Let the games begin...

Finally an update from the Holland Heineken House in Beijing! I arrived in Beijing almost 2 weeks ago, and up until now I really didn’t have time to sit behind my computer and write an update. That probably gives you an idea of how crazy things are here...working 10 hours a day minimum, 7 days a week. But all the sleep deprivation is definitely worth it...being at the Olympics and celebrating Olympic victories in the HHH just gives me so much energy!

As said, I arrived in Beijing on Wednesday the 30th of July and once I stepped out of the terminal I immediately knew why all those NOC*NSF officials had been concerned all this time. This place is a bloody sauna, with a touch of pollution to add to the taste! Fortunately as time progressed the smog got less (we’re suspecting the Chinese government to bomb the clouds with nitrate in order to let it rain). Anyway, once I checked in my hotel (which is behind the HHH, 5 minutes walking...rielext!) I got a tour through the venue and was baffled. Of course I saw the virtual tour of the HHH when I was still in NL, but in the real it is so much better. The HHH is located in the former ministry of agriculture, which gives it a bit of a Stalinist touch/grandeur. (it actually reminded me of some of the metro stations in Moscow...lot’s of marble and chandeliers). I added some pics for you to see how it looked like during ‘construction time’ and what the final result is.

In total we spent about a week setting up the venue, which included moving a lot of heavy stuff around, installing a few miles of cable throughout the building for security and above all...sweating like piggy’s. At some point I actually bought a cheap ass Chinese shirt for €2,- just because the contents of my entire backpack was starting to smell like stinky toufu. During ‘construction time’ my Chinese also came in handy as all Chinese speaking people were kind of the prostitutes of the HHH; they were/are used for everything that involves translating. For me this meant: SHOPPING!!! Really nice…practicing Chinese and making myself useful :)

The 7th the HHH was officially opened by Erica Terpstra (president NOC*NSF). She first gave a speech for all crewmembers in the ceremony hall, and afterwards she opened the house officially together with Wim-Lex (crown prince of NL) and Charlene Heineken. I don’t think I have ever met a more inspiring human being (Erica that is); her speech was just so powerful. Maybe not the right word, but with her speech she transferred her enthusiasm to an already very enthusiastic crew. Kind of a ‘tjakka-effect’ to the power 2. That definitely was one of the many ‘goosebump-moments’ I had here.

After they hit the gong and the house was opened, everything went even faster. I was transferred to the finance department because of my lack of bar skills. Apparently something went wrong when allocating the different positions within the HHH. Anyway...in retrospect this was not such a bad ‘career move.’ Now I have more opportunities to speak Chinese and get to help the controllers with all kinds of financial stuff. Really cool to see how the HHH as an organization works financially, and I actually also get to use my brains...sounds lame, but being the excel-nerd I am, I kind of like working with excel formulas and creating macro’s in visual basic :). Plus, being in the finance dept gives a little bit more freedom to attend the honourings of the athletes. Conclusion...I LIKEEE!

We don’t have that much spare time as the HHH is opened from 0900-0200 seven days a week, but fortunately there is still enough time to visit some games. I’ve already visited a hockey and beach ball match, and yesterday I saw Edith Bosch win the bronze medal in Judo. It’s impossible to describe the sensation when you see a fellow countrymen win an Olympic medal. And then the fact that you witness this historic moment live while millions of people are watching it via TV. At that moment I realized again what a lucky bastard I am and that I should thank god on my knees for giving me these kinds of opportunities!

As there are medals won, there are also honourings in the HHH. Normally I am not really a big fan of the entire ‘being Dutch together singing humpahumpahumpapa,’ but I think I have been converted. What a thrill when a couple of thousand of Dutch people cheer for a winning athlete, with Maxima and Wim-Lex dancing the sirtaki in the background! Again...an indescribable experience.

By the way, I also got a pic taken of me together with JP (the priminister). LOL!!! He was not the only celebrity in tha house by the way...Jan Smit, Roel van Velzen, Guus Meeuwis and Erick E. already performed. (En ja bim: ik denk dat zelfs ik nu de muziek van jantje kan waarderen ;P)

Have to go now...I am going to the forbidden city with a friend and afterwards we’ll stock up some more Ralph Lauren Polo’s, Louis Vuiton socks and Bjorn Borg boxers haha :)

Zaijian from Beijing,

Maike

p.s. hope this update satisfies your hunger for a story from Beijing for the moment. If you want to know anything else in particular….send me an email or write me a message on this blog
p.s.2: thanks again for all your messages….really cool. Even though I don’t have that much time nor the internet connection to reply to them all, I hope you keep on sending me messages!
p.s.3: the ozzie (bogans) also dicovered the HHH...mullets in abundance ;P