Historical November–December 2008 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Sean and Angie Meara and their copper-headed two year old daughter, Olive, reside on 59xx Pershing. Sean is a board member of the SDCC and has played a strong role in getting his block more involved.
However, he and his family took a 3-week respite from daily concerns in August to visit China. Angie has been an event marketer.
She met a very good friend working at an agency here, Mayan. Mayan and her husband moved to China and invited Angie and Sean to visit during this year’s summer Olympics.
It seemed like a tremendous opportunity. Angie had worked on the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Angie and Sean worked on a creative way to be able to travel to this year’s events. Olive would go too. Mayan had a child just 4 months older than their daughter.
They also had a 7 week old, Meme.
The Mearas found the people in China to be very welcoming. Everyone took note of Olive and her very fair skin.
A number of people wanted their picture taken with Olive. Their culture seemed to embrace children and some were surprised to see a couple travelling with a 2 year old. Olive picked up a few words and people’s names.
The Chinese did seem more reserved and contained than Americans. Angie said that it was interesting to see this evolving industrial nation.
They closed the factories in and around Beijing so that there could be more blue sky days during the Olympics.
All visitors had to register at the police station in Beijing.
The government wanted to know where you were.
There weren’t a great many U.S. fans there because China stopped issuing visas after the Torch Relay.
This affected Europeans as well.
There was a strong police presence, three per mile. But, personal safety was never an issue in China.
It was safer and cleaner than back home.
However, there was a huge disparity in wealth and considerable poverty.
The Olympics forced a million migrant workers and students from Beijing. Beijing had a great many tall buildings. Housing there was vertical.
There wasn’t any personal green space. Even with all the efforts the government made, the pollution was a “downer.” Sean and Angie couldn’t see 2 blocks away.
There was soot on a lot of things. Pollution was evident even down in the subways. Angie noted that, “The sky felt within reach.
It was so low because of the pollution.” When they toured public places, they had a guide/ interpreter.
The Mearas travelled to the city of Xi’Nan where they saw the famous terra cotta warriors located 45 minutes outside that city.
They also visited the Great Wall.
They took a gondola up and a toboggan down.
They also saw the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and the Temple of Heaven.
They attended a performance of Chinese acrobats. And, they visited several markets where you could bargain over the price of your purchases.
They also saw the Muslim quarter in O’Tian. Angie and Sean raved about the food. Fresh was the key word.
They have little refrigeration and ate vegetables picked within 24 hours.
The Chinese cook all their vegetables including cucumber. Angie liked that and ate a lot of eggplant as well, something she eschewed at home.
They raved about the games and said the venues were amazing.
The Chinese had pulled out all the stops.
They saw soccer, field hockey, synchronized diving and the 100 meter men’s final (the latter from the 14th row).
They saw the women’s soccer gold medal game and enjoyed the flat water canoe kayak. Angie’s friend worked on Club Budweiser.
They had an event every other night.
It was set up as a night club for athletes, Olympic commissioners, and celebrities.
They saw Vince Vaughn there. Angie hopes to keep the memories of this trip alive within her.
They still haven’t absorbed it all.
Original photograph caption
Meara family visiting China.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November–December 2008.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Body names Angie Meara but photograph credit prints Sean and Ann Meara; preserve explicit source credit and flag variant, no identity correction guessed.
Original source: SD_Times2008_11.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 6.
