Torch Relay

Today, the Olympic torch went through Yichang. Katie, Mindy, Mary Beth, and I (after much debating about whether or not it was really worth it) got up at 5:30 a.m. and got a ride with a friend with a car. We found a place on the road that runs parallel to the Yangtze to watch the torch pass. A little after 8:00, we got to see one of the runners jog her 100 meters with the torch and then pass the torch off to the next runner. The crowds weren't too bad at that point but when we tried to get another view of the torch, we couldn't see a thing. When we tried to head home, the city was insanely crazy! America just doesn't have crowds like China has crowds. People everywhere and no buses, taxis or cars allowed to drive anywhere. We hung out in a coffee shop for a while and then tried to go home but we ended up having to walk for about half an hour, fight our way onto a completely packed bus that took us in the right direction, then take motorcycle taxis the rest of the way home, finally arriving home a little before noon.


China support and patriotism is super high right now because of the Olympics, the previous problems with the torch relay in other countries, and the earthquake. We all got Olympic t-shirts. The "I love China" t-shirts seemed to be the popular favorite. The most interesting t-shirt I saw said, "Tibet in China, Torch in Heart."

Here come the guards to make sure no one messes with the torch.

When the torch passed, everyone started cheering, "Zhong Guo, jia you!" . . . Go China!

The word "crowded" just doesn't do justice to the situation.
Trying to get a better view!