Getting Ready.

Beijing's getting dirty.  As in literally there are dirt piles on the streets, sidewalks, and in the subway steps.  It's last minute crunch time for Beijing.  They only have one more week before all construction must stop.  Like any city weeks before the Games kick off, Beijing is working around the clock to accomplish the best games of this century.  Despite their current record of supporting Darfur, human rights issues, and their struggle with pollution, they are putting on a good face.  More sidewalks are being created.  In the last week I have witnessed the addition of trash cans every 5o feet.  They even attempted to be environmentally friendly with a recycling option on the trash cans.  To make all of this happen, it has been havoc, with electric drilling by the cross walk and the subway entrance.  Although if you venture away from the heavy tourist attractions, you can see that not all of Beijing is getting it's makeup put on.  

We are told, the additional subway lines to the Olympic venues will be ready in time.  I'm still waiting, until then I will have to find multiple connecting bus routes to train at the tennis venue.  As of yet, it is not open so I haven't had to worry.  The closet I have come to the Bird's Nest (the iconic stadium holding the opening ceremony and track and field) and the Water Cube (swimming) is across the highway, behind a fence.  I can still feel the Olympic excitement as the electronic countdown on signs throughout Beijing show the numbers shrinking.  

Witnessing Jude Shao's release shows that China wants to show a different policy.  One that is fair and doesn't have to make excuses about human right issues.  

The air is clearing up.  The first blue sky, I didn't think would ever come back, but it has for a straight week.  Soon small factories will be closing in addition to show China's guests that China is changing and learning. Blue sky patched with clouds still hides some of the smog that is still there, as Beijing failed five out of its six initial environmental test.  One of my friends has developed a severe cough.  A possible side effect of running?  It's only a guess and a very preliminary one at that.  But it still stands that marathoners still have a warrented worry.  

In a week, Beijing will still even bigger changes.  The roads will be less crowded as half of the cars will be forbidden from driving.  Some days will be even days (license plate numbers) and others will be odds.  Carpooling will be implemented and the subways will be packed more so than they already are.  

Some of the volunteers from Iowa that aren't flash quote reporters like me are working in the IBC (International Broadcasting Center) are helping get ready.  They have been checking signs for their English accuracy.  Rather than disabled on the bathroom stalls they changed it to handicapped.  Other tasks have included installed toilet paper in the bathrooms.  This should not be their jobs.  They are very frustrated that they are using overqualified foreign volunteers to do these minimal tasks.  Most of them are frustrated because they are journalism students and were originally promised flash quote reporter jobs.  While I will be watching tennis and interviewing athletes during the Games, they will be working behind a desk directing people to the bathroom.  I am very lucky to be working at the tennis venue and doing something related to journalism.  

It's getting more interesting everyday, One World One Dream, China's almost ready for you.