Professor learns plenty from Olympic games
By Earl Horlyk Journal staff writer | Posted: Sunday, August 17, 2008
Morningside College professor Heather Reid gets to enjoy the thrill of winning a gold medal at a "virtual" Olympic exhibit in Bejing. There, visitors could have their pictures taken with mock medals while wearing an official Chinese team jacket. (Submitted photo)
As she has done many times in the past, Heather Reid is discussing her two favorite subjects -- sports and philosophy -- with a student inside a crowded restaurant.
But the philosophy professor isn't chatting things up at Morningside College.
Instead, Reid is half the world away, right outside the gate of Beijing's Sport University in Beijing, China.
"I'd given a talk inside Tiananmen Square last March," Reid, a Morningside College professor explained as she introduced her dinner companion. "That's where I met Luo."
Reid is in Beijing to deliver a presentation to a conference on Olympic Studies but the Sioux Cityan is also taking in some of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.
"I'm staying with a colleague who was able to secure some tickets," she said with a laugh, "so I decided: 'What the heck?' Let's stay.'"
An Olympics historian, Reid had previously attended the summer games in Los Angeles (1984) and Athens, Greece (2004); and the winter games in Salt Lake City (2002) and Turin, Italy (2006).
"The Athens Games were quaint compared to Beijing," she said in a phone interview Thursday, "simply because Athens is a much smaller city compared to Beijing's 10 million-plus population."
Beijing makes for difficult travel on a good day ("What you'd think should take 10 minutes will easily take an hour-and-a-half," Reid mentioned) but, with the influx of millions of spectators, the city has slowed down to a virtual standstill.
But it has given Reid the chance to experience the competition in a whole new light.
"Because Beijing is so spread out, I've been going to working-class neighborhoods where few Westerners have rarely gone before," she said, chuckling. "As I spend more time with the Chinese, I'm beginning to feel like a movie star because I stand out and attract so much attention."
It has also given Reid a chance to appreciate how different the Eastern culture can seem through Western eyes.
"I saw a little sign in the ladies room the other day," she said. "It was right behind the toilet and read 'Be careful of landslides.' It showed a little picture of a person falling down.'"
"I suppose what they mean is that the floor may be slippery, which I suppose, is kinda like sliding on land, so it makes sense,"
Reid said, piecing together the evidence.
The trip has also given her a chance to experience native Chinese delicacies. Bullfrog, anyone?
"Bullfrog?" she said, letting out a laugh. "Um ... don't let anyone tell you it tastes like chicken because it does not!"
According to Reid, it, instead, tastes like a mild shellfish.
For the most part, the food, she insists, is "spectacular."
"I'm fluent in several languages but, unfortunately, Chinese is not one of them," she said. "That means I rely on other people to do the ordering or I rely on pointing."
Reid adds: "Maybe, it works better that way. If I don't know what I'm eating, it's probably for the best."
One of the things she wanted to see was the Olympic torch as it made its way through Beijing.
"But we had a heckuva time figuring out how to go see it," she said. "Security was super tight. They had listed starting and finishing points but no maps or coordinates for folks to figure out where it would be."
As the torch made its way, normal spectators were pushed back as dignitaries were escorted to the front.
"It was such a contrast with Athens four years ago," she explained. "We were just standing around Syntagma Square when a truck pull up and started passing out flags and balloons. One minute later, the torch was passed. Right in front us."
"That was amazing!" Reid exclaimed as she recounts the memory.
"The torch is such an inspiring spectacle it's too bad more people couldn't have experienced first-hand. The media coverage was nice but half of the excitement comes from real people's reaction as they witness what's going on."
Which doesn't mean Reid hasn't spent time catching Olympic action as it's covered on Chinese television.
"Their Olympic coverage is very different than it is in the states," she said. "It's carried on several channels and runs commercial-free."
The Chinese coverage, Reid added, also lacks the "rah-rah" cynicism that sometimes accompanies much of its U.S. counterpart.
"Westerners focus on the negative," she explained. "They're quick to emphasize security problems or issues that takes away from the spirit of athleticism."
Reid said she has already had some mishaps at the Games.
"I've been able to see beach volleyball being played, the men's 100-meter relays and the bicycle races," she related. "When I've seen the bike races at previous Olympics, spectators could get up and follow the racers on the track. For security reasons, that's a 'no-no' in Beijing. I discovered that fairly quickly."
"The security people in Beijing are being very pro-active," Reid mentioned diplomatically. "Maybe, too pro-active for their own good."
But Reid said she realizes this is China's opportunity to shine and the country wants to put on the best possible show.
"That's ultimately what the Olympics are all about," she explained. "China's been legitimately criticized for its human rights violations. But, for the Olympics, that should take a backseat to the sense of friendship and camaraderie the Games produce."
"As long as the flame remains on the torch," Reid added, "we know world fellowship will continue."
Reid will remain in Beijing until Aug. 19 and begin teaching her college courses the very next day.
"If you're one of my students my first day back," she said wryly, "I'd like to apologized in advance: I will have jetlag."
Reid also knows her adventure in Beijing gives her a special insight that she hopes to share with her Morningside students.
"My background as a historian of the ancient Greek philosophy of the Olympic Games gives me knowledge," she said. "But that's not the same as being there."
Reid points to the exhibits that don't get the attention of the television camera, like exhibits which emphasize world art and theater. She also acknowledges the majesty of the games can only be appreciated first-hand."
"That's what I hope to impart to my students," she said softly. "The world's a complicated place but as long as the flame of Olympic torch remains lit, a sense of fellowship among all men will exist."
But the philosophy professor isn't chatting things up at Morningside College.
Instead, Reid is half the world away, right outside the gate of Beijing's Sport University in Beijing, China.
"I'd given a talk inside Tiananmen Square last March," Reid, a Morningside College professor explained as she introduced her dinner companion. "That's where I met Luo."
Reid is in Beijing to deliver a presentation to a conference on Olympic Studies but the Sioux Cityan is also taking in some of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.
"I'm staying with a colleague who was able to secure some tickets," she said with a laugh, "so I decided: 'What the heck?' Let's stay.'"
An Olympics historian, Reid had previously attended the summer games in Los Angeles (1984) and Athens, Greece (2004); and the winter games in Salt Lake City (2002) and Turin, Italy (2006).
"The Athens Games were quaint compared to Beijing," she said in a phone interview Thursday, "simply because Athens is a much smaller city compared to Beijing's 10 million-plus population."
Beijing makes for difficult travel on a good day ("What you'd think should take 10 minutes will easily take an hour-and-a-half," Reid mentioned) but, with the influx of millions of spectators, the city has slowed down to a virtual standstill.
But it has given Reid the chance to experience the competition in a whole new light.
"Because Beijing is so spread out, I've been going to working-class neighborhoods where few Westerners have rarely gone before," she said, chuckling. "As I spend more time with the Chinese, I'm beginning to feel like a movie star because I stand out and attract so much attention."
It has also given Reid a chance to appreciate how different the Eastern culture can seem through Western eyes.
"I saw a little sign in the ladies room the other day," she said. "It was right behind the toilet and read 'Be careful of landslides.' It showed a little picture of a person falling down.'"
"I suppose what they mean is that the floor may be slippery, which I suppose, is kinda like sliding on land, so it makes sense,"
Reid said, piecing together the evidence.
The trip has also given her a chance to experience native Chinese delicacies. Bullfrog, anyone?
"Bullfrog?" she said, letting out a laugh. "Um ... don't let anyone tell you it tastes like chicken because it does not!"
According to Reid, it, instead, tastes like a mild shellfish.
For the most part, the food, she insists, is "spectacular."
"I'm fluent in several languages but, unfortunately, Chinese is not one of them," she said. "That means I rely on other people to do the ordering or I rely on pointing."
Reid adds: "Maybe, it works better that way. If I don't know what I'm eating, it's probably for the best."
One of the things she wanted to see was the Olympic torch as it made its way through Beijing.
"But we had a heckuva time figuring out how to go see it," she said. "Security was super tight. They had listed starting and finishing points but no maps or coordinates for folks to figure out where it would be."
As the torch made its way, normal spectators were pushed back as dignitaries were escorted to the front.
"It was such a contrast with Athens four years ago," she explained. "We were just standing around Syntagma Square when a truck pull up and started passing out flags and balloons. One minute later, the torch was passed. Right in front us."
"That was amazing!" Reid exclaimed as she recounts the memory.
"The torch is such an inspiring spectacle it's too bad more people couldn't have experienced first-hand. The media coverage was nice but half of the excitement comes from real people's reaction as they witness what's going on."
Which doesn't mean Reid hasn't spent time catching Olympic action as it's covered on Chinese television.
"Their Olympic coverage is very different than it is in the states," she said. "It's carried on several channels and runs commercial-free."
The Chinese coverage, Reid added, also lacks the "rah-rah" cynicism that sometimes accompanies much of its U.S. counterpart.
"Westerners focus on the negative," she explained. "They're quick to emphasize security problems or issues that takes away from the spirit of athleticism."
Reid said she has already had some mishaps at the Games.
"I've been able to see beach volleyball being played, the men's 100-meter relays and the bicycle races," she related. "When I've seen the bike races at previous Olympics, spectators could get up and follow the racers on the track. For security reasons, that's a 'no-no' in Beijing. I discovered that fairly quickly."
"The security people in Beijing are being very pro-active," Reid mentioned diplomatically. "Maybe, too pro-active for their own good."
But Reid said she realizes this is China's opportunity to shine and the country wants to put on the best possible show.
"That's ultimately what the Olympics are all about," she explained. "China's been legitimately criticized for its human rights violations. But, for the Olympics, that should take a backseat to the sense of friendship and camaraderie the Games produce."
"As long as the flame remains on the torch," Reid added, "we know world fellowship will continue."
Reid will remain in Beijing until Aug. 19 and begin teaching her college courses the very next day.
"If you're one of my students my first day back," she said wryly, "I'd like to apologized in advance: I will have jetlag."
Reid also knows her adventure in Beijing gives her a special insight that she hopes to share with her Morningside students.
"My background as a historian of the ancient Greek philosophy of the Olympic Games gives me knowledge," she said. "But that's not the same as being there."
Reid points to the exhibits that don't get the attention of the television camera, like exhibits which emphasize world art and theater. She also acknowledges the majesty of the games can only be appreciated first-hand."
"That's what I hope to impart to my students," she said softly. "The world's a complicated place but as long as the flame of Olympic torch remains lit, a sense of fellowship among all men will exist."
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