(I meant to post this last week on Friday, but in the hubbub of packing and studying for finals, I didn't get a chance to. Also, I will be posting many more pictures when I get back to the states because the internet here is simply too finicky to wait for the pictures to load):
Our lovely program has finally come to an end, and people have already started jetting back home half way around the world. At times like these, the rather sentimental atmosphere lends itself to thoughtful reflection on lessons learned.
For starters, the answer to every newly instated policy or obstacle is 奥运会, or the Olympics. It is clear that China views this event as much much more than a mere sporting event, despite what politicians say when challenged with protestors that use the Olympics as a sticking point. This is an opportunity to show the world what China is capable of, to show the West and the developed countries that China is fast on their tails, is fast catching up to them and will soon join the ranks of the world powers. What it has also, perhaps unintentionally, shown is that there seems to be no limit as to what China will sacrifice in order to "preserve face" for America and Europe. I was reading on NPR a couple weeks ago about the training schools that enroll kids as young as 3 to train to become Olympic gymnasts. If you look at the female gymnasts who recently competed, you will see that those from China are barely pubescent. This is also true of many other countries, but that does not make China's behavior any less indicative of its desire to compete among the best. China wants to send top-notch athletes and win gold and these girls will be the virginal sacrifices if need be, training relentlessly for their country.
On the ground level, Beijing has gone through radical transformations in preparation for the huge influx of tourists starting from 8.8.08. A couple weeks ago we were trying to find a vegetarian restaurant along QianMen (which we didn't due to my own stupidity) when we stumbled upon a fake street and long, fake walls which covered up neighborhoods of shabby and delapidated houses. The fake street was supposed to replicate "old traditional" China, but it lacked any real historical information beyond architectural style. There was nothing to do but to take pictures and wonder how many people were displaced so that lamp posts in the shape of birdnests could be built.
Later on one of my friends found the article in the Wall Street Journal which talked about this street and the nearby fake walls covering the houses. Apparently the government wanted to spruce up the place in time for 8.8.08, but when some residents refused to move they simply built a wall to hide the fact that these residents were living in slums. Again, to save face for the foreign tourists, China took some shortcuts when it should have gone the long way around and invested in fixing up these people's homes.
On the one hand, China is responsible for the shoddy workmanship and last minute fixes revolving around the Olympics. On the other hand, who is responsible for the pressure that creates the drive and necessity to take this route?
The National Indoor Stadium, where male artistic gymnastics was held.
The Court.
The view from the highest point of a mountain in Ten Crosses. That was an exhausting climb, exacerbated by the humidity. All the boys took off their shirts, but the girls did not have such an opportunity.
