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Jan Barranco-Grams is a well-traveled, professional business woman in the travel industry. She is currently on assignment at the Olympics in Beijing. Jan will post Blogs, “Bites from Beijing,” exclusively for HOFN.com that will keep us abreast of her fun lifestyle while in China during the 2008 Olympic Games.
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Our group had tickets to see men’s tennis play today. As a tennis player, I would have loved going, but it was my turn to hold down the fort, plus I had work to get done. Also, having gone to Opening Ceremonies plus Gymnastics, I was okay about staying back.

The irony is that it was Sunday morning when I traditionally go to the “Church of the Tennis Court” with my favorite tennis pals. So after the group left for tennis, my friend, Claire, asked if I wanted to join her at BICF – Beijing International Christian Fellowship Church. While a welcomed idea, it was difficult seeing the broken hearts of the Volleyball Team.

I’m trying to be “PC” and not talk politics or religion, but this was a wonderful experience that I have to share. As most of you must know, religious freedoms are squashed in China, so to attend church you must be a foreign national or an international visitor. You must present a passport to enter and go through security screening. This church was huge, more like a big multi-tiered theater. When we entered, there was a great band playing….none other than the Gatlin Brothers! They played a handful of songs, then the “house band” came on, who were equally wonderful. When the minister came out, he asked the audience to turn to their neighbors and introduce yourself. I met people from Hong Kong, Chicago, Singapore, and California. It truly was an international church – and a very comforting morning. I had a good cry, prayed for peace and healing, and I left with a lighter heart. I was where I was supposed to be this morning.

And, btw, tennis got rained out – and James Blake was scheduled to play. …So, all-in-all, I’m feeling a whole lot better now.

In the afternoon, we headed up to the Great Wall to prepare for our dinner at the old school house – and walked up The Wall to set up our party. We had previously worked out the details, with a timeline that was down to the minute. We had darling little girls who danced, plus men dancers who did the traditional Dragon Dance. Unfortunately, plans changed multiple times, as it continuously rained. However, it was still a great night!

Time for bed. As I predicted, once the games began, sleep and workouts would be minimal.

Wan An!
Jan

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Jan Barranco-Grams is a well-traveled, professional business woman in the travel industry. She is currently on assignment at the Olympics in Beijing. Jan will post Blogs, “Bites from Beijing,” exclusively for HOFN.com that will keep us abreast of her fun lifestyle while in China during the 2008 Olympic Games.
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Ni Hao (Greetings):

It’s Tuesday, 6 August. Today we headed back to the old schoolhouse at the base of the Great Wall. We will be taking our guests there for dinner after they visit the The Wall. I was traveling with my design team who are all ex-patriots now living here in Beijing. They all got excited when we drove past this open air restaurant, so it was unanimous, time for lunch.

This place was a trip…a big open-air seating area with a marginal roof. In the center of the courtyard is a swimming pool loaded with fish. My local friends did the ordering and, of course, “fresh” fish was a must. So, our waiter yells to a fisherman who pulls out his trusty net and proceeds to catch our lunch! It was a crude death for the hapless fish; death by thumping. The fisherman (and I use that term loosely) starts whacking the fish, while still in the net, onto the pool deck. This place is not for the weak-of-stomach.

After I denounced my PETA membership, I dug into this fabulous meal. We had one great dish after another – and washed it down with ice-cold Tsing Tao beer. We were in Chinese heaven.

Our drive to and from The Wall is always an adventure. One moment, we’re driving by horse drawn carts loaded with bricks then, a moment later, we pass the Men’s US Biking Team out road-training. I guess they need to get their lungs acclimated to the fine air.

My work associates and I decided we needed to check out the night life in Beijing before the games start, so we took the Mr. Toads wild taxi ride to the Hou Hai district. It’s the obvious night spot for the locals where both young and old hang out. As we came upon the area, it was a wonderful picture; a sea of dancing locals. It was a cross between swing dancing and square dancing, and a treat to watch. Hou Hai is build around a body of water with bars and restaurants everywhere. We walked, ate, drank, and soaked in the local night life – then ended our evening at a disco.

Half the joy of being there was to see how the people seem to be truly happy. And, to think, many Americans have visions of poor, oppressed Chinese. I loved watching how they dance with reckless abandon – and they eagerly wanted to dance with Americans (both the men and women). They love to talk with us and most seem to be very excited about the Olympics.

Tomorrow is arrival day for our first wave of guests, so it was back to the hotel for some rest.

….Oh, I’m very excited! We just learned that the Women’s US Tennis Team will be staying at our hotel! How cool is that? I’m a tennis player, so it’s cool in my book.

I’m really looking forward to my next Blog…the opening ceremonies!

Wan An! (Good night) from China,

Jan