Expats hail Beijing's transformation

By Bryna Sim (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-07-11 10:00

American David Gamble is one lucky guy.

The 20-something professional musician will play in the "Musicathlon", a two-week music festival leading up to the Olympics.

He is in an enviable position, for many of Beijing's expatriate community would love to be a part of the Beijing Games.

"I really wish I had a ticket for the opening ceremony at least," lamented landscape designer Peter Kuesters, 41, who has lived in Beijing for the past six years.

Expatriates in Beijing are full of praise for the city's pre-Olympic development.

They've witnessed a wholesale transformation since China won the bid in 2001 to host the Olympic games.

"Infrastructure has improved, the quality of life has increased and everything is a lot more systematic now," said Malaysian Ryan Loh, who has been in Beijing for the past eight years. The 44-year-old general manager of a British exhibition company in Beijing is convinced the transformation will continue after the Olympics.

Tourists are also impressed by Beijing's improved hygiene levels, traffic conditions and the warmth of locals. American tourist Pete Niesen, 30, was grateful when a local woman took the initiative to direct him towards the correct exit of a subway station. "That was a friendly and helpful gesture," he remarked.

But refining manners is just one aspect of the people's preparation.

For some locals, working long hours has become the norm.

"Many of us have taken up security jobs for the Olympics, and our working hours are from eight in the morning to eight in the evening," said retiree Liu Qiuhua, 65.

Student Ma Mengchi, a sophomore at the Beijing University of Chemical Technology, was selected as a volunteer for the Games.

Although not a big sports fan, Ma took her training seriously, making the effort to learn more about gymnastics in a bid to be more helpful at the action-packed competition.

"There is only a month left, so I want to concentrate on striving towards the goal of making the Olympics a success," she said.

(China Daily 07/11/2008 page3)