by Richard L. Button (Photo: Dick Button and Debbie Walters, an adjunct in the Comenius Center who was also on the tour)
I have to admit I felt a little like Jed Clampett when we arrived here Saturday night (or maybe it was Saturday morning, hard to know for sure when it was!). After 17 hours in the air and about 10 hours in assorted airports, when I walked into my room here at the Crowne Pointe Sun Palace in Beijing at 1:30 a.m., I was stunned by the splender of my room.
I wasn't sure what to expect, but I didn't expect a glass enclosed bathroom with power blinds, four heavenly pillows, an L-shaped desk (facing the TV!), towels thicker than a Big Mack, and sheets softer than a baby greyhound's behind (don't really know how soft a baby greyhound's behind is, but I thought I would throw in a Moravian College reference!). China has come a very long way since Chairman Mao. It turns out that our hotel was built for Olympic guests.
A travelog would too typical for a blog, so I thought I would let you know some of what I have learned -- as a China visitor and first-time world traveler.
The Chinese are wonderful: tranquil, peaceful, friendly, remarkably slender, and very gracious -- except, as soon as they step on an elevator, they press the "close door" button. Also "waiting your turn" must be a western concept.
With apologies to Frau Ream and Herr Dr. Opperman, who both tried unsuccessfully to teach me German, the importance of language has made a strong impression.
Today at the Forbidden City. We were on free time and I strolled through a little concession stand to see what they had. It was cold and raining, and a young couple was drinking something that looked hot and delicious. I asked them what it was, they smiled looked at me blankly and pointed to the rest room (identified by signs that say clearly "toilet"). We both recognized we were not communicated very well and laughed. I walked on and noticed three girls about 14 years old were sitting nearby and watching. I smiled, waved, they waved back, and I continued to walk on. Suddenly remembering what I learned that morning from our guide, I turned around and said in nearly perfect Mandarin, "Ni Hao", which is "Hello." The girls looked at me startled, starting giggling (like school girls, interestingly enough) and all said "Ni Hao" with huge grins and nodding their heads in approval. Their reaction to my attempt to communicate in their language was a delight....the high point of my day.
As we were leaving the Forbidden City, we were surrounded by street vendors. I really wanted a book that one was selling for $10. She was bugging me like crazy, so I tried the old "Ni Hao" and added "Three dollars." She responded with a surprised grin, she responded with "Ni Hao. Eight dollars." Through perseverance, I got it for $3. I hit her with "Xie Xie" ("Thank you") and she delightedly giggled. It was fun (or maybe I said, "Your mother and the horse washed the sheets").
I won't go into how the Chinese army guard, trying to look ferocious when I took his picture, responded to my "Xie Xie"
All for now -- tomorrow we head east to Shanghai.
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