The Eve of the Big Day!

It was decided that Friday 8th August, was to be a 'holiday' for the city of Beijing, enabling all
the organisers and participants as well as guests, to have easy access to the Olympic area.
For the first time in a while, having a free day from work, left me at a loss what to do. So after
some deliberating, I arranged to meet one of my students and her husband for lunch and set
off to immerse myself in the excitement and atmosphere of the coming event, that had taken
hold of the city.

I decided to go to the city centre. Cola and other major companies had set up 'fun' sites
at major spots in Beijing, as well as enormous TV screens where one could see all the major
activities and sport events. I wandered into one of the shopping centers and browsed,
mingling with the crowds. There was an atmosphere of carnival in the air and people
were generally window shopping, except for the shops that had gone on Sale, were doing
roaring business, as if they were giving it away for free!

Lunch was a pleasant affair, in a restaurant that sold a mixture of Chinese, Thai and other
provinces food and for the first time I felt that the food I chose was similar to that that
I would eat back home. After lunch, we leisurely browsed through one of the multiple
bookshops that adorn Beijing and was thrilled to find, at a reasonable price, the 'Hello'

Ending the afternoon early, we decided to set back for home as we heard that all the streets
were to be closed and the possibility of catching a taxi seemed difficult should we wait too
long. Well, after standing out on a Friday night outside my office on a number of occasions
in the rain, unable to catch a cab and being pushed aside by an assertive Chinese boyfriend
wanting to prove his machoism to his girlfriend, I was determined to show my powers in
grabbing a taxi as it drew up!

On arriving back at my appartment, I settled down to watch the programmes that were
leading up to the opening ceremony of that night. I must admit that I had the feeling of
butterflies in my stomach, this was for me what I had come to Beijing for. I had chosen
China above other country possibilities for I wanted to be part of the Olympic experience
as well as see it with my own eyes.

As the show unfolded, there were moments as I am sure many an individual can vouch for the
same feelings, of wonder, beauty, amazement and pride. Yes, pride, even though this was not
my country, this was for me an alien place, so different of any other that I had seen or been
to in my life, I was proud at this moment to be there and experience these sensations even
though I was unable to afford or find an opening ceremony ticket, I think that the view on
my own television screen, was more than adequate.

The next day, I had a spring in my step, having watched a couple of weeks earlier how China
had opened its Shanghai doors to the refugees of Europe, the Jewish people who were trying
to escape from the tyranny of Hitler, I felt pride as I looked around the streets at the
beautiful floral arrangements that were lining the streets, admittedly the only thing that I
did not like, were the large red lanterns hanging from the lamposts, that I truly found a
little tacky.

Having been born in England, I was used to a country that is a specialist in putting on a show
of pomp and ceremony, but there is no question, that China surpassed itself in imagination,
celebration, ceremony and occasion. My only suggestion for future Olympics is that the
parade of the participants, which is their moment of glory, should somehow be reduced in
timing, either by letting them enter from two entrances at the same time, to shorten the
time spent, so reducing the level of the previous excitement felt at the show itself.

Well done China, I am truly happy and proud to have been part of this event, actually see
some of the sports taking place first hand and being able to discuss the events and feelings
together with my students, it was an honor and my only regret was that I was not there
for the closing ceremony and consequent discussion that would have taken place thereafter.