Today was a really good day, but it was rather long. We had to be at the velodrome at 10:30 to start training for the day. We had a pretty average day of training, ran through a couple mixed zone and press conference scenarios. Also, we had our first team training out on the track today, the Chinese national team! It was cool to see some bikes out on the track but they weren't doing much, just kind of pacing around. But I think that led to our first story for the Games! Tuesday marks the day when training starts! So we get to watch the teams and hopefully get to talk to them after and get quotes (and maybe write some stories)!!
After work around 4:30 we went to a teashop and saw a ceremony, which was pretty cool. The man who owns the shop is also an Olympic Volunteer and he treated us to his tea, it was very nice (and very good)! This was to the very west of the city, the last stop on the subway, so it was almost rural and people were very surprised to see us out there. We had a group of kids run out and say, "Hello!" to us.
For dinner we went to a five star restaurant and it was SO GOOD! I really, really liked it and it's only a 20 minute walk from our venue (20 minutes here is a very short period of time), It was all the ONS staff at dinner and it was just so nice to get to know everyone outside the office and relax after a good day of training!
We were supposed to have the next three days off, but it turned into just tomorrow. Saturday and Sunday will be half days though. I think I am going to go to the Temple of Heaven tomorrow and then just kind of relax.
One thing that is really nice is that we are getting to know our Chinese coworkers better. Li and Eric are two flash quote reports that we are starting to hang out a lot. Even outside of work I have hung out with Li a lot, so we are getting to see their personalities more and they are getting our humor more and it's great to see them open up! It's nice to make some friends from China! Today was a long day but a great day. This isn't even half of why they day was so great. I just had a good time hanging out and getting to be social with everyone.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Love/ Hate Relationship
So I have found myself in a love/ hate relationship here in Beijing.
I love the Beijing Subway, yet I hate the Beijing Subway. I like how it is such a cultural part of the average Beijinger's life to ride on the subway very often, if not everyday. I like being around all the people and just being submerged into the Beijing culture. Many visitors to Beijing are just that, visitors, but I am beginning to feel more and more like I live here. I shop for food, I can navigate my way around the subway and I am making some Chinese friends. I know that I will be here just shy of two months (which is apparently the length of time where you can say you "lived" somewhere), but I am going to say I lived in China for a summer, cause that's how I feel. There are other times when I don't like the Beijing Subway so much. It can be hot if you have an older car, crowded to the point of being literally shoved in (not too often though) and people often stare at me hardcore. I get that they don't often see westerns but sometimes they bluntly stare even when we make super awkward eye contact. Once I look away though they still stare for minutes! It's like, "alright people, have your look and get back to whatever you were doing before I got on the train." But overall I like the Beijing Subway because of the culture of it and the people. People watching is kinda fun, it's a good pastime. I like to just put my ipod in and look around while riding the subway. As a western though it seems there is always a set of eyes on you while riding.
On the subway, seats are like gold as I have said before. They are really for the elderly and children but not everyone always obeys that rule, a lot of passengers do though. If I do get a seat I will normally keep it unless someone noticeably older is around or a woman with a baby or small child. As for other adults, I kinda feel like they know they probably won't get a seat so I don't normally move for them. Plus there are so many adults if I just gave my seat to one in a crowd that would be weird. I have only gotten a seat six times or so but I normally give it up after a couple of stops when someone who I think needs it more gets on.
Another random note, children normally have a big hole in the seat of their pants. I guess it's for using the bathroom, but babies and young toddlers normally just have no butt on their pants or don't wear pants at all. Once I was at a McDonalds and a lady sat her son on the counter for awhile even though he didn't have a bottom on his pants. I was like, "um... not hunger anymore." What happens though when the child does start going to the bathroom though...? What's going to catch it? That I do not know, and I am not sure I want to.
Today we had training again at the Velodrome. The past two days we have been practicing quote taking and have had mock press conferences and mock mixed zones trails. Our mixed zone (where we do the interviews) is SO COOL! It has a great view of the track and we will probably stand there a couple of times during medal ceremonies which will be so cool. It may move though, but it will be awesome anywhere it is. I have the coolest job ever! I am so excited cause cycling is such a neat sport! I didn't know a whole lot about it before but now I am going to love it! Being here is such a blessing and such an awesome experience! I can't wait 'til the Games start!
I love the Beijing Subway, yet I hate the Beijing Subway. I like how it is such a cultural part of the average Beijinger's life to ride on the subway very often, if not everyday. I like being around all the people and just being submerged into the Beijing culture. Many visitors to Beijing are just that, visitors, but I am beginning to feel more and more like I live here. I shop for food, I can navigate my way around the subway and I am making some Chinese friends. I know that I will be here just shy of two months (which is apparently the length of time where you can say you "lived" somewhere), but I am going to say I lived in China for a summer, cause that's how I feel. There are other times when I don't like the Beijing Subway so much. It can be hot if you have an older car, crowded to the point of being literally shoved in (not too often though) and people often stare at me hardcore. I get that they don't often see westerns but sometimes they bluntly stare even when we make super awkward eye contact. Once I look away though they still stare for minutes! It's like, "alright people, have your look and get back to whatever you were doing before I got on the train." But overall I like the Beijing Subway because of the culture of it and the people. People watching is kinda fun, it's a good pastime. I like to just put my ipod in and look around while riding the subway. As a western though it seems there is always a set of eyes on you while riding.
On the subway, seats are like gold as I have said before. They are really for the elderly and children but not everyone always obeys that rule, a lot of passengers do though. If I do get a seat I will normally keep it unless someone noticeably older is around or a woman with a baby or small child. As for other adults, I kinda feel like they know they probably won't get a seat so I don't normally move for them. Plus there are so many adults if I just gave my seat to one in a crowd that would be weird. I have only gotten a seat six times or so but I normally give it up after a couple of stops when someone who I think needs it more gets on.
Another random note, children normally have a big hole in the seat of their pants. I guess it's for using the bathroom, but babies and young toddlers normally just have no butt on their pants or don't wear pants at all. Once I was at a McDonalds and a lady sat her son on the counter for awhile even though he didn't have a bottom on his pants. I was like, "um... not hunger anymore." What happens though when the child does start going to the bathroom though...? What's going to catch it? That I do not know, and I am not sure I want to.
Today we had training again at the Velodrome. The past two days we have been practicing quote taking and have had mock press conferences and mock mixed zones trails. Our mixed zone (where we do the interviews) is SO COOL! It has a great view of the track and we will probably stand there a couple of times during medal ceremonies which will be so cool. It may move though, but it will be awesome anywhere it is. I have the coolest job ever! I am so excited cause cycling is such a neat sport! I didn't know a whole lot about it before but now I am going to love it! Being here is such a blessing and such an awesome experience! I can't wait 'til the Games start!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Velodrome Training
Today we worked at the Velodrome again, we had to be there at 11 so we left around 9 o'clock and were half an hour early, so we are still figuring it all out. The train was very crowded this morning, so I didn't get a seat until the last couple of stops, oh well.
The final touches of the velodrome seem to be coming together nicely! The 'look and feel' has really been put into it! The actual velodrome has been done for a while, I just mean all the media items, posters and things.
Today we were standing on the bottom part of the track getting the races explained to us by a journalist we are working with and it hit me, I am at the Olympics!!!! It has really just seemed like I have been in Beijing but looking around and being in a venue and seeing "Beijing 2008" posted everywhere with some Chinese music playing it actually made it really! It is SO cool to be able to see where everything is going. We get to stand by the medal podium, inside the platform by the start line where the officials will be, we get to walk on the track (the lower part where the bikes don't race). In a few days we won't be able to but it is just so cool to be at these places where in a few weeks hardly anyone will be!
Track Cycling is one of the main events at the Olympics and also one of the oldest, it has been apart of the games since 1896 when the first modern Games where held. The atmosphere in the sold out velodrome is going to be amazing! I am very excited to be there!
For the first week the two journalists (one from Australia and one Holland) will be at road cycling, so WE will have the chance to write stories! If we come up with good ideas, find the athletes, interview them during their training and can write a clear, concise, good story then we have the chance to! I don't have very much experience with sports writing, I did a little in high school but it hardly amounts to anything, so I don't know if I will write a story or not, but we will see!
Today we also worked our way through the INFO2008 system, which has all the info on the events, sports and athletes and plenty of stats. So we looked up some of the hopefuls and of course I stalked Michael Phelps and some other well-known athletes. This is an intranet system so this info isn't available but on the computers at the venues! It's fun to type in people's last names and see if there are any athletes competing with the same name. There is one guy with the last name Myles-Mills (I think), but he is an African from Ghana, so I don't think we are related.
We also got out uniforms!! I am so excited! We have to wear them now so people are going to look at us even more! There are only 2,000 international volunteers and I have yet to see any of them. People often read our accreditation cards while we ride on the subway. I have had some people grab it to get a better view and I just want to say, "um... excuse me!?!" But oh well, it makes me feel kind of important, haha. I am excited but nervous about all the training that's on the way! We will be training now from Monday - Friday until the Games. I'll keep you all posted.
The final touches of the velodrome seem to be coming together nicely! The 'look and feel' has really been put into it! The actual velodrome has been done for a while, I just mean all the media items, posters and things.
Today we were standing on the bottom part of the track getting the races explained to us by a journalist we are working with and it hit me, I am at the Olympics!!!! It has really just seemed like I have been in Beijing but looking around and being in a venue and seeing "Beijing 2008" posted everywhere with some Chinese music playing it actually made it really! It is SO cool to be able to see where everything is going. We get to stand by the medal podium, inside the platform by the start line where the officials will be, we get to walk on the track (the lower part where the bikes don't race). In a few days we won't be able to but it is just so cool to be at these places where in a few weeks hardly anyone will be!
Track Cycling is one of the main events at the Olympics and also one of the oldest, it has been apart of the games since 1896 when the first modern Games where held. The atmosphere in the sold out velodrome is going to be amazing! I am very excited to be there!
For the first week the two journalists (one from Australia and one Holland) will be at road cycling, so WE will have the chance to write stories! If we come up with good ideas, find the athletes, interview them during their training and can write a clear, concise, good story then we have the chance to! I don't have very much experience with sports writing, I did a little in high school but it hardly amounts to anything, so I don't know if I will write a story or not, but we will see!
Today we also worked our way through the INFO2008 system, which has all the info on the events, sports and athletes and plenty of stats. So we looked up some of the hopefuls and of course I stalked Michael Phelps and some other well-known athletes. This is an intranet system so this info isn't available but on the computers at the venues! It's fun to type in people's last names and see if there are any athletes competing with the same name. There is one guy with the last name Myles-Mills (I think), but he is an African from Ghana, so I don't think we are related.
We also got out uniforms!! I am so excited! We have to wear them now so people are going to look at us even more! There are only 2,000 international volunteers and I have yet to see any of them. People often read our accreditation cards while we ride on the subway. I have had some people grab it to get a better view and I just want to say, "um... excuse me!?!" But oh well, it makes me feel kind of important, haha. I am excited but nervous about all the training that's on the way! We will be training now from Monday - Friday until the Games. I'll keep you all posted.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Antique Market
This morning I was going to get up at 6 a.m. to try and buy Olympic Tickets; however, last night the lines were already 8,000 people long and my morning there were over 300,000 people waiting at the ticket office, my classmare who went was told by a police man. So, I slept in.
Today my friend Li took me to an antique market and it was really, really cool! We had to take the subway and then take a bus (my first time in Beijing) to get there. There are over 900 bus lines here in Beijing, so Li says he tries to avoid it when possible, I am sure they can get confusing. I got this really neat bottle that has a dragon with a ball of fire painted on the inside. I also got an incense burning for a friend and a ring. It was not too expensive, the bottle was my biggest "splurge." The saleswomen started out high and wouldn't go down, so we left in hopes that she would say, "no no, okay" but she didn't! So we went back later and I got an okay price, but by that time she knew I wanted that hand painted bottle! I was really happy I got it though.
After the antique market we went to this really big mall! I mean, really big! One of the escalators was 6 stores high, so that was cool! We ate at this Italian place and got pizza, they had nice prices and the food was good. That's one thing I really like about China, everything is cheap! Lunch costs maybe $3 or $4, so when I get home I am going to be so spoiled, "What! $8 for lunch!!???!!"
Later in the evening we watched two movies, Juno and Kung Fu Panda (that's right, I watched it... in China). I still have the next two days off and I am not sure what I'm going to do, maybe see the Temple of Heaven or the Olympic Park, I will play it by ear!
Today my friend Li took me to an antique market and it was really, really cool! We had to take the subway and then take a bus (my first time in Beijing) to get there. There are over 900 bus lines here in Beijing, so Li says he tries to avoid it when possible, I am sure they can get confusing. I got this really neat bottle that has a dragon with a ball of fire painted on the inside. I also got an incense burning for a friend and a ring. It was not too expensive, the bottle was my biggest "splurge." The saleswomen started out high and wouldn't go down, so we left in hopes that she would say, "no no, okay" but she didn't! So we went back later and I got an okay price, but by that time she knew I wanted that hand painted bottle! I was really happy I got it though.
After the antique market we went to this really big mall! I mean, really big! One of the escalators was 6 stores high, so that was cool! We ate at this Italian place and got pizza, they had nice prices and the food was good. That's one thing I really like about China, everything is cheap! Lunch costs maybe $3 or $4, so when I get home I am going to be so spoiled, "What! $8 for lunch!!???!!"
Later in the evening we watched two movies, Juno and Kung Fu Panda (that's right, I watched it... in China). I still have the next two days off and I am not sure what I'm going to do, maybe see the Temple of Heaven or the Olympic Park, I will play it by ear!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Days Off
We have another four days off, I am really begining to think I am here on vacation, but that will soon change I'm sure. Some of the Purdue girls are flying down to Shanghai in the morning and will be gone through Sunday. They had a little (and when I say "a little" I mean "A LOT OF") trouble with getting their tickets but I think it all worked out.
Today I had lunch with a chinese friend I made at my venue. He is actually going to be a flash quote reporter just like me, so we will be working together! He took me to some place in one of the hutongs and I just pointed at what I wanted and he told the waitress, haha. At work yesterday he asked me where we are staying and I told him the name and started to explain where it was and he was like, "Um... yeah... I am a student there and I live there too." I was like, "Of course I would try to explain to someone who already knew where it was, I would." Haha. After lunch we watched a movie with some of the australian students.
After that I took a little nap, I thought I was all adjusted to the new sleep schedule but then I took a nap and throw it way off again. So I drugged myself with three sleeping bills to no avail.
Tomorrow Olympic Event tickets go up for sale so we are getting up at 6 a.m. to try and get a spot in line. I really hope there are some seats left for some sort of swimming or diving event. ANYTHING! All the tickets have been "sold out" for months, but really? Has any prelim match of say ... a track and field event ever been sold out for a morning session? No, so they cannot ALL be sold out. So we will hope for the best, but I shall exspect the worst so I won't be too disapointed if nothing happens. As for the weekend, who knows? I will just be hanging out in Beijing. I know that Hairspray is coming to Beijing fror the next week, so I hope to see that!
Today I had lunch with a chinese friend I made at my venue. He is actually going to be a flash quote reporter just like me, so we will be working together! He took me to some place in one of the hutongs and I just pointed at what I wanted and he told the waitress, haha. At work yesterday he asked me where we are staying and I told him the name and started to explain where it was and he was like, "Um... yeah... I am a student there and I live there too." I was like, "Of course I would try to explain to someone who already knew where it was, I would." Haha. After lunch we watched a movie with some of the australian students.
After that I took a little nap, I thought I was all adjusted to the new sleep schedule but then I took a nap and throw it way off again. So I drugged myself with three sleeping bills to no avail.
Tomorrow Olympic Event tickets go up for sale so we are getting up at 6 a.m. to try and get a spot in line. I really hope there are some seats left for some sort of swimming or diving event. ANYTHING! All the tickets have been "sold out" for months, but really? Has any prelim match of say ... a track and field event ever been sold out for a morning session? No, so they cannot ALL be sold out. So we will hope for the best, but I shall exspect the worst so I won't be too disapointed if nothing happens. As for the weekend, who knows? I will just be hanging out in Beijing. I know that Hairspray is coming to Beijing fror the next week, so I hope to see that!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Venue Tour
Today we got to head out to our venue, the Laoshan Bicycle Cluster. It is a straight shot west of where we live, we hop on the subway and ride it all the way through Beijing to the western part of the city. So basically... seats on the subway are like gold here, seriously. When an empty train comes and the doors open up you would think some one was giving away money and adorable puppies for free. As soon as those doors open people RUN after a seat and do all in their power to get one. As I like to say you must "man up and hold your own!"
Knowing about this "local running of the bulls" as one of my fellow students called it, we where in for the ride. We hopped off at the first transfer station, sprinted to the other side and held our own waiting for the train. We knew our ride was gonna be about 50 minutes and our eyes were on the prize, that golden nugget that is a seat on the Beijing subway.
It was tense, our feet planted, elbows out trying to fight off our contenders. "Hold your own, hold your own!" I whispered to my self as the empty subway car was coming to a stop, "eye on the prize!" The doors finally opened, with elbows out defending my terf I plunnged forward to a seat, and I GOT IT! Five out of six of us were able to score in this game of Beijing Subway life. Now, I've never won an Olympic gold medal, but I assume it would feel a lot like that.
Once we got to our Venue we went through security, and then got a tour. We saw the ONS office (where we will spend a lot of time), the huge media office, the photo work rooms and then the mixed zone, where we will actually interview the athletes. The Velodrome is HUGE! Way bigger than I thought it would be. We got to stand in the middle of the track and then we got to actually walk out on the track. The part of the track where they actually race is probably to steep to walk on for long periods of time. It is really, really steep! It's so cool though. We saw the press tribunes and the TV camera stations. There were a bunch of girls in the middle practicing there dance with an inflatable Fuwa character. We also got to tour the BMX venue and we saw the start and finish of the mountain bike course! It was really, really exciting. The best part!?! FREE cold Coke, Sprite and water! It was really cool to finally get to see my venue, I am excited to get in there and have more training, which will be Monday morning.
Knowing about this "local running of the bulls" as one of my fellow students called it, we where in for the ride. We hopped off at the first transfer station, sprinted to the other side and held our own waiting for the train. We knew our ride was gonna be about 50 minutes and our eyes were on the prize, that golden nugget that is a seat on the Beijing subway.
It was tense, our feet planted, elbows out trying to fight off our contenders. "Hold your own, hold your own!" I whispered to my self as the empty subway car was coming to a stop, "eye on the prize!" The doors finally opened, with elbows out defending my terf I plunnged forward to a seat, and I GOT IT! Five out of six of us were able to score in this game of Beijing Subway life. Now, I've never won an Olympic gold medal, but I assume it would feel a lot like that.
Once we got to our Venue we went through security, and then got a tour. We saw the ONS office (where we will spend a lot of time), the huge media office, the photo work rooms and then the mixed zone, where we will actually interview the athletes. The Velodrome is HUGE! Way bigger than I thought it would be. We got to stand in the middle of the track and then we got to actually walk out on the track. The part of the track where they actually race is probably to steep to walk on for long periods of time. It is really, really steep! It's so cool though. We saw the press tribunes and the TV camera stations. There were a bunch of girls in the middle practicing there dance with an inflatable Fuwa character. We also got to tour the BMX venue and we saw the start and finish of the mountain bike course! It was really, really exciting. The best part!?! FREE cold Coke, Sprite and water! It was really cool to finally get to see my venue, I am excited to get in there and have more training, which will be Monday morning.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
The Day Before the End
Tomorrow morning marks the begining of our work. The begining of the end of our little vacation. I am sure we will have some more time off, but nothing like the past two and a half weeks. We are meeting our Venue Manager tomorrow at 1 p.m. It should be about an hour and a half by subway then a 20 minute walk to our venue. We live in the eastern part of Beijing and the cycling venue is way on the western side of Beijing, of course. But I am excited to tour the venue and get an idea of how our work is going to play out for the next five weeks! If we are lucky we will get out uniforms and our work schedule, but I can already tell you that our schedule is not bad at all! The cycling races don't start until day seven of the Games, so the first week will be us at the venue watching the athletes train and getting to know them. After that, there is only ONE day that has two shifts, the other days the races don't start until 4:30, so we will have to be there around maybe 3. Other students have sports that start at 8 a.m., and have to be there AT 6, so they have to get up by 4:30 a.m. to even make it to their venue! So I won't complain about my work schedule.
Today I went shopping, the mall was SO big! I went into this store and the girl who greeted me followed me around the entire time... always two paces behind me. It was annoying. She said something in chinese, and I looked at her like, "I have no idea what you are saying" so she said it again three times. Finally, she goes, "do you speak chinese?" I was like, "Um.. I think you should know the answer to that by now." Only... I really said, "no." I just walked up and down the store about six times (really) and it was about the size of an Old Navy, everytime I touched something she would come up and grab my size and I would have to be like, "no thanks" in chinese. She then would carry the stuff I did want for me, it was just weird, I don't really need to be catered to like that. At one point she looked at her co-worker and made a face like, "Can you believe this guys!" so I just smiled. I wanted to be like, "Look here girl, I didn't ask you to follow me around so don't get a tude!" I did end up buying a shirt. It's just diffrent how they try to help SO much, there is just a line between good help and annoying help. I just want to look on my own and if I need a diffrent size then you can help me. Even when out to dinner, you will have the menu and they will just wait right over your shoulder as you flip through the pages. It just makes you feel rushed, so that's a cultural diffrence. Also, when shopping I feel like they expsect me to spend a lot cause I am a westerner. They say, "oh, this color!" or bring jeans over and are like, "these ones, ok?" and I am like, "dudes, no... I wasn't looking at either of those things, I will buy what I want when I want! So lay off!" Of course I am nicer than that and just say, "no thanks" and smile. Costomer service is just diffrent over here, one of the many diffrences I observe.
Today I went shopping, the mall was SO big! I went into this store and the girl who greeted me followed me around the entire time... always two paces behind me. It was annoying. She said something in chinese, and I looked at her like, "I have no idea what you are saying" so she said it again three times. Finally, she goes, "do you speak chinese?" I was like, "Um.. I think you should know the answer to that by now." Only... I really said, "no." I just walked up and down the store about six times (really) and it was about the size of an Old Navy, everytime I touched something she would come up and grab my size and I would have to be like, "no thanks" in chinese. She then would carry the stuff I did want for me, it was just weird, I don't really need to be catered to like that. At one point she looked at her co-worker and made a face like, "Can you believe this guys!" so I just smiled. I wanted to be like, "Look here girl, I didn't ask you to follow me around so don't get a tude!" I did end up buying a shirt. It's just diffrent how they try to help SO much, there is just a line between good help and annoying help. I just want to look on my own and if I need a diffrent size then you can help me. Even when out to dinner, you will have the menu and they will just wait right over your shoulder as you flip through the pages. It just makes you feel rushed, so that's a cultural diffrence. Also, when shopping I feel like they expsect me to spend a lot cause I am a westerner. They say, "oh, this color!" or bring jeans over and are like, "these ones, ok?" and I am like, "dudes, no... I wasn't looking at either of those things, I will buy what I want when I want! So lay off!" Of course I am nicer than that and just say, "no thanks" and smile. Costomer service is just diffrent over here, one of the many diffrences I observe.
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