at the night market

2008-07-21T13:24:00.005-04:00

The first taste of the night, followed shortly by sheep testicle and octopus.

As one of the pickiest people in our group, I am proud to declare that I have earned significant street cred with my counterparts on this trip. It all started with an innocent suggestion, made by peers Traci Gillig and Lauren Harrington, that we visit the Beijing night market, aka a schmorgesbord of what most Westerners would consider bizarre and unusual (though edible) items. My original intent was to look and not touch, but there's something about the atmosphere that lures you in. Maybe it's the vendors yelling "I love you, beautiful girl," and "Will you marry me? Come try some scorpions!" Or perhaps it's the novelty of the food, most of which is grilled/fried on a stick, that gives you additional gumption, while your friends (who have just ingested the most intimate parts of a sheep) stand beside you documenting what's about to occur and offer just enough peer pressure that you just can't say no.

So I did it. I ate a big, fat silkworm, shell and all. It was fried. It was crunchy. And I'll never do it again.

The thing is, once you taste one shocking thing, it's difficult to draw the line as you continue meandering down the market. Even items like starfish, seahorse, sheep testicle and octopus (all of which I tried) begin to look appealing, simply because once you defeat your gag reflex, it becomes a game to see who can eat the least desirable food.

Unfortunately, I did not win this competition. I couldn't bring myself to try the scorpion, the bees or the snake on a stick, while Traci and Lauren basically slurped it up like a wet noodle. But thank God for baby steps, because we've made plans to visit the night market again in the near future. We all agree we probably would not eat any of the food again ... unless dared, and this scenario is fairly plausible based on the challenge that ensued after we returned to the university from our adventure. The deal was that I would bring back something for the guys to try, but it had to be something I ate myself. Armed with video footage from my camera, we charged into the boys' room with five greasy silkworms on a stick that we smuggled onto the subway. I don't think any of them expected it, but a deal's a deal. So, one by one, they ate the grubs (about the size of large cherry tomatoes and, at that point, cold).

Random treats on display at the night market.

Lauren, Traci and I eating sugar-coated fruit.

A weighty issue

2008-07-21T05:36:00.004-04:00

According to one of our travel guides, a common stereotype the Chinese have about Americans is that we are big and loud. I'm not sure about the loud part ... but when an average-sized American has to purchase XXXL clothing in Beijing, it's difficult to dispute the size difference between the two cultures.

I've been thinking about this a lot since I got here. There seem to be several reasons why the majority of the people here stay slim, while so many Americans battle obesity, or struggle to maintain a healthy weight and diet. First, there is a significant difference in the types of cuisine offered in Beijing. There are more vegetables and fewer carbs. Even dessert is uncommon in most of the dinners we've shared as a group. Typically, you know the meal is over when the waitresses bring out watermelon and other fruit -- no ice cream or chocolate cake to top off your dinner. But I think the type of food plays only a minor role. Another difference I have noted is that it takes longer here to finish a meal due to the use of chopsticks, rather than a fork. It's like moving handfuls of hay with your fingers as opposed to shoveling hay with a pitchfork. The chopsticks almost force you to take smaller bites and to eat more deliberately.

Perhaps the most interesting difference as it relates to health and fitness is the emphasis on daily exercise. Every morning, dozens of people can be seen walking or running on the track next to our dorm. There are older people who walk backward and wave their arms to increase circulation, while younger people jog or play soccer and basketball. There are also little parks around the city where you can find exercise equipment (it looks somewhat like a playground) and it's not uncommon to see people doing stretches on these machines. I know there are many people in the U.S. who spend a lot of time getting in shape and keeping fit. But here it seems like staying healthy is just a normal part of everyday life, rather than an initiative or a goal. In addition, there is less emphasis on TVs, computers, gaming systems. Even movie tickets are fairly expensive here for the average citizen, so many people find alternative and healthier ways to occupy their time. For example, the guys in our group have been playing basketball with the locals (and yesterday broke their winning streak, losing four out of seven games).

Moreover, there are tons of things to see in the city, so there is always a lot of walking to be done. It's been only two weeks, and many of us feel that our pants are getting looser around the waist. Just the other day, four of us spent about two hours walking before we were able to see the tomb of Mao Zedong. The irony of the situation? We were in hot pursuit of McDonald's breakfast. So I guess at times it's hard to shed the "supersized" mentality of the West, but maybe some of these healthy habits will stick with me when I come home.

Beijing Zoo

2008-07-18T11:40:00.009-04:00

Today I had a chance to see some of the most intriguing animals at the Beijing Zoo. Among them were the giant pandas, who don't seem to shy away from spectators. As you can see from the picture, they come right up and stare you in the face, despite the dozens of people who photograph them and pound on the glass to get a reaction. We saw about six in all -- two outside and three inside. Below is some information about the giant panda from the Smithsonian National Zoological Park.

Giant pandas live in a few mountain ranges in central China, in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces. They once lived in lowland areas, but farming, forest clearing, and other developments now restrict giant pandas to the mountains. The animals live in broadleaf and coniferous forests with a dense understory of bamboo, at elevations between 5,000 and 10,000 feet.

The giant panda is listed as endangered in the World Conservation Union's (IUCN's) Red List of Threatened Animals. There are about 1,600 left in the wild. More than 160 pandas live in zoos and breeding centers around the world, mostly in China.

Read more about giant pandas here.

There were other animals at the zoo as well, most notably the

tigers and the monkeys. Unfortunately for these, their cages were not as spacious as the panda habitats.

Although there were several varieties of animals at the Beijing Zoo, it was a lot different from some of the zoos in the United States. All in all, a fun experience, and a nice day for the excursion.

Steak & Eggs, please

2008-07-17T11:52:00.004-04:00

After nearly two weeks of family-style dining, food courts and random dashes to Wal-Mart, our group has decided to take a more proactive approach when it comes to cuisine. It's not that the food isn't good ... on the contrary, I've thoroughly enjoyed discovering new things, even if I have to wait until after I swallow before I find out what I have eaten (take, for example, the cow's stomach I unknowingly ate about two days ago, thinking it was bamboo). I've liked nearly everything I've tried. The thing is, a person can handle only so much surprise and only so much novelty before she or he has a craving for something a little less diverse.

Luckily, (thanks to our ONS Manager Krysyna) we have discovered a place where the beer flows like a (cold) river and the menu is in English. That's right, I'm talking about Paul's Steak & Eggs, a local diner that serves both Western- and Eastern-style meals.

Paul, the owner, was actually at the restaurant during our meal, making sure the eggs came out just as ordered and that our group was satisfied. We were. Across the table, we ordered meatball subs and grilled cheese and spaghetti and burgers and steak and french fries. And the food was delicious, just enough of a taste of home to placate our appetites.

I have a suspicion we'll be frequenting the diner in the near future, as it seems to be the best Western food we've had so far. They will also be showing the Olympics on NBC, so we'll be able to watch at least some of the games in English.

In addition to Steak & Eggs, we've tried a few other restaurants, each with its own style of cuising. For example, tonight we ate Mexican food; the general consensus was that the food rated between a four and a five on the 10-point scale. But hunger makes everything taste better, and there weren't too many complaints, except that it's difficult to eat an enchilada with chopsticks.

Chinese talk show

2008-07-16T03:11:00.009-04:00

On Monday night, many international volunteers attended what we were told is a popular television talk show on CCTV, the largest news station in China. I have never been to a talk show before, so I was unsure what to expect. As with most of our adventures here, it was a new and interesting experience.

The theme of the show took a close look at Olympic volunteers, which was the reason we were invited. One of the guests was an 88-year-old Chinese man who had recently applied to be a volunteer, although he has yet to be accepted by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG, the organization in charge of everything related to the Games).

Other guests on the show included two young girls, one of whom was partially deaf and one of whom was blind. The one who had no vision had drawn what the host explained was a self-portrait, which had been reprinted on a T-shirt to raise money for disabled children. The money will be used to transport them to Beijing so they can watch the Olympic Games.

All of the show was in Chinese, however we were able to understand because the producers provided head sets, where the conversations were translated into English. There were even opportunities for audience members to interact with each other and participate with the host, who was clever and got quite a few laughs out of all of us. During part of the program, he had volunteers from Australia interview volunteers from the U.S. (and vice versa) about preparation and training. The show has not aired yet, but we were told we would be notified when it does.

Beijing Opera

2008-07-14T03:05:00.005-04:00

On Sunday we went to the Beijing Opera, where five from our group (including myself) had VIP seating. We were able to get a close look at the costumes and makeup of the performers. Although I wasn't able to follow the entire story, I know it was based on actual historical events. The opera, titled "Marriage of the Dragon and the Phoenix," is a story about a Chinese princess who marries a warrior.

The dragon and the phoenix are two of four animals that the early Chinese considered magical, spiritual and benevolent (the other two are the tortoise and the unicorn, but the dragon is most revered). When the dragon, representative of the emperor, is paired with the phoenix, feminine for the empress, the two together represent both aspects of imperial power. The phoenix alone embodies the entire cosmos; the head of the cock (the sun), the back of a swallow (the crescent moon), the wings (the wind), the tail (trees) and feet (the earth). It is also a bridal symbol signifying "inseparable fellowship." But this is not solely for the married couple; it is also representative of the mutual interdependence of the yin/yang, in terms of duality.

According to my traveler's guide, the colors of the performers' painted symbolize the individual characters' qualities. Red, for example, represents loyalty and courage, while purple stands for solemnity and a sense of justice.

Getting ready for the games

2008-07-13T23:06:00.005-04:00

Sunday was the final day of our three-day tour of Beijing, where we saw several highlights of the city. In response to reader comments, it's true that many of the things I have written about thus far have been the traditional tourist attractions. I'm looking forward to seeing more of the area and the local people, as well as some of the buildings in the urban part of Beijing, which I've seen but have not had a chance to photograph. From what I'm told, the city has had significant developments in the last few years. It seems fitting to note that yesterday was the seven-year anniversary of the day Beijing officials were notified that their bidding to be the host of the 2008 summer Olympics had been successful. Construction workers are still in the process of finishing up projects for the games, which are now 25 days away. But Krystyna, our Olympic News Service Manager, has been to the venue where we will be working and said things are right on schedule.

The city definitely has Olympic fever. There are signs everywhere, and even special roads have been constructed for the sole purpose of hosting Olympic vehicles. We caught a glimpse of the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube, two facilities constructed for the games, and they were astounding. I hope to be able to post photos once we get a chance to tour the Olympic Village.

I would also like to clarify the title of this blog. Although the bicycle is one of the primary modes of transportation here, this is not the origin of the title. I chose to include bicycles simply because I will be working in the cycling venue for the Olympics as a flash quote reporter, a representative of Purdue University. And although nearly every person in Beijing owns a bicycle, there are multiple ways to get around. There are about 3 million cars in the city, which is a large jump from about a decade ago, but our tour guide, Henry, said owning a car is viewed as a luxury. That said, we have yet to see a rusty vehicle. But other modes of transportation are accessible and eco-friendly. The subway and bus systems are inexpensive, and I personally prefer walking because many sites are relatively close.

Henry also said the government is instituting a method to curb traffic during the Olympics. Those whose license plates end in an odd number will be able to drive on odd-numbered days, and vice versa for those whose plates end in even numbers.

Pictured above: This facility was built for the Olympics, the top of which resembles a torch.

The Great Wall of China

2008-07-12T08:26:00.006-04:00

Well, this is what everyone comes to China to see. And now I have seen it. Climbed it. And lived to tell the tale.

First, some history about the Great Wall.

The Wall, one of the seven man-made wonders of the world, was built, rebuilt, and maintained between the 6th century BC and the 16th century to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire from attacks during the rule of successive dynasties. Several walls, referred to as the Great Wall of China, were built since the 5th century BC. The most famous is the wall built between 220–200 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, although not much remains; it was farther north than the current wall, built during the Ming Dynasty.

The structure stretches over 6,700 km (4,160 miles) in total. At its peak, the Ming Wall was guarded by more than one million men. It has been estimated that somewhere in the range of two to three million Chinese died as part of the centuries-long project of building the wall.

According to traditional Chinese folklore, anyone who climbs the Wall is a true hero. So I guess I saw lot of heroes today. There were hundreds of people on the wall, part of which was closed off due to a visit from the president of Mexico.

Parts of the wall are extraordinarily steep, so in some places young children have to cling to the rail on the side and pull themselves up the steps. Other parts are flat, where you can rest and look out at the mountains, or the rest of the wall that spans as far as the eye can see. It's difficult to describe in words; even pictures don't do it justice.

Today was the first blue sky we've seen all week, so it was a perfect day for the trip. We walked to one of the highest peaks we could find before turning back for the bus, and I think it's an understatement to say we were all exhilirated and a little dumbfounded. When walking down, my legs were so fatigued that they were shaking. A few people slipped on the rock, and I saw one woman who had passed out from heat exhaustion. But I wish we could have spent more time there, because I don't know when I'll have the chance to go back. It was by far the most majestic and impressive thing I've seen in my life.

Peking Duck

2008-07-12T07:58:00.005-04:00

On Friday, the 200 international Olympic volunteers had the opportunity to feast on one of China's most prominent dishes; Peking Duck. It was the most delicious food I've had since I've been here.

Basically, the ducks are killed when they are very young, when the meat is most tender. At the restaurant, the chef brings out the cooked duck and cuts it into small pieces. Each piece consists of the duck meat and skin, which is served on a tray in the center of the table.

Many of the meals we've had here have been family-style dinners. In other words, about 10 to 12 people sit at a circular table. In the middle are liters of Coke and Sprite, as well as large dishes, from which everyone serves his or herself. The center of the table rotates, making it easy for everyone to access every dish.

The servers bring out dish after dish every time; there is always so much food, but it makes an interesting experience for a Westerner. I have eaten something I've never tried before at almost every meal. Most of the time the dish is some kind of chicken, pork or beef with a vegetable.

The duck dinner was a little different. After the duck meat is placed on the table, you dip the strips in a special duck sauce and make what we would think of as a burrito or a sandwich. You can also add cucumbers or onions if you want. After the meat is served, the cooks take the ducks' bones and grind them up for soup, which is supposed to be served at the end of the meal. We were running behind, however, so I didn't get to experience this dish. Some were disappointed. I was silently relieved.

Oliver in the Forbidden City

2008-07-10T09:10:00.005-04:00

I think the video below might speak for itself, so I'm going to keep this post brief. A long story short, we went to the Forbidden City and took a small tour of the outside. The kid in the video is Oliver, and he spoke very good English. He even charmed us with Karen Carpenter's "Yesterday Once More." Later, we took a taxi into the center of Beijing and received full body massages from the workers at a massage spa, some of whom were "blind." I wasn't sure I would survive it ... it was one of the most physical experiences of my life, but I felt great afterward. We had to wear some pretty interesting looking pajamas, and the massage therapists definitely did not shy away from any kinks in our muscular make up. I wanted to tell the guy who was massaging me to take it easy, but the language barrier prevented it. Instead, any motion or reaction from me encouraged an even more violent knead, pinch, slap, punch, etc. Lauren was one of two people in our group to have a blind massage (apparently these are supposed to be better because they have an adept sense of touch and can locate trouble areas more efficiently). I think Lauren would beg to differ, though. Her massage took place two beds away from mine, and I could hear it all the way across the room. "Why did he punch my legs?" she asked us afterward. "Why did he try to pull my head off?" Tomorrow we are getting up early to begin a three-day tour of Beijing, hosted by the Beijing Olympic Committee. So all 200 of the international Olympic volunteers will have the opportunity to see the Beijing Sewer treatment plant, as well as some of the rural areas. We are also invited to a welcome dinner, featuring Peking duck, which I've heard is delicious. **Video having technical difficulties ... will try to post later ....

So you want to be a flash quote reporter?

2008-07-09T11:13:00.004-04:00

Today we had a meeting at 9:30 a.m. with representatives from the university, who gave us a brief talk on Chinese customs, history, and traditions. It's about 5,000 years of all of the afore-mentioned, so we didn't quite get it all covered, as you can imagine.

After we signed our volunteer letter of agreement and received our SIM cards, we split into two groups (guys in one room and women in another) to try on our volunteer uniforms. This was a feat that several of the females found troublesome, including myself. The uniforms, pictured earlier in this blog, are not made with Western bodies in mind. Thus, A XXL size pair of pants was not ridiculously big on me, although I did end up opting for a size smaller. But some of the guys in our group weren't even able to try pants on because they didn't have their sizes available. The same goes with shoes. It's a little difficult to adjust to this because even the shortest Americans here seem to hover over the Chinese. It makes you feel a little like a giant.

But we also met our ONS (Olympic News Service) manager, Krystyna, and she gave us more information about our venue, which is cycling. It seems that there are enough volunteers for this venue, so they will be moving some of us to volleyball. I'm not particular about which sport I work for, as it all sounds exciting.

(Before I forget to mention it, Lauren unknowingly ate a cube of pig's blood and said it was the most horrendous thing she's ever tasted, although she did manage to swallow. Just wanted to throw that out there ...)

OK, back to our meeting with Krystyna ... we found out that there is no possible way for us to attend the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. We may, however, get to go to the dress rehearsal the night before, and we're all crossing our fingers. A lot of things seem to be up in the air.

After our meeting, we dined on pork, beef and vegetables,and it was superb. I am getting the hang of using chopsticks, but I did drop a chunk of pepper in my Sprite. Patrick Qi, a member of our group who has become sort of like our unofficial tour guide, scoffed at my clumsiness.

Some of the other girls and I ventured back into the city in hopes of locating the infamous pearl market. I thought we were there yesterday but, like most of the items in the silk market, it was just an imitation. So we will be finding it soon enough. Mom, Kimber, I've got your back.

Tonight we were going to go to a massage spa, where the people hang their hat on being blind. It turns out it is a 30 minute drive, so we decided to wait until another time. Tomorrow we're touring the Forbidden City, among other things. I'm sure I will write more then.

The American and not-so-American side of Beijing

2008-07-08T09:52:00.003-04:00

Our second full day of life in China allowed us to locate some comforts of home. In the morning, we took a tour of the campus where we are staying and we exchanged money at the bank. Then we broke into groups and rode the subway to the pearl/silk market, while others went to the local Wal-Mart. Yes, they have Wal-Mart here, and it's surpisingly similar. Other than a few additional items (such as live fish and turtles in the meat section) the products are pretty much the same. The carbonated drinks taste almost identical, and we were even able to buy name-brand products such as Tide.

The two people I was with (Jane Natt, our instructor, and Christina, who shared a plane trip with me) and I decided to venture into the shoe and purse market where I got a very bad deal on one pair of shoes, and an excellent deal on two others. All I can say about the shopping experience is this; it's amazing. There is so much more interaction here than in the U.S., and it's almost like a game trying to get the best bargain possible. (By the way, Lesley, if you're reading this, they sell imitation Coach purses here ... what's the going rate for a hand bag? I might be able to afford you a good knock-off).

Christina, Jane and I decided that we wanted to see the Wal-Mart, so we tried to navigate our way through the train system. We ended up at what we thought was the Wal-Mart (it had a big sign) but every floor we found had items that you might find at Macy's. Turns out the Wal-Mart was actually behind the World Shopping Center, so we bought a few necessities and went back to campus.

Once back, everyone had decided they were in the mood for pizza, so we trekked back to the subway and rode it to where we had just left to Pizza Hut (an upper-scale version) and had the first American food we've had since our arrival. They had a lot of different choices there; some people got the seafood pizza, which had crab and shrimp, and some got some other toppings you wouldn't find in the U.S. I settled for cheese, and it was completely satisfying, though I did try a bite of the seafood pizza.

All of the students from Australia are here, so our training really gets going tomorrow. I found out that we are going to the Beijing Opera at the end of the week, and also taking a tour of some other local sites. Hoping to make it to the Great Wall, but forecasts are predicting rain. I guess we'll see.

Beijing Welcomes You

2008-07-07T07:48:00.004-04:00

We have officially survived our first full day in Beijing. And what a day it has been.

My plane arrived yesterday around 1:50 p.m., but Christina Harp (another person from our group) planned to wait for two other people who were coming on a later flight. We struggled a bit because we couldn't figure out when their planes were coming in, but we eventually realized they were coming into a completely separate terminal. So we found the tram to take us to the right spot and finally found them.

Our dorm rooms are much better than I expected. Each room has its own shower (despite the fact that the shower head hangs almost directly over the toilet). But the toilet is not in the ground like I feared, although several in the airport were. We even have air-conditioning and, as you can see, Internet access, so I have no complaints.

Here are my first impressions and lessons from China:

1) Everything is so cheap here! At the airport, I exchanged a $50 bill in American money for 248 RMB, which is their form of currency. This was not a very good deal, either, because $1 in U.S. money is worth about 6 RMB. Still, that amount has lasted me through three meals, a long taxi ride, about seven extra large bottles of water, two to three fairly expensive (by American standards) souvenirs and a train ride to and from Tian'an Men Square. And I still have a decent amount left from that initial $50. Just to give an example, the first meal we ate in China (just four of us who arrived before everyone else) consisted of eight large chicken wings and five bottles of water. It translated into about three American dollars. Today we did a little shopping and we got to try our hand at haggling. It was definitely an experience (just ask Lauren Harrington) ... basically, you walk into a store and there are about three to five people waiting to try to make a sale. There really is no such thing as just browsing. So if you show an interest in anything, the sales men and women are right there to help you/suggest another purchase or begin the bargaining process. So you have to overcome two barriers: one is the language difference and the other is determining how much you are actually willing to spend on an item. It's trickier than I imagined, but it makes shopping a lot more fun and engaging.

2) The language barrier has been difficult, but the people here have been patient and helpful. Many don't speak English, so it's an adventure trying to do anything as simple as ordering a meal. Basically, we have just been pointing to Chinese characters on menus and hoping to get lucky. The food has been delicious so far. I don't feel that I've eaten anything too exotic ... it's mostly chicken and beef, and rice with almost every meal. Today I bought what I thought was a dinner roll, but I bit into it and it had beans mashed up in the center. I didn't like it, but maybe it's because it wasn't something I was expecting. I also ordered something at a cafe that looked like gravy. I think it was some sort of hot, thick tea. It tasted a little like berries.

There is so much to see and experience here. Tomorrow we are going to spend a day touring the city, even though we saw a little of it today.

The first picture featured here is of the plush mascots of the Olympics. These are everywhere. There is definitely Olympic fever in the city. The other picture is of a father and daughter in the city.

2008-06-27T15:30:00.004-04:00

Here is a very rough schedule of our first week's activities, submitted to us by the International Exchange & Cooperation Department. Some of the items on this list are a bit vague, but at least I know we'll be busy.

July 6--July 8 Group or individual arrives in CUC, Check in International Exchange Center of CUC.

July 9, 09:30-10:30 am, an English Lecture on Beijing history & Custom, C405, International Exchange Center (The same building of accommodation), CUC

14:00, Meeting with Beijing Organizing Committee, C405, International Exchange Center, CUC

July 10, Free activities

July 11-13, Beijing City Tour (Organized by Beijing Organizing Committee, but not decided yet)

July 14, Free Activities

July 15-Olympic opens, Venue training and service

Also, we were assigned roommates for the duration of our stay. My roommate's name is Kelsey; actually, we were on the same debate team when members of the Beijing Olympics Committee came to evaluate our note-taking skills. Lauren is going to be staying exactly one room away from me, so we're pretty excited about that.

Aside from these updates, nothing much is new. The trip is one week away from today, and there are so many things I haven't done to prepare. I still need to pack and clean up the apartment t where I'm staying. Also, I need to get an international cell phone (my dad's suggestion) so that "if I get the urge to call him when I'm on the Great Wall, I can."

Crossword puzzles and hand sanitizer

2008-06-22T16:31:00.003-04:00

On Saturday, my family and I went to Asahi Japanese steakhouse to celebrate my approaching departure from the states. The chef couldn't understand why we chose to eat Japanese food when I am going to China, but really there was no good explanation, so I didn't try.

Laura was kind to bring me a goody bag of items she deems necessary for any international adventure. Some of the items she included were hand sanitizer, Tylenol, a crossword puzzle book for the plane ride and, most importantly, she said, anti-diarrheal medicine. She didn't get sick when she went to India last year, but it never hurts to be prepared I guess.

Lauren and I have secured our Visas, so the only thing left for me to do (besides pack) is to get my Hepatitis A & B shots. These are recommended but not required.

2008-06-15T18:40:00.000-04:00

By the way, we're staying at the Communication University of China. Here is a picture of our accommodations, which I'm told are complete with washers but no driers. The bathroom facilities remain a mystery ...

The countdown has begun

2008-06-15T18:18:00.002-04:00

Only about three weeks before I'm bound for China. My plane leaves on July 4 for Newark (spending the holiday with my good Jersey friend, Mike Westervelt, who promised to show me the town) and I should arrive in Beijing in the middle of the day on July 6. According to the e-mails I've been receiving, I'm one of the first three to arrive from our group, followed five hours later by Lauren.

On Friday, Lauren and I went to the Chinese Embassy and Consulate in Chicago to obtain our visas, and we both agree that the approaching trip is beginning to feel very real, and neither of us can believe it. It's going to be a surreal experience, no doubt. Apart from the occasional anxiety attack, I am looking forward to July.

One of our requirements for the class is to blog five times a week, so I thought I'd try to get used to it early. Never kept a blog before, but I'm sure I won't have much problem finding things to write about.

One of the first things we get to do when we arrive is try on our volunteer uniforms, pictured here. I'm quite excited about the sun hat and fanny pack.