Norway and Interesting Stereotypes

We met a couple Norwegians the other night and it was fascinating trading assumptions about one another’s home country. When they asked me what came to mind when I thought of Norway I said things like blonde hair, snow, and Reindeer. The girl I was talking to laughed in agreement. She seemed a bit annoyed, however, that people who think of Europe immediately look toward England, France, or Italy but never Norway. Then I asked her what came to mind when she thought of America: “Beer, partying, Barack Obama.” Beer and partying sounds like a sound international reputation to be associated with right?...maybe when you’re on Spring Break 2K9 Cancun, but perhaps our rep needs some shaping up…I’ll try my best.

Throughout my travels both this summer and last I have found that everyone NOT living in the U.S. is extremely concerned with our elections. Last summer while in Greece I can remember talking to several Europeans who immediately began hounding me about politics… while I subtly changed the subject (I just wasn’t in the mood) it really stuck with me how much people care about and follow our nation’s every move.

The same thing has happened here in China. Whether it be a few Norwegians we met one night or my newly moved-in Chinese roommate, they know a lot about U.S. politics. It’s a bit of an eye opener for me. I’ve never been big into the political scene but meeting so many people who AREN’T American but know seemingly more about politics than I do encourages me to learn everything there is to know.

Pollution Control

Our first couple days in Beijing were met with unclear skies and heavy smog. Thursday, June 18 was apparently one of the most polluted days in recent history… but of course we didn’t find this out until several days later. I’d really like to know the stats on respiratory problems for people living in Beijing. I know for the Olympics they were able to clean up the air substantially, I wish those policies stuck post-Summer 2008.

Quarantine? I Think Not

-NOTE: I haven’t had the internet until just recently, and this particular blogsite is blocked in China. But, I have just now found a way around it so that I can still keep you updated.-

Flying into Beijing was quite interesting.

I was able to sleep the first half of the 14-hour flight which was nice. At first I thought it was pretty weird flying straight from DC to Beijing but it made sense when I looked at the flight map and we were almost directly over the North Pole. I can’t even explain how bright it was from up there.

ATTENTION! VISITING CHINA RIGHT NOW MAY INVOLVE QUARANTINE OR EVEN WORSE: HILARIOUS ENCOUNTERS WITH HEALTH OFFICIALS. China is trying to maintain control over the H1N1 virus (Swine Flu)to save face over their big time mishap with SARS several years ago. As we arrived to our gate everyone was told to remain seated while these masked health officials came running onto the plane and “shot” everyone in the forehead with their thermometer guns. Luckily I passed the test. I found out later that on another plane nearly half the passengers were quarantined because they found 2-3 people who tested positive for Swine Flu. Apparently the quarantine could be for a night or even up to a week which could seriously ruin someone's travel plans in China. Thankfully the rest of my group members and I made it through relatively smoothly.

While waiting in the humongous Beijing airport for the rest of our CEI crew I grabbed an Ice Coffee at the nearby Starbucks. Talk about globalization. There was no difference at all between the Starbucks in the Beijing Airport and the one on Franklin St., even the Baristas spoke pretty good English. (Which I found out later is not the case for most people living in Beijing, or China for that matter)

Just as I had slurped up the final drops of my Ice Coffee I realized something:“OH NO, THE ICE!” In my sudden impulse to break my freshly converted Mao Zedong covered 100-Yuan note, I went with an Ice Coffee because, you know, it’s cold and refreshing. What I didn’t realize was that one piece of advice everyone tells you before traveling: “Whatever you do, don’t drink the tap water OR get drinks with ice in it because, yes, that too is tap water and no it won't be pretty.” While that particular batch of ice turned out to be "safe" (Thank you Starbucks), for the next 12 hours or so I awaited my falsely expected doom.

4 Days Until Liftoff

Counting down the days now until I leave for China... Early Tuesday morning we'll depart RDU airport for Washington Dulles to enjoy a nice 5-hour layover before embarking on our 14-hour haul headed due west to Beijing in a Boeing 777.

Block 8 is one of the entertainment facilities owned by the Restaurateur whom I'll be working with. Check out the various restaurants and nightclubs that are offered at Block 8: Haiku, Ultra Lounge, Med, The Beach, Boardroom, and iSpace.