John Baylor's Blog: May 24

Wednesday, May 24
Beijing is a city of 20 million inhabitants, the capital of the world's most populous nation. Japan has 127 million people. China has ten times more: 1.3 billion.

The city streets belong to the bus drivers. The traffic is war-- one big game of chicken.  Eight million people here ride bikes.  Everyone is aggressive.  You want to get through? You have to make someone else stop.

Our old friend June met us at the Airport.  You Match Clubbers may remember her as the Chinese volleyball legend who served as a grad assistant for 2000.   (Thus, every year she was an assistant, the Huskers won the title. A distinction shared by Todd Raasch from 1995.)

She came through for us again today, negotiating practice time at the Chinese National Volleyball Training facility.  The security guards were not happy.  Their instructions were: "No foreigners allowed."  Everyone is real sensitive here about Olympic sports with the Olympics coming to Beijing in 2008.  June brought in the National Team coach and a few other big shots.  Security finally relented.  We were told that we were the first foreigners to see the facility.

The Huskers practiced for ninety minutes before giving way to the Chinese National Men's Team.  We watched them for awhile before heading for dinner-- at the world's largest McDonalds: seven stories of burgers and fries.  This was the first time I had ever seen Nebraska Volleyball eat fast food.

Then, on a beautifully cool Beijing night, we joined the tourists on Tiananmen Square: it was much quieter than on those fateful days of student democracy demonstrations in 1989.

We play the Beijing pro team Thursday morning.  Six years ago Beijing beat Nancy Metcalf, Grecia, Amber and that bunch in a battle.