First Full Day

Despite thinking that I had completely avoided jet lag, I still woke up at 5AM on Tuesday. Steve and I decided to burn off some energy and explore the rest of the campus with a morning run - something you probably couldn't pay me to do back home. Even so early in the morning, there were plenty of people out exercising. We get total celebrity/rock star treatment here. As we went by people would stare at us and if we look back after we pass them they're still looking at us. People stand right in front of us as we run and take our pictures - I'm kind of a big deal here. During our run, we saw some members of the Chinese Olympic team training. Apparently Beijing Sport University has produced many medalists through the years and are hosting several Chinese and Italian Olympic teams this year.

At 9AM, we went down to the Training Center where I saw the athletes earlier. Dr. Guan got us access into the building with the condition that we take no photos. It was a state-of-the-art complex complete with track, spas, gym, and tae-kwon-do dojo. We saw the Chinese Rhythmic Dance as well as the prodigies for the future. Six-year-old girls were putting their legs so far behind their heads that I pulled my hamstring. I've never watched the rhythmic dancing competition before, but I might this year; they were doing crazy team and individual routines that warped my brain. I'm positive that these girls can probably touch any part of their body with any other part of their body - I bet they can even lick their elbows.

We came back, chilled, then went to a classroom to meet with our sport supervisors. After receiving phone cards (my number is 139-101-76007), we got fitted for our uniforms. The sizes there represent their petite physical status - I'll be wearing size extra large shirt and pants for my events. I gave an interview with a television station about why I'm excited and what a great opportunity this is for China (we were told the next day that this was shown on nationally broadcast tv later that night - taking us less than 24 hours to get on tv after touchdown [we're totally celebrities!]). We learned that we're going to be touring the Forbidden City and the Great Wall this weekend and we start work immediately afterwards.

That night, we headed into Beijing to meet with my friend Katherine's aunt to eat dinner. The cab ride in was absolutely incredible! During the half-hour trip, we passed so much ridiculous architecture: the Bird's Nest is a new Olympic venue that looks like woven steel, there's a building that looks like a dragon all curved, and there's many many massive buildings all around. With 25 million people living in the city, one could drive an hour and still be in densely populated urban sprawl, totally blew me away. I brought my camera, but really couldn't get any good shots from the back seat, I'll be sure to get some later on and put them into my photo album (you can look at it by the link on the right).

We got out of the cab next to a massive mall. We met Katherine's aunt and proceeded to ascend six or seven escalators up to (what I assume) is the top floor for the restaurant. Shortly after being seated, the manager came and informed us that we were going to a private table. It turns out that Din Tai Fung was ranked one of the Top Ten Restaurants World Wide by the New York Times! AND WE GOT A PRIVATE TABLE THERE! Out of control!!! We regularly had two waitresses by the table serving us more dumplings (possibly the best in the world!) that I would kill for, if it came to that extreme. They were loaded with soup, spinach, chicken, shrimp, or any combination of those - lets just say its tough to go back to Chinese diner food after eating there. On the way out, I picked up the card so that I can get back there later (while its tough to communicate with cab drivers, having business cards helps get around the city).

What a great day, I fully wish to remember this for the rest of my life.