Me Ol' China, the day after Beijing 2008

Two posts this weekend... wow!

Oh men... It's over... Beijing 2008 is gone. China can go back to normal life. Yes the Paralympics are here but, let's be honest who gives a shit about them? I am sure that nobody really cares. If it was the case they would have run in parallel with the Olympics and the Olympic Fire would have not been switched off yesterday night.

It's time of comments, criticisms and wrapping up. For the Western media it will be everything wonderful in terms of Organisation but there will be still doubts about the fact that China has won with 100 medals. Still doubts about the Civil Rights issues and so on. For China it would have been the perfect Olympic. There will be words of praise to all volunteers and the people of China that have welcomed tourists and shown the face of China, the real one.

How about my point of view? I think that the Organisation has been impeccable and the disruption to our lives has been kept at the minimum. It has been more annoying the eve of the Olympics than the Olympics themselves. Prices have not increased and people seemed to be happier than before. I liked the atmosphere, I have to admit. Beijing 2008, for all of you will be the Olympic slogan, for me will be the discover of China, of Chinese people, their language and culture. Something I will never forget. It will have been 9 unforgettable months.

So what has been great about these Olympics? Everybody was expecting Phelps victories, and they came. Everybody was expecting records broken every day, and they came. We knew that the Chinese would have won in the competitions they won. The USA Dream Team victory was widely expected too. Jamaica sprinter was expected to win but not to demolish those records. Table Tennis, Diving, Cycling, Gymnastics, Sailing, Volleyball, Beach Volley: all expected victories.

Few surprises: Italy out against Belgium (soccer), the number of medals Britain won, the Australian diver that took a medal from China... and the rest? All as expected except fot China weightlifting... that is a surprise.

I am sure that in the years someone will tell us that there was something fishy in the muscles of the small Chinese and some of the girls jumping up and down were not in puberty age, but for the time being, let's just enjoy the records of the Jamaicans, swimmers and all the others...

During the Olympic period I manage to meet a journalist from a Chicago newspaper and a Spanish TV Commentator. They both thought that the pre-concepts about China were unjustified and that they were surprised in seeing the true China so different from the one their colleagues describe on the papers... But I know what will happen... Once back things will change. Some Italian sportsmen and women have led the way saying that everything was perfect but they know that the reality is different. They have started criticising what they cannot see. The Dalai Lama will receive a few presents from Italian medalists as they are all going to gift them with something in sign of solidarity for the 140 people killed during a mass protest a week ago. Even the Dalai Lama denied having said that, but they still continue supporting the allegations. I would have given my "presents" to Ossetians, for instance or Kurds... Oh, I forgot, those are not pacific people, they are not sweet monks...

The closing ceremony was boring! Jeeez! I found it so boring! And the fact that London is net city organizing it has already marked the 2012 Olympics with the stamp of boredom. The show the Brits offered was absolutely common. What will they show as part of the culture? According to my wife and a British friend, the British traditions and cultures lie in the other people's cultures and traditions... Cool! The melting pot they have been criticising so harshly in recent days can still be used as flag of Britain then! Typical Brit, they use whatever they got at hand to show they are GREAT and I am sure that they will organise a fantastic Olympic, anyway. Without soul but with beautiful appearances. They are good at that. Good luck London, see you in a few weeks time.

Last week I have seen the Italy vs Brazil semi final match. That was volleyball. Great atmosphere with many Brazilian and a bunch of Chinese supporting Italy. They were so sweet! Unfortunately my mood was not one of the best, having lost my grandmother, Maria, a few hours before the match started. It is sad when a member of the family dies, even if it is expected, and makes you think a lot about the sense of life and if it is really worth traveling around the world and missing to live the life of the loved ones. It was my grand mother this time but, one day, it will be my parents... and I will have regrets and deep sense of guilt... How to cope with this? How is it possible to make sure to be a good son, father, husband and at the same time live your life as you would like to? Better feeling sorry than having regrets... Is it true? How about regretting feeling sorry? The good intentions are not enough in life and sacrificing yourself for someone or something can push you to hate the person or the idea, one day. It's inevitable. So, better keeping going on and think that whatever you have done will have given a sense to your life. I learned, a few years ago, that the most important person in my life is ME and if I am not well all those around me suffer so, it is a must, for me, to try to be happy and go ahead in this self imposed mission of discovery of myself and the others.

Me Ol' China, few weeks left in Beijing and few weeks left for you to read my impression about this special moment of my life.

Love to you all!

PS Barak Obama has chosen Joe Biden as deputy... Fill the gaps: "O_AMA BI_ __DEN" Bit spooky innit?