The People of the People's Republic

Trip Start Jul 21, 2008
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Trip End Aug 28, 2008


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Flag of China  ,
Friday, August 8, 2008

Amid the pomp and pageantry, and the excitement of the competitions, our absolute favorite part of the Olympic experience is the wonderful people we encounter. Y'all have heard me say that the Olympics represent what the world is really like, when you take away all the things that derail us...politics, religion, scarcity.

We have absolutely fallen in love with the Chinese people. Aside from the occasional surly taxi driver, (and rightfully so in Beijing traffic), the people are warm, friendly and very hospitable. They seem genuinely pleased to be hosting so many visitors, and are eager to make us feel welcome.

We are not staying in a 5 star hotel, but the kindness and earnest effort of the staff makes it better than that! Each night at turn down, they place a small gift on your pillow! Coming home at night feels like Santa came!

Even though we cannot communicate through words, it feels so nice to connect with people. How great is it, when my broken "Xie Xie!" to the taxi driver is answered with a big smile and a "Sank you berry mush!"??
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Comments

caroleemontoya
caroleemontoya on Aug 16, 2008 at 05:01AM

Are you having fun yet?
I love your blog and hearing all about your experiences. I just hope that you two get to some events, after all tha's why you're there. Miss you guys. Keep us all up to date on your experiences. Love hearing from you.
Love,
Carolee

spillardsincali
spillardsincali on Aug 19, 2008 at 11:28PM

FLAIR wearing Friends
"Ni Hao!" CHREGG (wearing the Flair! In China)

We're so happy to hear about your wonderful excursions in the east, and of its many customs, traditions, culture and language. We, on the other hand, have been working so hard in our everyday jobs and family life that it is sometimes difficult to sit back and reflect on the past and present, where we have been, where we are trying to go and everything we are grateful for. So "Thank You!" for allowing us into your personal adventures with all the wonderful and memorable experiences you've learned and that you'll be bringing back with you to share. Few are the lucky to have such an awesome job, as yours is.
We know we've been putting grown-up time on the back burner for a long, long time, so we'll have to get together with y'all soon so you can retell the details of your Olympic Dream Team Trip.

Peking at you ;)
The Spillards


p.s. you two ARE the dream team, "if you know what I mean!"

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