Pre-Olympics

This article is a good synopsis of how far Beijing has come and how differently things are run in China.

The reporter’s observations are spot on; I’ve experienced all of the this. I’ve seen store and restaurant employees, all wearing identical uniforms, going through training sessions or pep talks, just like in the picture. The smog in the city is really bad some days. It’s become just another dimension of the weather, in a way. The contradictions between an austere, communist past and a vibrant, free-wheeling market economy are visible everywhere. And people are friendly and curious about foreigners. For better or worse, you’re never left alone.