sing a mean tune kid...

Dr. Al used to tell us "I want you to get on the wrong train, going in the wrong direction, with the wrong currency." It sounds malicious, but his philosophy behind it is well sounded. Basically, he knew that we would never grow when everything was going according to plan; it was those moments when everything collapsed that we learned the most. I didn't have many of these experiences while in Europe. There was a minor glitch when we went to Florence, missing the connection train and trying to communicate with the woman at the ticket office, but for the most part everything was fine. That is not the case here. Yesterday I had my first real, wrong train, wrong direction experience, except it was a wrong cab, wrong direction, and wrong language. A deadly combo. After the Olympic store (for the third time), Val and I hailed a cab. Armed with a sheet that had Wal-Mart written in Chinese characters, the cab driver read the paper, nodded yes, and we jumped in. Wal-Mart was probably only 10 blocks away, but to walk that with as many bags as we had did not seem like a fun experience. Enter cab driver. He starts to pull away and gestures left and right. I assumed he was asking which Wal-Mart we wanted, so I gestured right indicating we wanted the one to the right. We started on our way and quickly we realized that the cab driver did not have the same Wal-Mart in mind. The cab continued further and further south, we needed to be going north-east. There was a glimmer of hope when he pulled a u-turn and headed north but then he stopped. No Wal-Mart in sight he made a phone call. This led us to believe he was back on track. Not so much. After heading too far east he then started to go south again. All I could think about was, when am I going to do when he drops us off in some remote location? How are we going to get back home? We finally arrive at another Wal-Mart, God only knows where and he triumphantly lets us out. Val and I were just grateful that he did not drop us on the side of the road, as it originally seemed he was planning to do. We were a bit worried that we would not be able to find a cab back home and furthermore, one that knew where the University was located. Luckily, after a brief scare, the cab knew where to go and proudly practiced his English with us. No more taxis to Wal-Mart. Lesson learned.

Saturday we immersed ourselves with the local running of the bull, yesterday night we did what everyone must do when coming to China...KARAOKE!!! Getting people moving in a forward motion is a task and half. We started at 6:00 and were not out the door until almost 9:30...THANKS A LOT TRACI. (You better know I am kidding.) Once everyone was ready, we walked to the local karaoke bar, not before making a short pit stop at McDonald's for those of us who hydrated while getting ready. Karaoke here is VERY different from home. You don't sit in a large room and watch as people humiliate themselves. I suspect this has something to do with the cultural concept of saving face and not embarrassing each other. Anyway, we arrive and we are given our own room with a screen and two mics. Chad figured out how to read Chinese and we begin what was an exciting night of karaoke, complete with 'N Sync, Spice Girls, Titanic (that's for you Laura) and other classic karaoke songs. We walked home, thus putting an end to another crazy evening in Beijing.

Since today is a day of rest in China, we have once again pulled out the kiddie pool and will be relaxing on the roof. Wednesday work begins and we couldn't be more excited. It has been nice having a few weeks off, but just as Olympic fever is taking over the city, we too are caught up in the glitz and glamor that is the Olympics. Each day we grow a little more restless and ache to see our venue and start work. The athletes are beginning to arrive (no Molly I have not seen Michael Phelps) and we are quickly watching the city change. Flowers and trees are being planted, the three new subway lines opened, and the special Olympic traffic laws are going into effect. It is exciting and interesting to watch the city transform, but that's another story for another day. Right now it's time for me to go play in the kiddie pool!