Please Return to Sender

So because of visa issues and beaurocracy and 关系 (guanxi) and arbitrary moments of "following the rules" or in a more eloquently stated manner:

"The problem here is that mainland China is not so much a land of laws as it is a remarkably complex network of interpersonal relationships. In addition, and more to the point, the law serves a very different function in China than it does in our respective Western countries in that it is primarily intended to maintain social order far more so than to specifically dictate what should or will occur under any given set of circumstances, as is true of the law in the West. Provincial and municipal government leaders are free to interpret and enforce the law in any way that best meets the needs of their citizenry. What is considered best for the social good of the people of China at any given time will generally supersede or trump a strict interpretation of the letter of the law."
(http://middlekingdomlife.com/guide/china-english-teacher-visas.htm)

I'm on my way back to America! So, if you're in the great city of Chicago from 9/25-10/1, let me know! I will be back to get me a real visa! Cross your fingers for me because if this don't work, I ain't going back.

Videos of Arirang!

As promised, I've uploaded some videos so you can better understand the magnitude of the performances. Sorry for the "shaky cam" quality for some of the clips--there was so much going on all at once that at times I would forget I was recording! ;)

Opening Act of Arirang 2010

How the Backdrop Works!

The Children's Act

Military First Arirang--I'm guessing this was a tribute to their Military First Policy

Reunification Arirang--This one was actually pretty touching, but then again, I didn't understand the Korean in the background. Maybe that would've made a difference? Would any Korean readers care to share?

Highwire/flying Act Arirang--This clip does not do it justice, but imagine not being able to see that a safety net had been put in place. We were definitely lead on to believe that we just watched someone fall tens of stories to their death. But of course, it was all part of the act! At the end, they started catapulting people across the stadium. I'm not going to lie, it was a little nerve racking to watch.

Spinning by foot and head Arirang--Sorry, I'm starting to make up names for the acts, but I think the description I've given is quite accurate!

Acrobat Arirang I--Sorry this clip was cut into two.
Acrobat Arirang II

Closing Act of Arirang 2010

There you have it! Enjoy!

To individuality

Sorry for the punctuated post, but in between trying to get my visa situation figured out (I've got this horrible visa that is for a year but each duration of stay is 30 days which means I have to leave the country every 30 days to reset the clock--I know!!!) and the course work I'm trying to complete for an MPH while abroad, and my actual job here in Beijing, I've got a limited number of hours in a day! If only it didn't take an hour+ to get anywhere in Beijing I'd have that transportation time! Good thing it's taking a while to download the videos for my class so I have some spare time ;)

Anyway, where did I leave off? OH yes, Arirang. I hope y'all got a chance to YouTube it. It is indeed a very incredible experience. Like I said, it's 120,000 performers (like a ginormous marching band except with gymnastics and musical talent) on the field and 20,000 kids (see their little heads?) seated on the opposite side of the stadium to form the backdrop. At first we were all mistaken and thought that the children were holding up white posters on which images were projected, but my camera zoom quickly proved us wrong. The kids actually have a whole book of different colored pages that they are to flip on cue. It's really amazing how precise they are. But then again, we were told they practice for months and they perform daily I believe for 3 months straight. I'm hoping those are their summer break months, but I'm not actually sure. We were also told thousands more actually try out, and these were the cream of the crop. It's a pretty big deal to be an Arirang performer. Like one of those things that your parents can brag about. If you make it, you are after all THE best of the best--nationally.

I think what I'll do is just post a lot of pictures and hopefully some videos so y'all can see for yourself.

So this was one of the first acts we saw. This was an all female performance. I believe the performers were from the late teens to early 30s. After watching the first 15 minutes, I started experiencing that strong feeling of "collectivism" and "unity". But there was definitely something a little 'off' about it. It was beautiful, yet a little unnatural. Maybe that's just the individualistic American in me talking, but I think it was more than that. I mean, these performers take a 3 month hiatus from their jobs or school to perform for whom? Much of the stadium was empty. 3 months in the world's second largest stadium...in a country that seemed kind of empty to me when I was there...but then again I was coming straight from the crowded streets of China.

Here are some pictures from the children's act. I just don't know how they got thousands of children to learn a routine and perform it so precisely!

This following part totally reminded me of that scene from Disney's Mulan--you know that whole "Be a man" musical scene. (Don't deny it--you know what I'm talking about--you're totally singing the song in your head right now!) Except of course this is Tae Kwon Do. They ended up (as you can see in the middle image) catapulting people through the air. It was ccrazzzyy.

They also had a section on China-DPRK relations which we were told was new this year. I was slightly offended because the Chinese were partially represented by dancers in panda suits. But I guess with a bunch of Asian looking people, it's hard to tell the difference? The first two pictures are of the same slogan in Korean first and then Chinese. Remember--those are little kids changing the background by flipping a page in their poster book on cue.

And here of course are the pandas. They did throw in a dragon dance which I appreciated!

And a very PC finale, we've got 120,000 North Koreans dancing around the world.

And here's the backdrop falling apart as the kids are probably dying to get some dinner at 9:30 at night.

So there we have it ladies and gentleman: The Mass Games (aka Arirang) 2010. I will do my best to post some videos on YouTube and post the links next time. I think the files may be too large for a blog post. I also can't run YouTube and Blogspot at the same time on this VPN connection or one of them will timeout. Nonetheless--I am glad to have internet once again!

Until next time--and don't worry--this was just the end of my first day in the DPRK. I've got plenty more to share ;)