Joanne C. Gerstner
The Detroit News
Category: The scene
Posted by Joanne C. Gerstner (The Detroit News) on Tue, Aug 12, 2008 at 7:44 AMMao and me at Tiananmen Square
I am headed to the Forbidden City/Tiananmen Square area today to work on a story that will be in the paper (and online) soon. It was a very impressive experience, both to see something that historic and unbelievably expansive.
I've seen that photo of Mao, looming over the square, in every history book I've read in school. There it was, looming over me, too.
Some impressions:
- The square is under very tight security control. Only the east gate is open and you must pass through an airport-style security check before entering. Police are everywhere.
- The Chinese are just fascinated by Westerners. I posed for 10 photos with Chinese who asked me to pose with their kids or whatever. It was really weird at first, but they were pleading with me with every English word they knew (McDonald's, happy, yes) and making gestures. A student, who spoke some English, explained that I "look very American" because of my fair skin and blonde hair. Well, I hope they're happy with a photo of little olde me.
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Joanne Gerstner; Our goodwill ambassador!
I posed for 10 photos with Chinese that asked me to pose with their kids or whatever. . . . A student who spoke some English explained that I "look very American."
How cool, Joanne -- You're now part of families' Olympic albums in the host city! 'One world, one dream' indeed.
And as a reminder that 'status' is all relative, in Europe being told you "look very American" would not necessarily be a compliment.
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