YOGAYUGA

It’s absolutely proud of being a Chinese. Chinese people have been waiting for long of this world event being held in our capital, Beijing. Beijing Olympic is approaching in three days on Aug 8, 2008. 888 is the lucky number of Chinese, is the meaning of bringing all of us a good fortune.

I have just watched a programme about count down Beijing Olympic on CNN. The journalist recently has been Beijing for viewing the overall preparation works of open ceremony. There are issues foreigners do still pay concern during their upcoming Olympic visits.

1) Pollution problem

2) The heat

3) The hygiene

4) The language problem

5) The transportation

The sky still looks dull in Beijing due to the polluted air especially under such exotic weather. Weather of Beijing is up to 34C during summer, which is equivalent to 93F. Overall, the general hygiene of public bathrooms has been properly improved in the past year, but there are still public places that need to be paid attention. People of Beijing have been encouraged and supported by the local government to learn English in order to enhance the international image of Beijing. The journalist of CNN asked several people simple questions on the street of Beijing in English, but still found problems of communication. It’s hard to learn proper English in short term for those who have never been learning much of English but I believe the local people have already paid enough efforts for the participation of English learning. Some local Chinese families do provide the Olympic Homestay with lower accommodation cost for travellers who visit the Olympic games during August. (Somehow, the number of Homestay guests doesn’t turn out that many as expected 6 months ago before the Olympic week due to the problem of visa issuance caused by the new policy.) Those families need to learn English for about a year before the Olympic starts. They are awarded with a certificate by showing their competence of English course, and the achievement of meeting standard service requirement of hosting foreign visitors. At least, simple English such as coke, orange juice, pasta, food and towel are words that needed to be remembered. The journalist of CNN also took a trip to the underground, and found difficult to read the instruction signs in English. Translation (Chinese - English) problem is always a major issue in Mainland China. You can always find funny sign written in non sensible English around public areas included hotels and restaurants.

By the way, I always wonder what about English problem of Japan. I don’t mean to be judgmental, but certainly Japanese hardly speak a single word of English in Japan included those living in an international city as Tokyo. Foreigners don’t find difficult to hang around in Japan I presume, however, I need to admit that Japanese do have good sense of instruction guiding Japanese non-speakers. If you happened to appear in Beijing Olympic game, don’t forget to bring two things with you.

1) The handy paper/electric fan that against the heat

2) The English - Chinese dictionary, definitely does help!

Hope that there is no more such news happening within this week. It’s sad to have 16 killed in the border of Xinjiang. Hope that the long term internal tension between Chinese government and people in Xinjiang/Tibet will be solved without violence sooner or later.

I can’t wait to see the open ceremony!!