Last night our plans to go out to dinner for our anniversary changed....we are going to celebrate on Sunday after church. We try to be flexible with life (and four children) and this was one of those times. We decided to stay home and watch the Opening Ceremony for the Beijing Olympic Games....One World, One Dream! So we made breakfast for dinner, curled up in front of the t.v. in the den with trays and watched the whole thing....even the whole parade of athletes....more than four hours! I was amazed at the spectacular show before my eyes, as were Jay and the children. I felt it was important for our family to watch this historic event so the children could learn more about Chinese culture. I sat there wishing I had taped it, but hopefully I'll be able to purchase a copy from somewhere. Esther Marie can look back and say....hey, that happened the year I was adopted. And Jasper and I will remember it because it happened on our anniversary...08/08/08!
On another note, I am always torn when I watch something like this. I have to question the cost of such an event...the lavishishness of the display....all for 17 days of sports. (Closing Ceremonies will be on August 24th.) I have been to Beijing, I have seen the poverty there. I have seen other parts of China in need of much and babies crowded in an orphanage in need of better care, food, surgery and homes. The cost of the opening....$300 million. The cost of getting Beijing ready for the Olympics....$40 Billion...and that estimate is believed to be signinficantly higher. Is it really worth it when the average salary of Chinese workers is a fraction of what you and I live on? How could that money have been better spent and did the ceremony have to be SO elaborate? I made the comment to Jay that it was truly "sensory overload" and he agreed. It's a question that we all should think about!
Anyway, watching the Opening Ceremony made me think of these photos that I had taken in Hong Kong and I wanted to share them with you. Evidence of the upcoming games was all around us in Hong Kong and in China.
According to the Wikipedia site, the official logo of the games, titled "Dancing Beijing," features a stylised calligraphic character jīng (京, meaning capital), referencing the host city. The mascots of Beijing 2008 are the five Fuwa, each representing both a colour of the Olympic rings and a symbol of Chinese culture. The Olympic slogan, One World, One Dream, calls upon the world to unite in the Olympic spirit.
Check out the games and the medals at NBC's Olympic website.
On another note, I am always torn when I watch something like this. I have to question the cost of such an event...the lavishishness of the display....all for 17 days of sports. (Closing Ceremonies will be on August 24th.) I have been to Beijing, I have seen the poverty there. I have seen other parts of China in need of much and babies crowded in an orphanage in need of better care, food, surgery and homes. The cost of the opening....$300 million. The cost of getting Beijing ready for the Olympics....$40 Billion...and that estimate is believed to be signinficantly higher. Is it really worth it when the average salary of Chinese workers is a fraction of what you and I live on? How could that money have been better spent and did the ceremony have to be SO elaborate? I made the comment to Jay that it was truly "sensory overload" and he agreed. It's a question that we all should think about!
Anyway, watching the Opening Ceremony made me think of these photos that I had taken in Hong Kong and I wanted to share them with you. Evidence of the upcoming games was all around us in Hong Kong and in China.
According to the Wikipedia site, the official logo of the games, titled "Dancing Beijing," features a stylised calligraphic character jīng (京, meaning capital), referencing the host city. The mascots of Beijing 2008 are the five Fuwa, each representing both a colour of the Olympic rings and a symbol of Chinese culture. The Olympic slogan, One World, One Dream, calls upon the world to unite in the Olympic spirit.
Check out the games and the medals at NBC's Olympic website.
1 comment:
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY U 2
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