Ups and Downs and Ups

Alright, since my brother is a smartypants and people have been harassing me to write more, I'm actually going to write a little bit about my day.

Today was my first full day of work. I went to Capital Gymnasium to watch volleyball preliminaries and interview athletes. It was so incredible and made me want to play volleyball again. I think I'm going to join a recreational league when I get back to Boston. There are a few that meet in Brookline, etc., so I'm thinking of getting back in the swing of things.

These women are superhuman. I know I said the same thing about track stars, but I felt it even more with the volleyball players because I have a good grasp on what they're doing. Most of these women are HUGE (6'5ish). Watching what they can do with their bodies was unbelievable. One player on Cuba's team had an intense jump serve (where the player jumps as they are serving the ball). She would toss the ball EXTREMELY high into the air (high enough that she had time take two steps back), and then glide to the ball and jump in the air to meet it. She was 6'4 or 6'5, and perfectly proportioned. Her arms and legs were insanely long and all muscle. She would hit the ball and her body would curve as she did so, so all of her force was guiding the ball to its destination. She placed her serves perfectly (right into the hole of Poland's defense), and I was awestruck. Another player on Cuba was a left side hitter, and her attacks were out of this world. I was scribbling down notes and keeping track of the sets while trying to pull my jaw up from my lap.

I felt giddy and nervous as I approached the mixed zone to interview my athletes, like an awkward high school boy about to ask the head cheerleader to prom. Hands sweaty, voice crackling, I attempted my first interview with a Polish setter I'd been watching closely. After Poland lost, I was certain the players wouldn't be happy to speak with journalists mixed zone. I cleared my throat and said her name, and she turned and greeted me with a smile. This superhuman setter, who is the definition of fierce (6'4, blonde, thin, tan, powerful) and who'd just suffered a loss in her first game at the Olympics, was happy to chat with me (lowly me!) who'd been admiring from a far. She handled herself with such grace (as did all of the athletes I encountered today) that I walked away feeling certain that she was not real.

I did a few press conferences today as well, which were quieter and not as much fun as the mixed zone. It was my first day at the Capital Gymnasium, so I was a little uncertain of where I was going when I first arrived. Once I got rolling, though, it felt great to buzz about the venue with my notebook and pen. I loved the fast-pace of getting quotes and entering them, and being briefed on the match beforehand was awesome as well. I'm excited to do it again tomorrow!

When we were waiting for the shuttle bus home, one of the girls got a text message from a friend who said that two Americans were stabbed at the Drum Tower by a Chinese man, who then killed himself. After the bustle and excitement of my day, I was taken to an extreme low that was accompanied by fear -- something I've experienced very little of since I arrived. Crysty was at the Drum Tower last night to watch the Opening Ceremony (I was perched at a little ex-pat spot called Room 101). Here's the full story from the NY Times. One American was killed and the other injured. Both were relatives of the U.S. Volleyball coach. The Chinese man then leapt to his death from the second level of the tower. The pair's Chinese tour guide was also attacked.

After such a high from last night (the buzz in this city made it feel like New Year's) and such an incredible kick-off day, I am obviously saddened by what's occurred. More than saddened, though (and maybe this makes me a bad person), I am nervous about what else might occur. According to the Times, attacks on foreigners are rare in China. I'm not going to become irrational and paranoid about my safety now, but it is definitely something to think about. It's surreal that Crysty was there a mere twelve hours before it occurred, and I am sick to my stomach over how the American coach is feeling. The women's team played this evening at Capital, but it is unclear to me whether it was the men's or women's coach whose relatives were attacked.

I will be careful. I'm refraining from judging this as anything more than a random act of violence. I do worry, however, that this isn't the last act against foreigners Beijing will see. I'm hopeful that people recognize the awesome power of what this is that we're doing here, all together, and appreciate it for what it is and what it is not.