This morning I went with Kimberly in the last and final attempt to score some tickets for the Olympic Games. Well...that was something worth writing about...
The tickets were going supposedly going on sale on the Friday 25th from 9 am-6 pm. So we thought, it's probably going to be really crowded, so let us go 'early'. We woke up at 5:30, and were there about 6:20. By the time we were almost there we asked the driver if he knew where the exact location was of the ticketing office. (we never mentioned it to him before, we just told us drive us to the olympic venue)
And then he started to laugh, and told us 'goodluck' there are 10 thousands (!) of people there already queuing up since two days (!) We thought, there are 250.000 thousand tickets left, so we still might have a chance, we need to check it out now that we are here anyway. We walked for about 20 minutes through a crowded of pushing and shoving (with sweaty arms mind you ieuw!) with on the left side teenage soldiers that supposedly were not allowed to move their heads, and on the right hand side two rocket launchers (yes they made sure we would be able to see them)
By the time we managed to find some what that looked like a queue, we just started to follow the crowd and started to queue. I was very sceptical though, it didn't seem that we were queuing towards 'the ticketing box' so I went around and ask.
Guess what - apparently there is an special area for the queue and where we were standing was not the official queue. And what the unofficial queue's posibilities were - nobody knew. (incl. the police)
Check out the news item and pictures here and here
So after about 20 mins of staring in the crowd, we decided to just give it up. I sort of felt that this is not a good position to be in - people not having enough sleep (because they camped out there for like 1/2 days), hot, muggy, nobody knew what the hell was going on, and police officers everywhere just standing around in a long straight line. And just a lot and lot of people everywhere desperately trying to get into the 'official' olympic queue.
Its quite sad being in Beijing during the Olympics without tickets! I'm hoping to make a lot of friends with tickets the coming days, and hoping to score some kind of ticket somewhere, anything...
25 July, 2008
21 April, 2008
Olympic games
A lot of people have already been writing about this, but the fact that I am currently in China and being Dutch - Chinese I feel that I need to say something as well.
Protests are everywhere, either for the torch to be able to pass through or stop it from passing through. Young Chinese people standing in front of the Carrefour and French schools trying to boycot French products. And people protesting abroad yelling human rights, Free Tibet, Ban CNN, etc etc. It's been quite messy to say at least.
There a few things that I want to say here:
1) Olympic games should be about mutual understanding and focus on the what we have in common and bring about positive change. Boycotting the Olympics? Think we first and foremost need to take a look at the IOC...
2) I've noticed that many Chinese people can't distinguish the critique or negative comments from an outsider to China that it is directed to the government (or Party), not as people or as country. Many take the comments very personally. Which is in a sense understandable, considering the Chinese political system.
3) Many news items in the West are one sided and focus mainly (only) on the 'bad' news. Don't get me wrong, a critical piece is necessary and China still has a long way to go in many areas. But as the War in Iraq has been reported sometimes the bad sometimes the good (or at least the Bush administration would make sure they would make enough spin for that) I feel that most of the reporting present an one sided view. And the other side so far has only been (with some exception here and there) the Chinese state news. Well...that doesn't really help the overall picture now does it?
4) I've said this many times before to other people - you need to put everything what has been happening in context. What is possible today for many people in China, would be something that they would have never dreamed being possible 20, 15 years ago.
There. It's out of my system. Let's enjoy the Olympic Games! :-)
Protests are everywhere, either for the torch to be able to pass through or stop it from passing through. Young Chinese people standing in front of the Carrefour and French schools trying to boycot French products. And people protesting abroad yelling human rights, Free Tibet, Ban CNN, etc etc. It's been quite messy to say at least.
There a few things that I want to say here:
1) Olympic games should be about mutual understanding and focus on the what we have in common and bring about positive change. Boycotting the Olympics? Think we first and foremost need to take a look at the IOC...
2) I've noticed that many Chinese people can't distinguish the critique or negative comments from an outsider to China that it is directed to the government (or Party), not as people or as country. Many take the comments very personally. Which is in a sense understandable, considering the Chinese political system.
3) Many news items in the West are one sided and focus mainly (only) on the 'bad' news. Don't get me wrong, a critical piece is necessary and China still has a long way to go in many areas. But as the War in Iraq has been reported sometimes the bad sometimes the good (or at least the Bush administration would make sure they would make enough spin for that) I feel that most of the reporting present an one sided view. And the other side so far has only been (with some exception here and there) the Chinese state news. Well...that doesn't really help the overall picture now does it?
4) I've said this many times before to other people - you need to put everything what has been happening in context. What is possible today for many people in China, would be something that they would have never dreamed being possible 20, 15 years ago.
There. It's out of my system. Let's enjoy the Olympic Games! :-)
10 April, 2008
Beijing!
Well, not know exactly where to start. It's been almost 4 months since my last 'update'.
So far Beijing has been good. We've found a nice 2 bedroom apartment downtown, opposite of the Workers Stadium (for the football fans - that's where the Olympic football tournament will be)
Got myself a new bike and this time even and bike-helmet. Yes a bike helmet. Just to put it in context...people don't even wear an helmet on motor bikes, let alone on bikes. Also a bike-helmet is almost only available at the Decathalon (French mega sports shop) and when you want to buy a new one you pay just as much as buying a whole new bike. (which is about 200 RMB = 18 euros)
I get the occasional you-are-weird-stare while biking around (and it would probably also happen when I'd wear a helmet back in the Netherlands) but I have to say it feels much safer, esp. looking at the crazy driving / biking and to be complete I also need to add - walking (you'd be surprised what some people do over here) that happens over here. Never a dull moment while biking in China.
So far Beijing has been good. We've found a nice 2 bedroom apartment downtown, opposite of the Workers Stadium (for the football fans - that's where the Olympic football tournament will be)
Got myself a new bike and this time even and bike-helmet. Yes a bike helmet. Just to put it in context...people don't even wear an helmet on motor bikes, let alone on bikes. Also a bike-helmet is almost only available at the Decathalon (French mega sports shop) and when you want to buy a new one you pay just as much as buying a whole new bike. (which is about 200 RMB = 18 euros)
I get the occasional you-are-weird-stare while biking around (and it would probably also happen when I'd wear a helmet back in the Netherlands) but I have to say it feels much safer, esp. looking at the crazy driving / biking and to be complete I also need to add - walking (you'd be surprised what some people do over here) that happens over here. Never a dull moment while biking in China.
22 December, 2007
Anti Imperialistic Dinner Show
Last week we went to a just opened restaurant here in Dalian. The restaurant had a little stage in the middle and some posters (of Mao) on the walls. After ordering our food, the show started. It first started off in singing some old songs, some dancing, some talking. Nothing special really, but then again I'm used to all these kinds of shows nowadays. The real action came when they started doing a little skit on the Japanese invaders in China. I didn't understand everything what they were saying, but what I did hear was "Death to all the imperialistic Japs" and we were asked to yell along with them. The person that pretended to be the Japanese invader got killed on stage for like three times with a big cleaver by a person that represented the Chinese soldiers. At this point, I was very very happy that our Japanese friends didn't come tonight to have dinner with us. They would probably be lynched right on the spot, also considering the crowds' reaction when they yelled "Death to all the imperialistic Japs"
Unfortunately we weren't allowed (surprise surprise) to take any pictures of the show.
Unfortunately we weren't allowed (surprise surprise) to take any pictures of the show.
02 November, 2007
Student life
A short update what my life is about last few weeks: for the first few weeks I still found it difficult to adjust to a student life, and to 'force' myself to always speak Chinese. In the first few weekends, it was just so much easier to hang out with the people you know & like and that actually spoke English with you (esp. after a week long intensive Chinese studies).
Two weeks ago, I just noticed that I still spoke quite a lot of English, so I tried to find some other ways to meet with Chinese students. It's not that you suddenly just go up to a person and say that you want to practice your Chinese with them ;-) So I went back to my old student life, and tried to think of how I met most of my friends (and they still are) when I was a student - student associations! What to do without them? I asked a local student to translate to me what kind of associations there were, and she asked them if I could join them.
So now, I have the best of both worlds, I don't speak/read Chinese well enough to be part of the organizing team, but they are extremely welcoming me in their associations being the first 'foreigner' to join their club. So they always just invite me for the 'fun' stuff :-) How good is that?
Also most of the students speak quite well English, but they are mostly too shy to actually speak English to me - so I'm speaking Chinese non stop at the moment and when I don't understand a word, they are able to say it in English to me ....
My first activity was last Wednesday with one of my association (volunteer group) to go to a anti-drug facility (?) Basically a place where they bring drug addicts to, to help them to quit. This could be forcefully or voluntarily, but once your inside you're def. locked up. ;-) Very interesting.
Second activity will be with my outdoor activities group (yes I actually joined two organizations ;-) - I thought I might as well ;-) ) basically they have outdoor activities every other weekend, so it's a great mix between speaking Chinese all day and actually doing something fun.
The only bad thing about joining these organizations is that the students all make me feel so ooooooollllldddddddd ;-) Most of the students are in first or second year (18-21 years), but then again, who cares, I'm learning Chinese while doing fun stuff :-)
Two weeks ago, I just noticed that I still spoke quite a lot of English, so I tried to find some other ways to meet with Chinese students. It's not that you suddenly just go up to a person and say that you want to practice your Chinese with them ;-) So I went back to my old student life, and tried to think of how I met most of my friends (and they still are) when I was a student - student associations! What to do without them? I asked a local student to translate to me what kind of associations there were, and she asked them if I could join them.
So now, I have the best of both worlds, I don't speak/read Chinese well enough to be part of the organizing team, but they are extremely welcoming me in their associations being the first 'foreigner' to join their club. So they always just invite me for the 'fun' stuff :-) How good is that?
Also most of the students speak quite well English, but they are mostly too shy to actually speak English to me - so I'm speaking Chinese non stop at the moment and when I don't understand a word, they are able to say it in English to me ....
My first activity was last Wednesday with one of my association (volunteer group) to go to a anti-drug facility (?) Basically a place where they bring drug addicts to, to help them to quit. This could be forcefully or voluntarily, but once your inside you're def. locked up. ;-) Very interesting.
Second activity will be with my outdoor activities group (yes I actually joined two organizations ;-) - I thought I might as well ;-) ) basically they have outdoor activities every other weekend, so it's a great mix between speaking Chinese all day and actually doing something fun.
The only bad thing about joining these organizations is that the students all make me feel so ooooooollllldddddddd ;-) Most of the students are in first or second year (18-21 years), but then again, who cares, I'm learning Chinese while doing fun stuff :-)
28 October, 2007
SNOWING!
Oy oy oy, it's already SNOWING!!!!!!!
It's windy, cold, and....snowing! Can't believe it is snowing so early! :-(
Especially when the central government will only turn on the central heating on the 15th of November (...)
(guess we need to be lucky that we actually have some kind of heating)
When we lived in Shanghai, winters were awful too. No central heating, single window glasses and it was around 0-10 degrees outside from dec-feb....
In the mornings when I would breathe out and have smoke coming out of my mouth....brrrrrrr
Can't wait till they turn on the heating up here!
It's windy, cold, and....snowing! Can't believe it is snowing so early! :-(
Especially when the central government will only turn on the central heating on the 15th of November (...)
(guess we need to be lucky that we actually have some kind of heating)
When we lived in Shanghai, winters were awful too. No central heating, single window glasses and it was around 0-10 degrees outside from dec-feb....
In the mornings when I would breathe out and have smoke coming out of my mouth....brrrrrrr
Can't wait till they turn on the heating up here!
23 September, 2007
Mongolian all-you-can-eat-BBQ
Yesterday evening I had one of the most interesting nights ever since I got to China. I mean I really thought I (almost) seen it all, but noooooo.....First of all the location was quite interesting - the restaurant was located in the 'cellar' of a gigantic ball in the middle of the "Labor Park" When we entered I saw in the left corner some kind of half naked / slightly pin up girl like girls - and that's when I first thought...this will be an interesting evening....
When we sat down at our table we noticed that the restaurant itself was round, and that it was surrounded by big tanks full of water, with in the middle a big podium. By the time the first announcements were made (we gate crashed a All China Gaelic football dinner) we saw some things floating in the water tanks. When we looked closer we saw that there were actually girls (!) with big flippers and goggles, but with tiny bikini's swimming IN the water tank being all sexy or doing their best to look like mermaids. While we were still trying to get grip on what we have actually seen in the tanks, the music started to play really loud and the pin up girls already came onto the stage. Doing their sexy moves, and wiggling there little behinds. The only thing missing here were the poles and the old man sitting in front trying to put in dollar bills in their little strings. :-P This all happened when we tried to eat our Mongolian Buffet....
Next man up was a Michael Jackson look-a-like doing his best to get the crowd going, while behind us we noticed that either we were moving or the restaurant was moving: the restaurant actually had a movable floor (!) They have built in a movable ring into the floor, so that the tables that were placed on the ring will be able to rotate around the restaurant....Crazy stuff.
Food was definitely not the reason why people came to the restaurant.
As I said before, this night was a night full of surprises including our funky disco cabbie. The cabbie actually pimped his car with disco lights in his car and a big big (mostly loud) speaker system. He had like lights blinking everywhere and a lot of noise coming out of his car. On top of this he thought it would be fun to speed, I was shitting 7 colors of poo (as we would say in Dutch) while sitting in his car. Other people with me were far too drunk to actually realize how fast he was driving:-P
Anyway, just another eventful day in China :-)
When we sat down at our table we noticed that the restaurant itself was round, and that it was surrounded by big tanks full of water, with in the middle a big podium. By the time the first announcements were made (we gate crashed a All China Gaelic football dinner) we saw some things floating in the water tanks. When we looked closer we saw that there were actually girls (!) with big flippers and goggles, but with tiny bikini's swimming IN the water tank being all sexy or doing their best to look like mermaids. While we were still trying to get grip on what we have actually seen in the tanks, the music started to play really loud and the pin up girls already came onto the stage. Doing their sexy moves, and wiggling there little behinds. The only thing missing here were the poles and the old man sitting in front trying to put in dollar bills in their little strings. :-P This all happened when we tried to eat our Mongolian Buffet....
Next man up was a Michael Jackson look-a-like doing his best to get the crowd going, while behind us we noticed that either we were moving or the restaurant was moving: the restaurant actually had a movable floor (!) They have built in a movable ring into the floor, so that the tables that were placed on the ring will be able to rotate around the restaurant....Crazy stuff.
Food was definitely not the reason why people came to the restaurant.
As I said before, this night was a night full of surprises including our funky disco cabbie. The cabbie actually pimped his car with disco lights in his car and a big big (mostly loud) speaker system. He had like lights blinking everywhere and a lot of noise coming out of his car. On top of this he thought it would be fun to speed, I was shitting 7 colors of poo (as we would say in Dutch) while sitting in his car. Other people with me were far too drunk to actually realize how fast he was driving:-P
Anyway, just another eventful day in China :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)