Monday 6/18
Our day started early with the bus loading up students to go to the Summer Palace. The
summer palace is another Qing dynasty legacy and our guide gave
background to the abuse of power by the emperor’s clutch-hold over the
child. She of course ruled behind the scenes and was abusive apparently in her power. Hence the term dragon lady was coined, or so the students decided that must be the source of that. The
charm of the guide however was wearing thin by today and the crowds
mobbing the walkways paired with the pollution haze were outweighing
the tranquility of the park. The group was pushed to the dragon boat ramp as other tour groups edged in behind every stop and step. Finally, after coming to the dragon boat ramp, we were pelted by vendors hawking there wares. No amount of Boo Ya was working to say not interested. I sought refuge inside the giftshop. At least there you were not being thrown objects in your face. The
dragon boat ride back to the other side of the lake was peaceful enough
but obviously the allure of the palace had faded in my mind to
commercialized combat tourism. I realize now that my tolerance level was reaching an all time low. The bus took us to yet another greasy spoon dinner for lunch. After
lunch I opted out of the shopping at the bazaar (good idea I hear in
retrospect) and went with friends shopping at the Shogo shopping
complex. It was like an upscale Macy’s. Most of our time was spent downstairs in the gourmet food, coffee area. The Starbucks latte’s helped everyone’s spirits and then I found a great tea thermos that filters the loose tea leaves. We
left the peaceful elegant calm of the store and I headed back to the
hotel to check on my email at work and start packing for tomorrow’s
trip home. Dinner was to have been special we were told. It was memorable but only for the once again terrible food. The tourist restaurant had servers that gave back massages. What one really needed was stomach massages for the indigestion with a TUMS dispensers next to the each plate. Our national guide sat with us for our final meal and I asked him to at least order us something we could eat. He knew how bad the food was. I hope he has learned never so subcontract with that agency in Beijing again. On
a side note some of the students went to the financial to do some cold
calls to create an opportunity to meet with some foreign firms doing
business in China. They were lucky enough to meet with several folks, UBS and others. The experience was what everyone on the trip had been so craving and expected. Had we known such arrangements were not made, I would have started writing letters last fall for appointments. It easily could have been assigned to each MBA student to find a multinational sponsor for a meal. That would have offset student expenses and provided the much desired business interaction everyone was looking for. Bravo to those who went out to find that brief connection.
June 19-
Departure was nearly on time for Beijing airport. We left the City in the haze that seems to perpetually hang. The queue for check-in was long and everyone ended up running down the concourse to make the plane. Security
clearance and check-in took well over 2 hours and we only had about 2
hours and 15 minutes from arrival at the airport till the time of our
scheduled departure. But everyone boarded, though we were seated all over the plane and not as a group in coming. Mark and his family were staying on to continue their family vacation to Tibet. Farewells
the night before had been said and I suppose as every vacation goes,
the stories get better over time and bigger than life itself.
Today, I am personally glad to be wrapping up this journal in Yreka. I am breathing fresh air, and have the luxury of two dogs at my feet.
I know that only 44,000 live in Siskiyou County which occupies 16,440 kilometer squared. Compare this to the Beijing Municipality at 16,808 km squared and a population of 14.3 million, which is only the 4th densest region in China. I am grateful for the amazing journey. I only wish I could send our council members to China
for three weeks and then they too might appreciate the need for
planning, investing in infrastructure, and how for granted things like
street sweeping, safe drinking water, sanitation and air quality. The environmental devastation is frightening and I am not a greenie. It doesn’t take much to see everywhere the tangible effect of the mass pollution. Granted I realize the US is the biggest polluter per capita, but the pollution in the rivers, lakes and air in China is sickening and will get far worse before it gets better.
Isn’t there some song that says you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone? I can only hope American wakes up in time. For the jobs and economy will be gone to the developing countries of China and India.
Left however, will be the changes to the climate from the pollution. Particulates are scientifically being traced on Mt. Lassen and linked to China. You think Canada complained about acid rain from the northeast in the 60’s and 70’s. Well the west coast has not even begun to see the effect of pollution to the oceans, weather patterns and atmosphere. I can’t put my myopic glasses back on or pretend that these problems do not exist and will not affect me. They do and they will. It is just where does one begin to explain, educate and facilitate change? | 
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