Blogs from Olympic Park, Beijing, China, Asia - page 8

Before you go and visit the Tian'anmen Square or The Forbidden City, before you venture out to see the Great Wall, or go to the Temple of Heaven or Bei Hai Park or Tiantan Square, First go to the nearest barber shop and get a haircut. It is a truly unique experience. On Sunday, my first Sunday in Beijing, I decided that it was time for me to get a haircut. I have lived with long hair (relatively long hair) for most of the summer and I've really liked it. But now it was time--I had moved on to another part of the world, I was hoping to get some basketball-playing in while I was here, and would need to get rid of the mop on my head. John and Liu Lan dropped me off at ... read more

The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing are less than one year away. Whenever I speak to a Chinese person about it, they smile proudly. Touching their belly they tell me, the anticipation gives them "stomach-butterflies". The Summer Olympic Games are more a topic and of greater consequence in the Capitol of China itself, which will host most venues. In other cities "the Games" are perceived more abstractly, where the average Chinese are pre-occupied with improving their living standards. In Shanghai, the games are almost scoffed at, as they prepare for "their" more important World Expo 2010. But it does fall to Beijing to showcase the changing China first. China has entered the World-Family of Nations, and to turn back the clock is unthinkable for the Chinese. National Pride, in being recognized by the world, is bountiful ... read more