Off the top, a programming note: Truman email is not working very well on the servers here. That means if you want to talk to Mark, you can email him at ramcard14@yahoo.com Today was definitely a day of marked contrasts, because we went exploring the area around the compound, including both the alleyways of rural Daxing around the compound and the very urban area of downtown Daxing. The one constant was that at every turn we were helped out my our new Chinese friends. The day began with the opening ceremonies for the tournament, featuring speeches from past winners, academics from Chinese institutions, and the VP of the Casio corporation, which sponsors the event. The whole tone was somewhat somber, as the government declared this the first of three national days of mourning for the victims
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