In the four weeks I have been in Beijing blogging I have accumulated some thoughts that don't need a whole blog post. So, here I am throwing together all of those things.
Chinese Money
The bills in China are vibrant. Many of them feature more than four colors and the designs are significantly different. Every bill does feature former chairman Mao's face. Many people on the trip enjoy the Chinese money more because of the color. I am indifferent about the appearance of America's money.
The Black Pearl
As a teammate of Yao Ming's it may not come as a surprise that the Chinese know who Carl Landry is. What surprised me was that the Chinese have dubbed Carl Landry the "Black Pearl." I have talked about the NBA to quite a few locals on the subway and the "Black Pearl" is well-known. As a whole, Kobe Bryant is the most popular player for the locals.
Training Starts Up at the Velodrome
Tuesday marks the first day of official training at the Laoshan Velodrome in Beijing. I am scheduled to be at work at 10:30 a.m. and the day should offer many interesting details with the presence of athletes. Throughout the last week there have been very few athletes around the venue.
Beijing Zoo
My trip the city's zoo offered many different experiences. I got to see several panda bears, a couple inside and a couple outside. All four of them were pretty lazy but it was interesting seeing one of the world's most famous animals. On the other hand, there were quite a few animals in spaces that most Americans wouldn't be comfortable with. Lions, tigers and elephants were confined to much smaller homes than any seen at zoos in America.
Beijing's Pollution
If you haven't heard by now, Beijing has pollution. But I am not sure why so many people are getting caught up with this. Beijing has more than 17 million people and with any large city there is pollution. I think China is getting more flack than most host countries because it's China. If the Olympics were in Los Angeles, there would not be as much negative media attention as it relates to pollution.
3 comments:
C'mon, you're the journalists...better check your facts on pollution....
from.. http://articles.latimes.com/2008/mar/12/world/fg-olyair12
"Beijing occupies an unfortunate location in an inland basin that is frequently swept by sandstorms from the Gobi Desert. Mountains on three sides of the city trap the emissions of a booming capital of 17 million people. The average amount of airborne particulate matter, known as PM10 in environmental jargon, is six times the standard recommended by the World Health Organization. (By way of comparison, Los Angeles’ particulate matter rating is about twice the WHO standard.)"
there is big-city pollution, and then there is Beijing city pollution
"Linfen, China: This city of more than four million is in the heart of Shanxi, China’s coal-production hub, and has frequently been deemed the most polluted city in the world; citizens suffer from choking clouds of coal dust as well as drinking water polluted with arsenic. But Linfen is not the only city in the country with environmental woes—the World Bank estimates that 16 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities are found in China’s industrial areas. "http://www.popsci.com/environment/article/2008-06/worlds-10-dirtiest-cities
This one didn't specify Beijing, but mentioned China in general
Wasn't sure which of your posts this question should be posed, so I put it in the 'Leftovers' post. How is Chinese college life? In comparison to summer at Purdue, how is college life in China?
It seems the basketball games are a point of common experience and something you seem to share with your Chinese peers? Is there something universal about 20-somethings in a college atmosphere? Are there stark differences in the students approach to their college experiences?
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