Beijing Olympics Theme Song " You and me"

China and Britain, both have done well in this 2008 Olympics!! I saw many happy celebrations in China, and on TV for the British ones... Very happy for both! Many friends say: Britain has done very well, compared to the population of China, Britain has done much better indeed!

Women Volleyball games between China and USA caught millions and millions Chinese attention that night. The coach of USA team, Ms LANG ping was one of the best three Chinese volleyball players in the 80's. She is now wonderfully leading the USA to one of the best performances we can see!

In China, I can hear the theme song " You and me" everywhere(sang by Sarah Brightman and Liuhuan), a beautiful song! Here, the words go:

"我和你，心连心，同住地球村，
为梦想，千里行，相会在北京。
来吧！朋友，伸出你的手，
我和你，心连心，永远一家人。

You and me
From one world
We are family
Travel dream
A thousand miles Meeting in Beijing
Come together
Put your hand in mine

You and Me
From one world We are family"

(written at Silk Road and the Great Wall area - Jiayu Guan)

24th August 2008 The Beijing Olympics Closing Ceremony

I am now watching the ceremony from the Silk Road - Dunhuang (North West China). The Olympics is such a great event to unite people around the whole world. I hope that 2012 the London Olympics will be another happy event to meet all people!

I miss all HWLC members of staff and all the students. I hope that they all have a great time when watching the Olympic Games!!!

Having met so many people, then our tour members are very pleased to do both- watching the games and touring this beautiful small town - Dunhuang (Part of the Silk Road), there are only 180,000 people here. It is very clean; air is very fresh; and importantly- beautiful sky!

奥林匹克运动员的闭幕式，我与朋友在甘肃省的敦煌小城度过。想起了一首歌“小城的故事”。我喜欢看奥运会的赛事，我也喜欢这小城的情调，很安宁，很纯美，很自然的美哦！

中国和英国的奖牌都很多，我为此干杯！！！

Day 7 11th August The Great Wall (Part 1)

Another busy day (Photos to be added)

Indian meal: Principal Duan made sure that we could have a meal in a "proper" Indian restaurant in Beijing. Monish was looking forward to try some Indian food in China, so did most of us. Students went for another shopping in Xiushui Market (Beijing Silk Market),then we headed to the Indian restaurant. It was 2.00pm, the restaurant was during the break time for members of staff to have a nap, but some chefs and waitresses waited for us and cooked. Curry chicken for Monish, sweet and source dishes for some students (what a fusion style!). The two Chinese teachers preferred authentic Chinese food... Indian curry prawns for me. Monish said the meal was OK, although it was difficult to understand the spicy flavors...and not being able to see any nan bread...hahaha

The Great Wall Visit: Disappointing！Very disappointing!! Said Monish and students, after they came back from the Great Wall. They could not go very near the Great Wall, not to dream about climbing up there! (but they could take some photos). There were some VIPs visiting there so the security was very tight, other people could not visit at the same time… Monish and all the students were very disappointed as they have been dreaming for the visit even in the UK! I could not go with them this time as I needed to have a business meeting with Deputy Principal Liu. I had climbed up there for a few times. I love the sceneries there very much as you can see so far away when you stand up there. You will feel much healthier! You will have much more energy to do whatever you want to do afterwards!

I hope one day Monish and our students will be able to come again and climb up to the top! Chairman Mao’s saying is well known in China: “If you have not yet climbed up to the Great Wall,you are not a real man!”

Part 2 and Part 3 TBC

Day 6 10th August a cooler day! and the first Great Britain gold medal

Beijing is becoming cooler, calmer... more like a hard fought rugby player turned into a pianist Langlang. However, Sunday in Beijing, banks open, business meetings are on. There is one church near our hotel.

Changping had planned a meeting with us at 8.30am, but as our students, Monish and I worked late into the night, therefore we discussed with Changping to rearrange the meeting to Monday.

Students love shopping in Beijing, Xiushui Jie (Equal to the London Oxford Street) seems to be their favourite, lots of silk stuff...I can see their happy smiles most of the time. They want to go there again tomorrow before the visit to the Great Wall.

Miss Wang, Miss Ye and I were enjoying the Jiaozi (Dumplings with pork and prawns) lunch, the road just outside the restaurant was sealed up for a thrilling women's cycling road race. Exciting! I heard that Nicole Cooke grabbed the first Great Britain gold medal ! Fantastic!! I might see her riding when I was eating Jiaozi!

"We did it, it was perfect. It's a dream come true," said Cooke, who became the first Welsh person to win Olympic gold for 36 years.

奥运中文版 (1)

奥运精神，令人振奋。北京很美，很干净，主题明确－奥运。北京人十分的友好。不愧是中国的首都！在京一周，看到了很多关注的眼神，欣赏了很多开朗的笑容，听到了很多爽朗的笑声。

我们的姊妹学院北京昌平职业学校，派出一千五百学生为奥运服务。指导老师崔老师这段时间工作十分忙碌，经常是早上六时起床，有时深夜三四时才回家！她的先生是副校长,姓刘，可以用英语作基本的对话，谈笑风生，亲切友好，我们的学生都很喜欢他。

Day 5 The day after the biggest event in the world

The picture above is our Travel and Leisure and Tourism team with the Deputy Mayor Ian Clement who asked this blog to be sent to him. We look forward to his comments! Thanks to Deputy Mayor Ian Clement for spending time with us.

From Monish

China woke up with one big hangover this morning after the biggest party in the world last night.

The Travel Leisure and Tourism team woke up in their own time following a night they would never forget! Jenine- who loves her food!!- and Cerise managed to come down for breakfast at 8.30am! Yueqin was up at 8.30 too. The rest of us decided to catch up on our sleep. The Chinese people were so happy last night. Proud of the Opening Ceremony; their hospitality has been excellent throughout.

Today was the first chance we could get to the ' Birds Nest' as security is very tight. We took the number 2 Olympic bus, however, I would recommend to London 2012, to have more people to guide foreign visitors as we were not sure which stop to get off and there were no people we could talk to in English. Unfortunately, Natalie felt ill during the bus ride and wanted to go back to the hotel . Yueqin got off with her and they were immediately helped by five Beijing people who were concerned for her health! One of them took them to her office where she worked, and provided water, it was 35 degrees and sunny today; and provided a massage treatment to relax Natalie! Fantastic! Natalie is fine now and enjoyed the rest of the evening.

Rest of us went on to Birds Nest and took some wonderful photos...the atmosphere was buzzing!

Our travel and tourism students then had to 'work' this evening at the London House. Again, they were at the front of house- the face of London- and still the only college to be there!

I then spoke to Ian Clement, Deputy Mayor of London- who was impressed with our team from Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College. We took a photo with him- picture as above- and he accepted my invitation to visit the college in the new term!

We also chatted to Jean Tomlin, Human Resource Director of The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympics Games LTD. for London 2012, who was delighted with our travel, leisure and tourism students, and expressed interest in working with us on our return !

We arrived back at the hotel at 1am and it is now 2 am so I am signing off!

DAY 4 08-08-08 The Opening Ceremony

(details about the actual ceremony is to be added soon!)





After the Ceremony, we went to a pub next to the lake and the London House which played live music. Monish wanted to show Chinese people how we dance in London ! Whiles dancing to Madonna's "La Isla Bonita" the singer passed the microphone to Monish. Monish managed to sing the whole song with the live band much to the enjoyment of the Chinese people! They all stood up and applauded for the wonderfully professional type of singing! Anna, Agata, Faith and I danced with the song (video to be downloaded soon).

We went to a super Chinese restaurant. Anna, Agata enjoyed the Sweet and Sour Pork dish very much, then I ordered the biggest dish for them to enjoy it further. Fresh pineapples were most appreciated.

We went back the hotel by taxi taking only 10 minutes at 3.30am, plenty taxis were available at that time, but, we heard the story from the two Changping Chinese teachers that they took 3 hours to go back as they left straight after the ceremony. After the ceremony from the London House, no taxis could be hired. Miss Ye Ning accompanied Natalie, Jenine and Cerise back to the hotel by bus. They arrived around 2.45am ( It would have been better if they had danced with us and been more relaxed). Miss Wang had to walk back to the hotel for more than 1 hour after 1.30am!! I believe that Beijing taxi services should be improved as soon as possible as they hire many people outside from Beijing and they are not familiar with the roads. I reported this to the Chinese survey and feedback group and hope that they can action on it asap!

Day 3 7th August - The London House

Written by Monish. (more pictures to be added)

Today, our fantastic Travel and Tourism students were up and ready by 8.30 for another mini adventure. After breakfast, which was a tailored made one; students requested certain things to eat the night before and their wish was granted the next morning! Changping College has been excellent. We set off at 9.30 to head to a place I have always wanted to see...The Forbidden City and Tianan Men square...We all stood in front of it admiring the size and beauty of this amazing place! Memorable morning which will stay with all of us forever. You must see this place...words do not do justice !

Our team then headed off to the centre for some retail therapy! We shopped down Gourmet Road; similar to London's Oxford Street; one of the busiest shopping areas in Beijing.

============== Launch of London House ; VIP / Media Event =======================================

The evening is a night none of us will ever forget. I was very proud of our students and proud to be the only LONDON college helping London promote itself to China as a place to visit, do business and study!

The LDA ( London Development Agency) has built the 'London House' in an exclusive part of Beijing promoting London and showing guests that in 2012 London is the place to be!

Our team arrived at 6pm and changed into their uniform...Each had their task for the night.. Anna and Agata were meeting and greeting CEOs from various high profile companies..inc. Adidas, New York Times, CCTV, ITN, BBC, NIKE. Tessa Jowel and Deputy Major Ian Clement also stopped to chat..EHWLC was mentioned too. Our students were the 'face' of London!

Faith and Natalie were offering specialties from the kitchen and serving the guests and talking about their experience so far in this wonderful place.

Cerise and Jenine were working with the bar team..again showing our guests that London is the place to be for study and to do business.

Yueqin and I were so proud of them all as they only had a one hour briefing....Amazing students who carried on with their duties despite being tired from the visit earlier and they had not eaten ! The MD from LDA has expressed an interest in working with us for 2012! A very rewarding evening...Changping College were also there as VIP guests to witness what London is all about.

A very busy day...our excellent students have been told to rest on Day 4 .....Biggest event in Chinese history....and they will see every minute of it ....here in China!!!



The Chinese website of London House
伦敦之家在中国唯一媒体合作伙伴的新浪网，在奥运期间将会提供伦敦之家的每日活动更新、媒体报道、重要政府官员和商务人士的发言等相关内容，以便网友和公众更好的了解伦敦、关注2012奥运会。

伦敦之家举行的重要活动包括：

　　8月7日 伦敦之家预展

　　8月9日 伦敦投资局联合德勤举行宴会

　　8月10日 伦敦电影局展示后期制作技术

　　8月13日 伦敦发展署举行关于伦敦基础设施方面投资的座谈会

　　8月14日 伦敦投资局联合中国网通举行座谈会

　　8月16-17日 伦敦之家“开放日”展示作为旅游胜地的伦敦

　　8月18日 举行伦敦格林威治区投资座谈会

　　8月20日 伦敦发展署举行关于伦敦作为科技中心的座谈会

　　8月20日 留学伦敦的伦敦毕业生俱乐部

　　8月20日伦敦发展署关于“设计伦敦”座谈会

　　8月21日 伦敦发展署关于奥运遗产座谈会

　　8月21日 伦敦发展署关于奥运遗产的招待会

　　8月22日 伦敦发展署关于伦敦活动的招待会

　　8月22日 英国贸易投资署关于创意产业的座谈会

　　8月23 日 伦敦投资局和中国银行(3.65,0.00,0.00%,吧)进行午餐会

　　8月24日 交接仪式

Day 2 - 6th August

Morning: Visited Minzu Hotel (National hotel) with great history which could be traced back to Chairman Mao, and Premier Zhou Enlai's time in the 1950s. They had visited and stayed there before. It is in a wonderful location, near the City (financial and commercial centre), near Tianan men Square, walking distance about 15 minutes in between. It is one of the greatest buildings in Beijing. During this Olympics period, it serves important officers from all around the world. This morning, Beijing streets were clear, the college taxis drove comfortably from Changping to the hotel within 40 minutes。 I slept well, my eyes could not be off the traditional but newly decorated buildings, much more beautiful than in 2004 when I was there…two students in the car fell in sleep- they were tired as they could not sleep well due to the room conditioning handling matter…(they said they ate Chinese take-way until 2.30am in the room! Faith was reading a book outside the place at 7.30am, too warm to sleep...)

Our students visited the hotel aiming to learn service methods, eg, reception greetings, (Cerise was so impressed by the Chinese girl's’ national dress who worked at the front desk in front of a Chinese restaurant. She politely asked permission to take a photo with her - photo to be added here). We also visited coffee shop, Anna and Agata tasted the coffee, ￥45 per cup （around￡4.00). They have not only learned coffee serving, but also perhaps some hotel room management skills , I think.

We could only stay there for 30 minutes, as the Beijing Mayor came to inspect nearly at the same time when we were there…

TBC :0)

Beijing Day 1- 5th August 08

After a pleasant nine hours' flight, we arrived at the brand new Beijing Airport at 0920am local time. Our students were overwhelmed at the size and the splendor at the Olympics airport. Many photos were taken by our students and a large number of Chinese thought we were VIPs.

After a 20 course feast was laid on by our Changping host, we went to Ming Tombs and bought lovely gifts for our friends and families, and for our colleagues. At this point many students having not slept for 24 hours, were wilting in the 35 degrees smog! We went on to visit the Ming Tombs and at this point Monish felt he had already lost 1 stone!

On our return to the college we were informed as we had not eaten for 4 hours another feast was being laid on! The food is amazing.....a revolving table where a dish is added every 2 minutes! Jenine requested a traditional English- Chinese dish- Egg fried rice! This was cooked and delivered within 3 minutes! Fantastic...Principal Duan also presented us all with a collective Olympic Gift.....

Many students went to bed at 8 pm although birthday girl Agata who was 21 today , Monish and I went to a very posh bar to celebrate a happy day..happy birthday, happy homecoming and a happy beer drinker!! And this is just day 1..... Day 2 ..National Hotel,Tianan Men Square, London House, Opening Ceremony, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven .....of course, partnership meetings with Changping!

Wireless testing

The original plan was to try out the Eee PC to see how well it could pick up wireless networks in different settings in London, eg, internet café and some libraries. A helpful friend also helped out to check the wireless networks in open spaces in central London. There were different strength levels of networks appeared on the screen, but not useful. There was one very strong.

It was another pleasantly warm day in London, after cool refreshments at Russell Sq, and then started to organize the China trip. Handy!

A small Eee PC

Today, in London, very warm! The sky is so beautiful and you can see clearly the clouds. I always prefer the British summer. I hope that the Beijing sky has been cleaning up more. I want to see that the Olympic Marathon runners can have fresher air, although they might not have the time to admire the clouds as I am doing here in London right now during vacation,haha...

Today I met my helpful colleagues who gave me instructions to use my new small Eee PC. We tried most of the functions and used the Sykpe again. The PC is so light I guess it is less than 2.5 pounds, but it has most of the communication functions, eg, internet web searches, Microsoft Work... Thanks to the new technology! The video and mic facilities are built in. I hope that I can buy a wireless broadband USB modem in Beijing and carry on writing my blog.

Chinese learn English to guide tourists during Olympics

It would be very useful if more Chinese people can speak English. Especially during this Olympics period of time, the lack of good communication will give visitors to China huge inconveniences. To sort out these problems, the Olympics committee invited a large number of foreign volunteers in Beijing to be guides and teach the locals. Ms Zhi Lijiang, A Canadian Chinese, 63 years of age, first time visited China, she could not believe herself could be playing the role to teach English and etiquette classes. A husband and wife students are Lu Baoli and Wang Xiuqin, aged 72 and 65, who have lived just around the corner from the classroom for most of their lives. Ms Zhi and her friends all live in Beijing's Dongsi Olympic Community, the only one of its kind in the city, not far from the Forbidden City. By teaching the residents English, it's expected they might be able to give directions to lost tourists.

The residents are more than happy to attend the Public Welfare English class for citizens in the Olympic community by doing role-play as guides and foreign visitors.

(Source: Reuters)

A call from Chinese - Channel 無線衛星台采访(Chinese TV in Europe)

Chinese - Channel (Chinese TV in Europe)

At noon time today, Mr Z Woonchee made me a call. He works in Chinese - Channel,a wholly owned subsidiary of TVB 無線衛星台. He mainly reports on cultural and educational events. He shows strong interests in knowing about our college partnership with Beijing Changing. He is excited to know that my colleague and I will be taking students to be in Beijing to build up our partnership further. Of course, we will visit many exciting Olympic Games related places, and we will see a lot of interesting people!

I mentioned to him that we are planning to set up video classroom teaching links from London to Beijing. We can have classes with Changping at the same time, eg, to listen to Air Cabin Crew expert’s talk through video links, general Travel and Tourism courses, and my Chinese Mandarin lessons - this is to share same contents of teaching and to discuss among students from London and Beijing, what a fantastic way to communicate in this global educational context! The best time can be in Beijing afternoon 5pm, London morning 9 am. He says that he can come to our classrooms to make some videos.

I believe it is wonderful to report on UK-China educational exchanges and cultural understandings through our partnership with Beijing Changping Vocational School. Time slots and details are to be set for meetings.

(The Chinese Channel Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of TVB. TVB established in 1967. It is the world’s largest producer and distributor of Chinese programmes. In Hong Kong, TVB secures over 80% of TV viewers. Many of its programmes are dubbed into other languages, and are viewed by over 30 million people everyday around the world. )

Beijing Changping Vocational School training Miss Olympic Etiquette

Beijng Miss Olympic Etiquette training

(Source: Radio86) "Changping Vocational School in the suburbs of Beijing is an ideal place for training many lovely students. It is the training base of the Beijing Olympic etiquette volunteers, and its graduates hope to become Miss Olympic Etiquette, serving at Olympic awards ceremonies....The closed intense training, which lasts for almost three weeks, includes figure training, etiquette training, awards ceremony practice drills, Olympic and cultural knowledge study, as well as communication skills. Every day, students must get up at 5 a.m. and go to bed at 10 p.m. "Every action in the awards ceremonies must be practiced repeatedly for hundreds even thousands of times..."

Pandas are also joining the fun of Olympic Games?熊猫也凑热闹－热身赛，参加奥运？

Chinese people love pandas,the pure black and white colour, the sleepy eyes... just so cute! Oh! are they playing Kungfu, watching games?
可爱的熊猫也在为奥运会在作严格的运动训练？

The song of Beijing Olympic Games 奥运会之歌

The song of Beijing Olympic Games

Miss Olympic Etiquette: Beijing Changping Vocational School 奥运会礼仪小姐

Our sister college students in Beijing,Beijing Changping Vocational School, will present in the Olympic Games opening ceremony, and will be acting as medal ceremony hostesses in the closing ceremony.我们在北京的姊妹学院（北京昌平）的学生。他们将会为开幕式当礼仪小姐，礼仪先生。为闭幕式亲捧奖杯。

The Beijing and the London Olympics 北京奥林匹克运动会(The Two Cities)

For the Beijing Olympics, yesterday, the Air Cabin Crew students (HWLC)took a 2nd video, this time was much better than the 1st one. They spoke in Mandarin (saying Ni hao and Zaijian 你好，再见!) sincerely wishing the friends in Beijing to have a wonderful Olympic games. Such a kind gesture!


What a piece of luck for me:) So lucky that I will be in Beijing joining in the Olympics scenes! Thanks to our college’s vision to establish the partnership with Changping Vocational School. Hope that our partnership will grow further to be strongly positive and lasting...Yes, I see it, is like a good garden, it will grow, with care, will grow more beautiful flowers, surely!

Our Air Cabin Crew students are working hard now to learn the Mandarin. I will also let them use multi-media to learn the language with fun. I told them please don't be afraid by the Mandarin language, it is not as difficult as most people believe... My lovely students! I hope that they can use what they are learning now also in 2012, the important London Olympics!


Our Air Cabin Crew speaking in Mandarin to Beijing friends 我的西伦敦学院的学生。空乘专业。他们向北京的姊妹学院问好！



Air Cabin Crew Course for international students