So I interviewed a bunch of people at work today about "any topic you like" just to see what their English was like. I felt like an asshole, kind of like I was testing them for no reason -- especially since my Chinese is terrible compared to their English. But I DID take this opportunity to ask some questions I'd been wondering about myself. Primary research if you will.
I asked what they thought about the olympics and the most interesting answer I received was that it is important in two ways
1) For the world to see China in a new light. Many people think that China is too traditional, (all winged rooftops and tea and opium) and it is not that at all. The Olympics is pure exposure for China: that it is modern, that it is strong, but also that it is trying to be friendly.
2) For China to actively SHOW the world what it is like. This is not just about cameras coming here and seeing what's what. This is about the people of China cleaning themselves up and putting their best face on -- and hopefully it will stick.
Or at least that's how I interpreted what the dude said. I liked it though. There was this one guy whose english word choices were awesome though: he was from a province w/"strong revolutionary history" and used several terms about revolution and such.
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