Dateline: Sino Swiss Airport Hotel, Beijing China, 11 Aug 2004
To say it was fun beyond our best expectations would be an understatement.
It was absolutely fabulous all around.
Woke up early despite our sleeping pills. Got organized, then got cell
phone from our guides for day, special assistant to Dr. Yu Keping of Beijing
U (director of two center there on comparative politics and int'l econ + one
on government innovations) and a recent BU grad who served as the special
assitant's translator. Prof. Yu treats us very well: Mercedes with driver plus our
two guides.
First order is to drop me off at China Reform Forum HQ, which is found in
classic walled compound home in old part of Beijing. There I give 2.5 hour
brief to senior reps from that organization and BU profs. Great exchange
for 1 hour following. Then they put me in different car with Secretary
General of CRF and we're off to very high-end restaurant. Escorted to lush
private dining room upstairs for meal with all 7 experts + Vonne and two
guides (who both pull me aside separately and declare how much they
instantly "love" Vonne--so I'm assuming Vonne's morning of shopping was fun
all around).
Turns out Vonne had herself fitted for custom silk dress at one shop, then
went to famous pearl shop where guide Zhang proved herself to be brutal and
relentless negotiator (a skill she displayed all day long).
Mean at restaurant was unreal. It is true that eating "Chinese" in US is
nothing like eating here. I tasted about 30 things I never saw before, and
most of which I never want to see again. Great 2 hour discussion over
lunch. Secy General of CRF presented me with commemorative stamp book
issued on 100th birthday of Deng, which has actual stamps embedded in thick
pages. Also gave me nice briefcase. I signed a copy of book for director
of CRF, who's tied in enough to have pictures of himself with Henry
Kissinger, Brent Scowcroft, Condi Rice and--oh yeah--George W. Bush on his
office walls.
After lunch off to sightsee around Tiananmen with guides Zhang and
"Jennifer" the translator. We jump (as pairs) into a couple of those weird
bikes where guide peddles up front and you ride in back. We circle
Tiananmen that way, only coming close to being run over by buses and zooming
cars about 30 times. I was stunned when Vonne immediately agreed to our
guides' suggestion to take rides--that was how much fun she was having after
the shopping and VIP lunch.
Following bike tour we tour the Great Hall of the Peoples building and then
the Museum of the Revolution.
Then off to another great restaurant for dinner. Supposedly the best "old
style" restaurant in town. Another back room, and the best noodles I have
ever had (with bean sauce to die for). Then off to famous Tea House to see
Ed Sullivan-like revue of Chinese opera songs, magic acts, acrobats--you
name it. Hosts got us front-row table and it was still more plates of
deserts the entire show.
At that point they truck us back to hotel after 14-hour day of non-stop
activity. I haven't received this sort of VIP since my trip to India in
2001, so it was really nice for Vonne to share in all of it. We did so much
so fast it made me realize how hard it would have been to do all that on our
own, without guides, a car and driver at our beck and call, plus the
translator and our unbelievable negotiator Zhang.
We part at 10pm with hugs and kisses all around--it was that kind of magical
day.
I know I will not last if every day is that much excitement. I know it
won't be, and yet tomorrow shapes up as the same. First hint? My brief
tomorrow is at the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Chinese
Communist Party . . .
Can't wait and neither can Vonne. Everyone in our little quartet is already
expressing sadness that we'll only spend two days together. I'm not the
world's quickest bonder--far from it. So clearly our hearts were touched
today. Tomorrow this life-altering train makes its next station. Baby
Vonne Mei is only four days away now.
Tom (for conked-out Vonne)
