Reflecting on Beijing 2008

I’ve been back in the US for about four days now, and believe it or not — I’m beginning to miss China. The politics, lifestyle, even the food I can live without, but the people — I miss the locals most of all. There have been many questions about my experience — from the immigration officer at the Chicago airport (it went beyond the obligatory business/pleasure question) to my family and friends back home — I’ve answered them several times before, but I will answer them here as well.

Q: Well, how was Beijing? Should I go?

A: After spending two months living in Beijing, I’d hesitate to recommend the city to tourists looking to soak up Chinese history and culture. Sure — there’s plenty of that in Beijing, but there’s so much more to China that you won’t be able to see through Beijing’s environmental and propaganda haze. I came to tolerate life in the city towards the end of my journey, but only because the Olympics were in town, and many familiar Western conveniences became available, such as an Apple Store and Cold Stone. Unless you speak Mandarin, communication with locals is almost always impossible. Some are learning limited English, but are unable to pronounce words correctly due to a lack of native speakers to practice with.

For photographers, Beijing can be a great place to shoot on clear days, but unfortunately, the sun only breaks through the clouds every so often. If you’re only in town for a week, you may not have a single day without a hazy blanket to get in the way of you and that perfect shot. The Chinese make incredible subjects, and are generally more open to photographers than Westerners. Unfortunately, I think much of this comes from a fear of confrontation, especially when they’re unable to communicate with the foreigner behind the camera.

Q: What was it like to work at the Olympics?

A: I can’t even begin to describe the Olympic experience – it was so incredible to be able to work alongside the world’s top photographers, reporters, and athletes. Just being around the athletes was a thrill – there were so many, from almost every country in the world. There were also plenty of opportunities for staff and journalists to mingle with athletes outside of the competition venues, especially towards the end of the Games.

I had a fantastic time working at the Olympics, and would do it again in a heartbeat. I’ve never been around people from so many diverse cultures at one time, and I really enjoyed watching how each responded to life in Beijing differently. The athletes and journalists rarely left the Olympic venues to explore the city, but when they did, I was more than happy to act as their guide.

During the first week of competition, I answered questions for photographers at the road cycling course (and ended up doing quite a bit of computer troubleshooting as well). A few days after road cycling, I transferred to indoor volleyball, where I worked as a flash quotes reporter, interviewing athletes in the mixed zone alongside reporters from around the world. Often, we had to work through translators — it was really an experience unlike any other.

Q: Can I work at Vancouver 2010 or London 2012?

A: Honestly, I’m not quite sure. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) required the Beijing Organizing Committee (BOCOG) to hire native English speakers from overseas only because very few were qualified in China. Fortunately for the next Winter and Summer Games, that’s not the case — both will be held in countries where English is the official language. If you’re an expert with relevant experience, feel free to contact VANOC or LOCOG for more information about joining their staffs during the Games. I’d certainly recommend giving it a shot — working at the Olympics is an experience like no other.

I have a few regrets about my experience in China. Some are less significant, and were only realized when I read the United Airlines magazine on the flight back to the States. I can’t believe I spent two months in Beijing and only visited half of the locations they suggested in their cover article. I never made it to the restaurant, Made in China, but I certainly heard great things. My biggest regret, however, is not taking more time to travel around the country. I visited Shanghai and Tianjin, and made a side trip to the suburbs with Vincent Laforet, but I really wish I had taken more time in the beginning of my trip to explore other parts of the country. Some friends flew to see pandas in their native habitat near Chengdu, or visited the Terracotta Army at Xi’an. I’d love to visit China again at some point in the near future — but I don’t think Beijing will make it on my itinerary.

This marks my final post to Behind the Lens at the Beijing Olympics. Thanks for visiting, and feel free to continue sending questions or adding your comments to individual posts.

No Restriction on SLR Cameras

Even though the majority of the photos on my blog are captured using a point & shoot camera, I’ve been bringing my Olympus E-520 along to venues to see if I run into any problems getting through security. In the past few days, I’ve shot with an SLR at the National Stadium, Olympic Basketball Gymnasium, and Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium without any issues. Tianjin Stadium is closed for the remainder of the Games, but it’s safe to say that you’ll be able to shoot with an SLR camera at any of the venues, as well as on the Olympic Green.

Photo positions are reserved for accredited photographers, but in less crowded venues I haven’t had any trouble shooting from any open seat or public area. In the National Stadium and Basketball Gymnasium, you’ll only have access to your seating area (category A, B, or C), so shooting from near the field of play will only be possible if ticketed for a lower level.

I had a category B ticket to Athletics at National Stadium, so I was able to roam the venue with my SLR as long as I kept clear of the lower level.

If you’re seated in category B or C, be sure to bring a telephoto lens or you’ll miss the action on the field. I used an Olympus E-520 (2x crop factor) and a 12-60mm lens with a 1.4x teleconverter, and still needed to crop significantly before the athletes filled the frame.

SLR To Beach Volleyball Tomorrow

I haven’t received any confirmation from readers regarding whether or not they’ve been able to bring SLR cameras into the Olympic venues as spectators, but your emails and comments have not gone unnoticed. I scored a general admission beach volleyball ticket for tomorrow morning, and will be bringing along my Olympus E-520 and 12-60mm f/2.8-4 lens, and leaving the Olympic credential at home.

While at the match, I don’t plan on staying put in my seat, but will try to shoot all around the venue — assuming I can get my camera through security. I’m taking a chance by bringing the SLR — my hotel is well over an hour from the beach volleyball venue — but I’m fairly optimistic that I’ll be able to get through with my E-520. Check back tomorrow for more information, and hopefully confirmation that SLR cameras will be allowed into the venues.

Before You Leave Home

There are some things you simply won’t be able to do from Beijing. Many personal hygiene items are especially hard to come by here, so be sure to pack plenty before you leave home.

1. Unlock your cell phone — Sure, you can buy a mobile phone once you get to Beijing, but if you already use a GSM phone in the States, call your wireless provider and ask for an unlock code to use your phone with a China Mobile SIM card. While you have them on the line, be sure to ask if your model is GSM-900 compatible.

2. Visit your doctor — If you take prescription medication, carry your pills in a bottle with your prescription clearly marked. Expect to get sick at least once, so ask your doctor what he or she recommends for dealing with stomach issues.

3. Bring a copy of your eyeglass prescription — I dropped $300 on a backup pair of glasses before leaving home, only to find a similar pair here for about $15. I bought a pair of glasses and a pair of prescription sunglasses for 110 CNY each at the Silk Market. Some of my colleagues have had issues with the smog, so eye drops may also come in handy.

4. Load up on deodorant — We take it for granted in the States, but deodorant simply isn’t available for purchase here. With hot weather and long workdays, you’ll be glad you remembered to pack some.

5. Pack some Purell — Almost as important as deodorant, I reach for my hand sanitizer several times daily — It’s especially handy when you want to munch on tasty street food and there isn’t a sink in sight. Grab plenty of the pocket sized and larger containers, and pack extras for friends.

6. Bring plenty of business cards — They’re very important in China, and if you haven’t done so already, have your cards printed in both English and Chinese. Many Chinese don’t read or speak a lick of English, so your cards will be useless if not also written in Chinese.

7. Buy a Slingbox — These clever contraptions broadcast your cable television signal to your computer over the Internet, allowing you to watch American TV from anywhere in the world. The Slingbox Pro includes a built-in cable tuner, so there’s no need for a cable box.

8. Duplicate your passport — Bring both hard and soft copies of your passport and visa. Be sure to snap a picture of your passport and email it to yourself before you leave, so you can prove your identity in an emergency. Also consider leaving copies with a relative so they can fax it to your hotel if necessary.

9. Don’t forget your OIAC — If you’re coming to cover the games, pack your Olympic Identity and Accreditation Card in your carry on, and email copies to yourself as well. The card acts as your visa and is very difficult to replace if lost or left behind.

10. Buy some guidebooks — The only guidebook I use on a daily basis is the Eyewitness Travel Beijing Pocket Map & Guide — but I’d be lost without it. The subway and city maps are a necessity and the book is small enough to carry in my pocket. English guidebooks are very difficult to find here and will likely be out of stock once Westerners begin to invade the city.

Powering Your Equipment in China

Like in most countries, household current in China is 220-volts/50Hz. To see if your devices are compatible, check the power adapter for “input voltage.” While household current in the U.S. is fixed at 120V, most electronic devices are 110-240V compatible — in fact, I have yet to run into a camera or computer AC adapter that isn’t. Be careful though — most household outlets in China accept type A plugs (two parallel flat blades) like those used in the United States — so even if your device can fit into the outlet, the voltage may not be compatible. Many outlets in China also accept type E (two round prongs like those found in Europe), type I (angled flat blades with ground), and occasionally type G (found in Britain and Hong Kong). The outlet photographed below seems to be most common in Beijing (supporting type A, E, and I). If you’re bringing a power strip, be sure to buy one without surge protection, as it may not be compatible with 220-voltage.

Arrival in Beijing

While volume has yet to hit its peak, the Chinese government seems prepared to process Olympic visitors quickly and painlessly through customs and immigration. There are dedicated lanes for those credentialed for the Olympics. Capital Airport’s new international terminal is enormous, but very efficient from my experience this afternoon. Signs are marked clearly in English and guides are available should you be unfamiliar with immigration procedures. It’s clear that the government wants to make a good impression with visitors; there’s even a device to rate your service with the customs officer — selections are made using four smiley face buttons.

The baggage area is also very efficient, with arriving flights clearly marked on corresponding belts. I traveled with a group of almost sixty and as far as I know, all of our luggage arrived quickly and in good condition. I split my belongings between two suitcases and a carry-on just in case one bag managed to slip through the cracks during my connection at O’Hare — but everything worked out just fine. Be careful what you pack — all of your belongings must go through an X-Ray machine before you’re permitted to leave immigration. It’s almost 11:30 PM here and I didn’t sleep much on the plane… more to come tomorrow.