Sioux City Chinese set to enjoy the Beijing Games
By Tim Gallagher Journal staff writer | Posted: Thursday, August 07, 2008
Yu Gui Jiang, a cook at Beijing Restaurant in Sioux City, shows off an American Bald Eagle tattoo on his left arm. Jiang, a native of China, is excited about the Olympics in his home country. (Photo by Tim Gallagher)
SIOUX CITY -- Yu Gui Jiang looks up from a bowl of tofu and flexes his left arm, showing one of his prized American possessions, a tattoo.
"It is the American Bald Eagle," he says. "It is America!"
Jiang, one of an estimated 120 Chinese residing in Sioux City, is excited for his new home, the U.S., and his homeland, China, as Beijing hosts the 2008 Summer Olympics. The world competition begins with an opening ceremony at 8:08.08 p.m. on 08/08/08 (Friday) in Beijing.
"When it's 8 p.m. in Beijing, it's 7 a.m. here," said Wei Jiang, manager of Beijing Restaurant, and no relation to Yu Gui. "We have a satellite dish with the Chinese package that has five Chinese channels. We're all going to watch it live at 7:08 a.m. Friday (Iowa time)."
They'll be among a worldwide audience pegged at 4 billion. Like China, the celebration is huge. Opening ceremonies alone will involve 20,000 performers and rockets to be launched from 1,800 sites in Beijing. The Chinese invented gun powder, you know. 'Tis their chance to show off.
"China has put a lot of money into hosting its first Olympics," says manager Jiang, who came to the U.S. 12 years ago, at age 11. "Eighty-percent of the venues in Beijing are brand new."
While many have concerns that smog, government oppression and protests may mar these Beijing Games, manager Jiang remains optimistic. He spent three weeks in China two months ago, taking time from school and work to visit his mother.
"My uncle's family lives in Beijing and he says they will do great in hosting it," he says. "China is trying to project its image to the whole world."
Beijing is the focal point. Concerns about air pollution led to the closing of factories there during the Olympics. The Associated Press reports half the city's 3.3 million vehicles have been pulled from the roadways.
Jiang sees such developments as a glass half-full, signs to the world China's economy, like the Olympic torch, is hot.
It has him considering more travel between the two countries. After earning his associate's degree in business from Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Jiang hopes to study international business at the University of Iowa.
While his father came to the U.S. two decades ago for business opportunities, his son eyes the east as a way to make ends meet.
"The living environment is better in the U.S.," he says. "But China is developing. I like the growing economy in China."
Cook Jiang didn't express his desire to move back to China. He moved to the U.S. with his wife and their son after learning the government was determined to limit Chinese couples to one child. That was two decades ago. He's now working here while his wife works in the Chinatown section of New York City and their son works in Tennessee.
All have Green Cards, he says, which permit them to stay.
"He's here for the summer helping us in the kitchen," his manager says. "He'll go back to New York to join his wife."
Cook Jiang nods and drops his spoon as an order for lemon chicken arrives at the kitchen.
"I like working in America," he says while smiling, nodding and shaking my hand.
The two men continue to work as I head out the door. They'll break from an 80-hour restaurant schedule at 7:08.08 tomorrow morning as the torch is passed to their Beijing Olympics.
"It is the American Bald Eagle," he says. "It is America!"
Jiang, one of an estimated 120 Chinese residing in Sioux City, is excited for his new home, the U.S., and his homeland, China, as Beijing hosts the 2008 Summer Olympics. The world competition begins with an opening ceremony at 8:08.08 p.m. on 08/08/08 (Friday) in Beijing.
"When it's 8 p.m. in Beijing, it's 7 a.m. here," said Wei Jiang, manager of Beijing Restaurant, and no relation to Yu Gui. "We have a satellite dish with the Chinese package that has five Chinese channels. We're all going to watch it live at 7:08 a.m. Friday (Iowa time)."
They'll be among a worldwide audience pegged at 4 billion. Like China, the celebration is huge. Opening ceremonies alone will involve 20,000 performers and rockets to be launched from 1,800 sites in Beijing. The Chinese invented gun powder, you know. 'Tis their chance to show off.
"China has put a lot of money into hosting its first Olympics," says manager Jiang, who came to the U.S. 12 years ago, at age 11. "Eighty-percent of the venues in Beijing are brand new."
While many have concerns that smog, government oppression and protests may mar these Beijing Games, manager Jiang remains optimistic. He spent three weeks in China two months ago, taking time from school and work to visit his mother.
"My uncle's family lives in Beijing and he says they will do great in hosting it," he says. "China is trying to project its image to the whole world."
Beijing is the focal point. Concerns about air pollution led to the closing of factories there during the Olympics. The Associated Press reports half the city's 3.3 million vehicles have been pulled from the roadways.
Jiang sees such developments as a glass half-full, signs to the world China's economy, like the Olympic torch, is hot.
It has him considering more travel between the two countries. After earning his associate's degree in business from Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Jiang hopes to study international business at the University of Iowa.
While his father came to the U.S. two decades ago for business opportunities, his son eyes the east as a way to make ends meet.
"The living environment is better in the U.S.," he says. "But China is developing. I like the growing economy in China."
Cook Jiang didn't express his desire to move back to China. He moved to the U.S. with his wife and their son after learning the government was determined to limit Chinese couples to one child. That was two decades ago. He's now working here while his wife works in the Chinatown section of New York City and their son works in Tennessee.
All have Green Cards, he says, which permit them to stay.
"He's here for the summer helping us in the kitchen," his manager says. "He'll go back to New York to join his wife."
Cook Jiang nods and drops his spoon as an order for lemon chicken arrives at the kitchen.
"I like working in America," he says while smiling, nodding and shaking my hand.
The two men continue to work as I head out the door. They'll break from an 80-hour restaurant schedule at 7:08.08 tomorrow morning as the torch is passed to their Beijing Olympics.
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