Me Ol' China, the end is nigh!

This week I will not start the blog with an hello but with a goodbye.

Goodbye to China.

I am leaving in a month time. I resigned my job for a few reasons but I am not going to write them in a public blog.

Am I sad? What do you think? of course I am. I was hoping that this love story with this country could have continued for years to come, instead... On the move again.

Next destination will be an exciting place too but let's wait to be there before I tell you.

In the meantime the Olympics are going on and the Brits are all excited for their medals and this is an extract from the BBC website

0158: "Anyone else noticed that a USA team without Phelps would currently have as many gold medals as Great Britain?"
From anonymous via text on 81111
It was mentioned yesterday, but no harm in saying it again is there?


Why should one exclude Phelps Medals? What if we exclude all the medals won by cyclists or sailors... What a stupid comment that is! But, understandably, for a country that normally performs so poorly at Olympics, any excuse is good to show that they are as big as the lost colonies.. How about excluding all those who are not really so British looking due to their colour?

How about the defeat of Italy? I loved it! So happy that the arrogant bunch is out. But they are going back in Business Class and the other sportsmen are annoyed because they are traveling economy... But, for God sake, can't they buy an upgrade these people? I cannot believe it!

How about the former USSR. All doping innit?

why don't we participate as EU, anyway? If 50 States can compose the US of A, we can go all together, anyway. The National Anthems? Well, if Scotsmen and Catalans can survive with the UK and Spanish anthem, I think we all could bear with Beethoven masterpiece!

anyway, not long left to the end of the Olympics and I a sure that nobody will give a toss about the Paralympics following this show.

the Observer has published the interview to the mother of the two gypsy girls who died in Italy and whose bodies were left on the beach for three hours before they were taken away amongst the indifference of locals continuing swimming... That's nice! more and more proud to be Italian!

I am trying not to think of me leaving but this is impossible. I have experienced some incredible back stabbing this week. By people I really loved and this is making my departure much easier but, still, I will miss those beautiful eyes and smiles. I really wish I had taken a picture of every person that gave me at least a smile and put them on a sequence and let it run for hours. It would be the most beautiful present for anyone in the Western world. I got vivid memories in my mind and they will accompany me all life.

I am already looking forward to come back to China next year as tourist and, deep inside, I am hoping to come back one day to stay here for a while because I didn't manage to do and see much in these months. I never thought I would have left so quickly...

How about this ad? Please note that the part in bracket was part of the ad!

a girl wants two guys to explore some fun together. she is tall and slim, educated and fun. hope the two guys know each other, both over 180cm, presentable, athletic shape, fun and healthy. if you are interested, please leave me your email address and tell me your height, age and nationality. ( this is a scientific research for her graduate thesis. )

Abkhazia... will ask for recognition as a Sovereign State to Moscow! Wow! How good innit? It's time to stop with Putin and Russia. Far too many years have gone with this country blackmailing us (with Eltsin) and now threatening the ex Soviet states. All looking at China and nobody really caring about Putin and his military ambitions that have been known to attentive observers for far too many years while the Bushes, Berlusconism and other "friends" were not aware of the grave they were digging for the Western society and the world. Down with Russia! South Ossetia has asked recognition too... Good! Next Please!

On a site I read that some people where annoyed by the fact that despite the terrible plane disaster in Madrid, the national team played a friendly match. For God sake, but the million people starving every single day in the world do not attract your piety and stop you fro throwing away tons of food and money on the most useless things a human can ever think of? When are we going to stop with this Media-instigated piety? The IOC has rejected the request of the Spanish delegation to wear a black arm band and lower the flag half mast. I frankly agree with the IOC. Do you know how many kids die everyday in Africa? I don't but you are certainly good at mathematics: 1 every 3 seconds... Or you prefer the 5700 people that die in Africa every single day just for AIDS? Let's lower all the bloody flags of the world! Or if you like big numbers. between 1999 and 2000, only in Africa and due to AIDS, have died more people than all African wars fought...

How about the story of the censored internet? When China opened some blocked sites, a few weeks ago, it was written that however the BBC Chinese website was still banned.. I have used that site sicne I arrived here to practice my Mandarin and I never found it blocked, even when the Tibet thing was happening. How about this Thursday story about the iTunes being blocked because someone in the olympic village was downloading Tibetan material/music or whatever it was. Not only I accessed iTunes yesterday but, I even bought something... I am frankly sorry to leave China and all the information of journalists sent here just to discredit the whole country. I am really really sorry...

I had a strong argument with someone about the Medals China is winning. I do not think that there is any doping involved but, come on guys, most medals have been won by events where the judges were to decide who would have won. Except for the traditional sports where China has always been good, it would be nice to see where they won the other medals. I too ka quick look and more than 20 gold medals have been won in sports where the judges rule. I am really happy about the fact they are winning a lot but, a country that in 4 years can create athletes like that needs more than a GDP growth equal to 60% to pump the muscles up. Not saying that they are doped or they bribed the judges, but it is obvious that the home team get some favours. We will see in London, in 4 years time, how many medals the Brits will win, even in gymnastics and judo or diving or other events where the judges decide.

I nearly forgot about my lucky strike! I have some Volleyball semifinal tickets (yes, they were semifinals but men, not women) and I got... Italy! So I will go to see Italy vs Brazil (that had defeated China in the semifinal)...

See you next week Me Ol' China and thank you for keeping reading my blog.