K: Entertaining News

Each week I receive an email containing news articles gleaned from both Chinese and foreign publications concerning current events in China. Since Beijing won the bid for the 2008 Olympics, there has been a section of that email dedicated exclusively to news related to the games. I was incredibly entertained by an article in today's edition (find it below).

Beijing approves Olympics 'cheer' (June 5, 2008, BBC News)
Beijing Olympic chiefs are introducing an official cheer for patriotic spectators to spur on Team China at the Games, Chinese media reports. The authoritative, four-part Olympic cheer, accompanied by detailed instructions, will be promoted on TV, in schools and with a poster campaign. It involves clapping twice, giving the thumbs-up, clapping twice more and then punching the air with both arms. The cheer is accompanied by chants of "Olympics", "Let's go" and "China". The Beijing Olympic Organising Committee has hired 30 cheering squads who will show spectators how it is done at Games stadia, reports Xinhua state media. A committee official said the simple chants and gestures were designed to help spectators cheer for their favourite athletes in a smooth, civilized manner. The Ministry of Education is also arranging special training sessions in schools for the 800,000 students who are expected to attend the Games. Li Ning, president of the Beijing Etiquette Institute, told the Beijing News that the cheer was in line with general international principles for cheering, while at the same time possessing characteristics of Chinese culture.

I'm looking forward to watching the Olympic games from my parents' couch in Texas far away from the chaos that will be Beijing. And now I'm looking forward to watching the crowds at least as much as the actual events.

K: And Counting

The countdown to the end of the year is well underway. This is our last week of classes. Next week we give final exams, and then we have one week to finalize our grades and line up our ducks in a neat little row before we fly off for the United States on June 28th.

The last month has been full! Full of getting the senior students through their thesis writing and defenses, full of meeting with students and teachers who are searching for an anchor in the storm in light of the mounting number of hardships China has encountered this year, full of preparing for our final term at Wheaton, and full of preparing to welcome our son in the Fall.

And speaking of the Fall, our latest newsletter which we anticipate will be hitting the printing press this week details the recent decision that we have made to remain in the US until February. We will be taking a six month home leave during the Fall semester and returning to our current location in China in the Spring. We are really looking forward to that time!

I realize this post is very general, and there are in fact stories to be told, stories we will have months to tell very soon! For now, I leave you with the latest picture of our little one who is really not so little anymore.