TS in English

Yes, I do live in Beijing, China, but as for Olympics this summer in Beijing, I can feel it only by new stadiums, renovated stadiums and the banners and flags and those 5 “fuwa” all over the city. At least I felt so several days ago.

But things can change. I have felt what Olympic brings to me - personally - on two things.

One is on Aug 5th. My girl was sick and having a fever, so I escorted her from her workplace(hospital, how ironic) to her home and looked after her until her dad comes back from work. Then I took risks to catch bus 800 to get home. Everybody knows what the 2nd ring road looks like when it’s a workday’s 6pm, but - out of my imagination - the road is almost empty. With only buses on it, and certified olympics vehicles at times. Man, this is something I haven’t seen in my whole life - the whole North 2nd ring gets cleared totally…although the bus is crowded as usual…Recalling this, I think it should be the pre-security check for the torch relay next day? I don’t know…

The other happened just now. Transportation system in Beijing has developed pretty well thanks to the olympics, but sometimes things happen like today. Seeing off my girl in Dongzhimen subway, I decided to take subway line 2 back to Xizhimen where I can catch a bus home. 5 mins passed…and 10…and 15…there was no sign of train coming, provided the bulletin board saying, “Next train will be in 1 minute”!…what the…and 5 mins later, the announcer called. “Train for Yonghegong(station next to Dongzhimen) is currently unavailable, if you are in a hurry, please take the opposite train.” Alright, I give up. Another first-time happens. I know subway may experience some temporary stops in the tunnel, bu not for 20 mins and even more…So leave it, I turned to ground bus 107, a electric bus that’ll take me to the bus station where I can catch a bus home as well. Another mistake… On the route of 107 stands Houhai, a famous nightlife area of Beijing. What’s more, the Britain olympic committee is opening a “London house” right there at Houhai, and tonight is their premiere night. You know what it’ll be. Police cars, Embassy cars, lots of foreigners, even more security people and looker-ons. Those just blocked almost the whole street. Then there comes the wired 107, which can’t move a single inch without grabbing electricity via 2 wires from the cable above. Those cars just blocked the way 107 goes, and I got stuck there for another 10-15mins. Call it luck?Call it Olympics. By the time I got to the transfer station, bus carrying me home has long gone. Taxi is the only choice left…

And now I really felt the Olympics, personally.