My first day at the House of Switzerland

As memorable as my first day at school, or first trip to China? Maybe it was.

I will certainly remember falling asleep in the police station during the registration process after the long flight, the alarm on the appartment with its ear-splitting noise, the Chinese restaurant which would only allow me to have one dish - eels in chilli sauce, delicious but I must go back for a bowl of rice sometime.

Travelling so far from home is always interesting and my first impressions of the House of Switzerland were of the polite and helpful security at the entrance, something which we teach at "César Ritz" Colleges as being perfectly normal, to greet your customers correctly, but which is sometimes difficult to find - see the eels in chilli sauce story above. After this there was more good impressions with friendly faces at the stands and busy and happy participants and visitors all around. Tomorrow will be another great experience with the opening ceremony in the bird's nest stadium and no doubt a firework display not to be missed. I can say the same thing about the House of Switzerland so if you are in Beijing, take the time to experience Swiss hospitality at the HoS, maybe you'll meet some of the people participating and mentioned below.

Concentrating on the team rota, or is it a mirror to admire the summer hairdo ?

A memorable year of highs and lows

Aided by his new streamlined summer haircut and his new laptop, Hanlin is ready to put the scheduling together for the team at the HOS. His detailed schedules help each person in the team to identify their own role and also gives an overview for the whole of the team something he learned in class but practiced during his management training in the USA and now in Beijing at the HoS.

This is Hanlin’s second participation at the House of Switzerland after the Winter Games in Turin two years ago and even though he is part of the team working long days and sleeping very short nights, he puts this all in perspective and is enjoying every minute. When he is tired and stressed at the HoS, he just compares this to his role over the last few months where he has been part of the clean up team in Sichuan following the earthquakes earlier this year.

Siamese twins, joined at the shoulder

Last minute problems – size matters

While Beijing and the world will be watching the opening day celebrations, our own two Beijing giants will have to visit the tailors to have their shirts made to measure. Luckily for Manuel and Julian that they have already learned how to haggle for a better price at the Silk Market and are even looking forward to the challenge of having the shirts made, just for them. They have already mastered the art of bargaining for the best price in the last week and this is one experience of shopping in Beijing markets that has impressed (or depressed if you not good at it) many of our students in their recent visits to Beijing for the Career Fairs.

The only shirts available for Manuel and Julian were XL size and these were still too small so rapid action needs to be taken. The only alternative was that they may be working in the restaurant dressed in skin-tight shirts like a latin ballroom dancer. They also had problems finding the right size shoes. Maybe a pair of flippers would be suitable, handy for picking up bread rolls that fall on the floor but that would make the ballroom dancing a little difficult.

One world. One dream. Ice cream?

One of the most popular stands

Such a hot day in Beijing and even with air-con you need to have constant refreshment. Beijingers know this and they also know a good thing when they see it; complimentary Swiss ice cream. Here they are lining up patiently, a new pastime in China, to choose their favourite flavour. Although the Beijing lady at the front does look a little doubtful about eating it without a spoon, Chopsticks may be the solution but probably not an easy one. In this heat anybody who doesn’t eat it very quickly, would soon be able to drink it directly from the cup.