《北京欢迎你揭开未来都市的面纱》（第十七章）翻译项目报告.pdf

'戀舍｜相旅六讀巧详专业学位硕女论文《＃１索余獲你／巧奇义來郝市蛛》ｒ第卡本章＾翻种４？報告ＩＶｊｓｍ±＾Ｂｆｍ巧紙指巧教巧Ｉ稱天敏勘巧巧专化名巧：祐巧巧女巧巧々向＊巧请笔矮论义巧交巧巧：２０１６年４月论文巧禱时间ｉ撕１６年５月．，－亡．．－论文编２０１６４０７／耗讀炭＇＾纖 SichuanInternationalStudiesUniversityATranslationProjectReportofBeijingWelcomesYou:UnveilingtheCapitalCityoftheFuture（ChapterSeventeen）byLeiMinAthesissubmittedtotheGraduateSchoolinpartialfulfillmentoftherequirementsforthedegreeofMasterofTranslationandInterpretingunderthesupervisionofAssociateProfessorJiangTianminChongqing,P.RChinaMay2016 i 《北京欢迎你：揭开未来都市的面纱》(第十七章)翻译报告摘要本文是一篇翻译报告。翻译的原文是《北京欢迎你：揭开未来都市的面纱》一书中的第十七章，作者是《纽约观察者》的专栏记者、slate博客博主汤姆·斯科卡（TomScocca)。《北京欢迎你》一书记录作者及家人一起从2004年到2008年在北京生活的所见所闻。汤姆见证了北京为迎接2008年奥运会所做的准备；见证了北京从一座城市变成一个世界奇迹；同时也见证了四川大地震。本报告分为四个部分。第一部分为引言部分，介绍了项目的准备工作、意义和报告的结构。第二章为原作的介绍，包括作者简介和本文的主要内容。第三章介绍译者遇到的翻译难点，翻译理论指导，并举例具体说明解决所遇难点时采取的翻译方法和技巧，如词意选择、增词法和拆译法等。第四章为翻译总结，总结翻译的经验和教训，希望报告中的一些启示和总结可以为同类型的信息类文本翻译提供一定的参考和帮助。关键词：翻译项目报告；《北京欢迎你：揭开未来都市的面纱》；翻译技巧；拆译法ii ATranslationProjectReportofBeijingWelcomesYou:UnveilingtheCapitalCityoftheFuture（ChapterSeventeen）AbstractThisisatranslationprojectofChapterSeventeenofBeijingWelcomesYou:UnveilingtheCapitalCityoftheFuture,authoredbyTomScocca,acolumnistfortheNewYorkObserver,Slateblogger.ThebookisaboutexperiencesofScoccaandhisfamilymemberslivinginBeijingfrom2004to2008,includingthepreparationsBeijinghaddoneforthe29thOlympicGames,theyhadwitnessedtheextraordinarytransformationofthecityintoamarvelfortheworld,andalsothemassiveSichuanearthquake.Thereportisdividedintofourparts.PartOneisabriefdescriptionofthetranslationprojectsuchasitsbackground,itssignificance,anditsstructureofthereport.PartTwoismainlyanintroductiontothesourcetext,includingitsauthor,contentandlinguisticfeatures.PartThreeisaboutdifficultiesencounteredinthetranslation,andthecorrespondingskillsadaptedundertheguidanceofDynamicEquivalencetheory,includingwordsselection,addition,divisionandcombination.PartFoursummaryexperiencesandlessonsfromthisprojectandproblemstobesolved.Keywords:translationreport;BeijingWelcomesYou:UnveilingtheCapitalCityoftheFuture;translationskills;divisioniii AcknowledgementsFirstly,Iwouldliketoshowmydeeplythankstomysupervisor,Mr.JiangTianmin,whohasofferedmevaluablesuggestionsinmyreportwriting.Withouthisconstantencouragement,patientinstructionandexpertguidance,thisreportcouldnothavereacheditspresentform.Secondly,Ialsowouldliketoextendmysinceregratitudetoalltheprofessorsandteacherswhohasgivenmesuggestionstoimprovemyreport.Thosepeoplearequitenice,patientandprofessional.Thirdly,mythanksshouldgotomypartnerwhoofferedmealotofmaterialsandinspiration,tomodifymypaper.Iamsoluckytogainhelpfrommysupervisor,professorsandpartners.Thanks!iv Contents摘要…………………………………………………………………….........….......vvAbstract…………………………………………………………………….................iiiAcknowledgements.......................................................................................................ivChapter1Introduction…………………………………………………………...........11.1ProjectSummary……………………………………………………..................11.2ProjectSignificance…………………………………………………………….21.3ReportStructure………………………………………………………………..2Chapter2BackgroundoftheSourceText…………………………………………….42.1AbouttheAuthor...............………………………………………………….......42.2AbouttheSourceText……..................................................................................4Chapter3TranslationDifficultiesandSolutions……………………………………...63.1TranslationDifficulties………………………………………………………….63.2TheoreticalGuidance…………………………………………………………....73.3TranslationMethods…………………………………………………………….83.3.1WordsSelection…………………………………………………………….83.3.2Addition…………………………………………………………………...103.3.3DivisionandCombination…………………………………………...........11Chapter4Conclusion………………………………………………………………...13References…................................................................................................................................15AppendixISourceText………………………………………………….…………...16AppendixIITargetText................................................................................................36v ChapterOneIntroductionThispartintroducesprojectsummary,significanceandstructure.1.1ProjectSummaryAccordingtotheregulationofthegraduateschool,thesourcetextmustbepublishedinrecentfiveyears.Therefore,IsearchedresourcesontheInternetwithkeywords“publishedin2010to2015”and“noChinesetranslation”.Butthisisnotagoodwaytofindsourcetext.ThenIcametoAmazontoseetherecentlypublishedEnglishbooks,butgotnoresults.Atlast,mytutorsharedmewithawebsiteLibraryGenesis,andIfoundthebookBeijingWelcomesYou:UnveilingtheCapitalCityofFuture.Beforetranslatingthisbook,IusedGoogleandBaidutosearchtheauthor,Sccocaincludinghisbackgroundinformation,jobandarticles.IfoundheisreallyanexperiencedjournalistwithalotofknowledgeaboutChina.Afterreadingthebooktwice,Itriedtotranslatethreeparagraphsofit.AndImadeadecisiontotakethebookasmysourcetext.Duringtranslation,IencounteredmanydifficultiessuchasdifferentwaysofthinkingbetweenScoccaandme,wordsselection,etc..Inordertosolvethem,Ihadtoaskhelpfrommytutorandclassmates,searchanswersontheInternetandusecorrespondingmethodssuchasaddition,divisionandcombination.Aftertranslation,Irevisedthetargettextforthreetimesandmytutorimprovedittwice.Writingthereportismoredifficult.Ittookmeaboutonemonthtofinishthefirstdraftandabouttwomonthstoimproveit.ThefinaldraftofthetranslationandreportcameoutinApril.1.2ProjectSignificanceWiththeprogressofreformandopening-up,Chinahasbecomeabigcountry,politicallyandeconomically.Chinesepeopleenjoythebenefitsofeconomic1 growth,sciencedevelopmentandlivingstandardimprovement.Theyarevery,orperhapstoooptimisticaboutChina’scondition.TheBritishBroadcastCompanyonceentrustedGlobalScan,afamouspublicopinionpolls,andUniversityofMarylandwiththesurveyof21countries’internationalimages,includingChina.ThesurveyshowedChina’simagewasofbigdifferenceinChinesepeopleandothersaroundtheworld.Therefore,itisnecessaryforChinesepeopletoknowChina’srealpositionintheworld.Todothis,weneedtoknowhowforeignersviewourcountry.ThebookBeijingWelcomesYou:UnveilingtheCapitalCityoftheFutureoffersreaderssuchachance.IttellsthehistoryofBeijingin2008,fromwhichpeopleoutsideBeijingcanhaveabetterunderstandingofthecity’schange,achievements,andpreparatoryworkofOlympicGames.ItexploresthetransformationofBeijingintoasymbolofChinesepower,itsinfluenceinthe21stcenturyandwhatChinaistellingus,intentionallyandunintentionally,aboutourfuturetogether.Moreimportantly,thebookprovidesmanyoccidentals’opinionsaboutChinaforitspeopletoknowwhatChinalookslikeforforeigners.Againstthisbackground,thisprojecttookasthesourcetextthe17thchapterofthebookthatdescribesongoingchangesofChinesesocietyfromtheaspectofpublicsecurity.Itishopedthatthetranslation,togetherwithotherliteratureofsimilarkind,cansomehowofferChinesereaderschancestohaveamorecomprehensiveopinionaboutourcountry.Besides,thesourcetextbelongstoinformativetext,thetranslationofwhichfeatureshighpracticalsignificance.Bytranslatingthischapter,Ihopetoprovidesomepracticalreferenceforthetranslationoftextsinthisarea.1.3ReportStructureThetranslationreportisdividedintothefollowingfourparts:PartOneisabriefdescriptionofthetranslationproject,includingthesummary,significanceandstructureoftheproject.PartTwointroducesthesourcetext,includingitsauthor,contentandlinguisticfeatures.PartThreefocusesonthetranslationdifficultiesthatImetandtheirsolutions.Thesolutionsincludewordsselecting,additionanddivisionandcombination.2 PartFoursumsuptheimplicationandlessonsdrawnfromthetranslationprocess.3 ChapterTwoBackgroundoftheSourceTextThischapterintroducestheauthorandsourcetext.2.1AbouttheAuthorTomScocca,themanagingeditorofthesportssiteDeadspin,wroteforSlate,TheBostonGlobeandTheWashingtonPost,amongotherpublications.Hecurrentlyliveswithhiswifeandson,whowasborninBeijing,inNewYork.ThereasonwhyScoccawroteBeijingWelcomesYouisthatNewYorkwouldstillbeNewYorkwhenhegotthere,butBeijingwasadifferentcityeverytimehesawit.WhenScoccaandhisfamilylivedinBeijing,theywitnessedBeijing"stransformationleadinguptothe2008Games.Basedonhisfouryears’lifeexperienceinBeijing,hewroteaboutquitealotoftopicsinthebookBeijingWelcomesYou,suchasauthorities,alley,Fuwa,weatherandsoon.ItisaninsightfullookatBeijing"sefforttorebuilditself,fromthedemolitionoftheoldcitytotheconstructionofamodernmetropolis,nowtheultimaterepresentationofChina"spoliticalandculturalcapital,andofitsmightandthreat.2.2AbouttheSourceTextBeijingWelcomesYouispublishedbyPenguinPressandthereisnoChinesetranslationatpresent.ThisbookintroducesacomplicatedChinainachronologicalorderoforganizingthe29thOlympicGames.Inhisbook,Beijingwasaclosed-off,clutteredcapitalcityplaguedbytheramblinghutongs,trafficjamsandsmog,butithasbeengraduallyrearranged,guttedandrenovatedbyenormous,all-devouringconstructionprojects.ThereareabouttenpartsandthirtychaptersinBeijingWelcomesYou.Thesourcetextofthisproject,ChapterSeventeenofthisbook,isaboutpublicsecurity.Inthischapter,ScoccathinksthatChinahasfollowedtheexampleofAmericainmanyaspects,suchastheformulationofregulations,AirportLineanddeterminationtocombatterrorists,butinsomeareas,Chinahasoverrunthe4 UnitedStates,forexample,theairportsecuritycheck.InChina,peoplecannotbringbabyfood,medicineandcontactlensesholdersonplane,whichareunreasonable.ThenittalksaboutthetransparenceofgovernmentandpreparationforOlympicGames.Althoughthischapterisaboutpublicsecurity,thelastpartdescribeslivesofMaJianandSoojinChoinBeijing,givingdetailedinformationaboutBeijingfromsidedescription.AccordingtoKatharinaReiss’stexttypology,textsarecategorizedintoinformativetexts,expressivetexts,operativetextsandaudio-visualtexts(Reiss,1987,p.108).Thesourcetextbelongstothecategoryofinformativetexts.Themainfunctionofinformativetextsistoinformthereadersaboutobjectsandphenomenaintherealworld.Thechoicesoflinguisticandstylisticformsaresubordinatetothisfunction.Thecontentandfunctionofthesourcetextdetermineitslanguagefeaturesasfollows:formality,objectivityandlogicality.5 ChapterThreeTranslationDifficultiesandSolutionsThischapterisabouttranslationdifficulties,theoreticalguidanceandtranslationmethods.3.1TranslationDifficultiesThedifficultiesthatImetduringtranslationwerenotonlycausedbydifferentculturalbackgroundsandlanguagehabitsofEnglishandChinese,butalsobydifferentlogicalthinkingoftheauthorandme.Basically,therearetwodifficultiesthatIencounteredintranslation,tofigureoutthelogicandtodeterminethemeaning.Thetwoproblemsareillustratedbythehandlingofthefollowingparagraph.InBeijing,thepolicewerestoppingforeignersmoreandmorefrequentlyonthestreet,eveninexpat-friendlyneighborhoods,andaskingtoseetheirpassportsandvisas.Everyoutsiderwasapotentialsecuritythreat.Visarenewalshadreplacedairqualityastheinescapabletopicofconversation.Theyearbefore,declaringyouwantedtogetoutofthecountryfortheOlympicswasanaffectation,awayforoldChinahandstoexpresstheirdismayatthethoughtofaoncechallengingcitybeingoverrunbysofthordesoffirst-timetourists.Butitwasbecomingapracticaldecision—bettertowaitoutthesecuritysqueezebackhomethantoputupwiththenewannoyances.(Scocca,2011,p.189)在北京街上，警察越来越频繁地拦下外国人，要求查看他们的护照和签证，即使在外国友人聚集地也不例外。每位外国人都是潜在的安全威胁。签证的重新办理已取代空气质量，成为人们必谈话题。一年前，声称想出国去看奥运会是一种做作，是中国通表示沮丧的方式，他们想到曾对外国人充满挑战的城市会挤满首次去中国的游客。但它正在变成了一个切实可行的决定——最好等繁忙的安检结束后再去中国，也不要徒增新的烦恼。ThefirstdifficultyishowtounderstandthewritinglogicofScocca.Inthebeginning,theauthorwritesabouttheChinesepolice,whocheckforeigners’passportsandvisastogetridofthreats,thentheoutsider,visarenewals,thethingthatdeclareyouwanttogetoutofthecountryfortheOlympics.ThesubjectschangesorapidlyandIcouldnotfindtheinnerrelationsbetweenthefirstpartandtherest.Ialsocouldnotfigureoutwhomtheword“you”refersto.IbelievethisiscausedbydifferentwaysofthinkingbetweenScoccaandme.Inordertobefaithfultosourcetext,Itriedmybesttocatchupwiththeauthor’slogic.6 Thesecondproblemishowtodeterminatetherightmeaningofsomewords.Intheaboveparagraph,therewas“affectation”thatItookasahurdle.“Affectation”isthenounformof“affect”whichhasfivemeaningsinOxfordDictionary.Therefore,Ihadtomaketherightchoicefromthem.Thefivemeaningsare“toproduceachangeinsb/sth”,“toattacksborapartofthebody”,“tomakesbhavestrongfeelingsofsadness,pity,ect.”,“topretendtobefeelingorthinkingsth”and“touseorwearsththatisintendedtoimpressotherpeople”(shang,2006,p.28).Accordingtothecontext,thelastoneistherightmeaning,itwasnoteasytochoosefrom“炫耀”and“做作”.Atfirst,Ithoughtusing“炫耀”wasmoreaccuratethan“做作”.However,whenIcheckedthewaystosay“炫耀”inEnglish,Icouldn’tfindtheword“affectation”andwhenIchecked“affectation”ontheInternet,Icouldn’tfindthemeaning“炫耀”.Therefore,Itranslated“affectation”as“做作”.3.2TheoreticalGuidanceThisprojectisguidedbytheprincipleofDynamicEquivalence,putforwardbyEugeneNidain1960s.ThisconceptisbasedonwhatNidacallstherelationshipbetweenreceptorandmessageshouldbesubstantiallythesameasthatwhichexistedbetweentheoriginalreceptorsandthemessage.Nidadistinguishestwotypesofequivalence,formalanddynamic.Formalequivalence“focusesattentiononthemessageitself,inbothcontentandform”(Nida,2004,p.159)withaimstoletreadersunderstandasmuchofthesourcetextaspossible.Incontrast,dynamicequivalenceemphasizesmoreontheeffectthereceiverreceivesthemessagewiththepurposeto“relatethereceptortomodesofbehaviorrelevantwithinthecontextofhisownculture”(Nida,2004,p.159).NaturalnessisakeyrequirementforNida’sdynamicequivalence,whosegoalistoseektheclosestnatureequivalenttothesource-languagemessage.Thesuccessofthetranslationdependsaboveallonachievingequivalentresponse.Itisoneofthe“fourbasicrequirementsofatranslation”,whichare:(1)makingsense;(2)conveyingthespiritandmanneroftheoriginal;(3)havinganaturalandeasyformofexpression;(4)producingasimilarresponse.(Jeremy,2008,p.42)Later,Nidarealizedthatachievingabsolute7 symmetrybetweenlanguagesisimpossiblesohepreferredtheterm“functionalequivalence”inthesensethat“equivalencecanbeunderstoodintermsofproximity.”(Nida,2004,p.87).Equivalenceisacentralproblemintranslationpractice.Astherearedifferencesbetweendifferentlanguages,especiallythosefromdifferentlanguagefamilies,intheaspectsoflanguageculture,structure,andwaystoconveyideas,itisimpossibletorealizeabsoluteequivalence.Despitethis,seekingformaximumequivalencewasstilltakenasthefirstpriorityinmytranslation.Toachievethisgoal,duringmytranslation,Iemployedanarrayoftranslationmethods,amongothers,wordsselection,additionanddivisionandcombination,etc.,asareexplainedindetailinthefollowingsection.3.3TranslationMethodsInthispart,theauthorwritesaboutwordsselection,additionanddivisionandcombination.3.3.1WordsSelectionBothEnglishandChineselanguagesfeaturewithpolysemy,andonlysomepropernounsandtermsinscienceandtechnologycanbeabsoluteequivalentinbothlanguages.Therefore,itisquiteimportantforagoodtranslationworktochooserightwords.Wordsselection,namelydiction,thechoiceofwordsandphrasestoexpressmeaning,mustbebasedontheaccuratecomprehensionoftheoriginal.Themeaningofawordisitsuseinthelanguagebutnotonlyitsdefinitioninthedictionary.Example1:ST:WhileouractorsandactivistslecturedChinaabouthowtheadvanceoflibertycannotandmustnotbestopped,theAmericanexperiencewassendingouttheoppositemessage:inadangerousworld,freedomandprivacymustyieldtothedemandsoflawandorder.TT:尽管我们的演员和一些活动人士向中国宣传不能限制自由进步时，美国的经历却传达出相反的信息—在这个危险的世界，一切自由和隐私都得让步于法律和秩序的需要。8 InExample1,thewords“activists”and“yieldto”werehardnutsforme.Itranslated“activists”as“积极分子”atfirst,but“积极分子”cannotmatchthemeaningof“actor”(演员)，soIsearchedthemeaningof“activists”withOuluDictionary,whichgavemetwomeanings“积极分子”and“激进主义分子”.BothofthetwowerenotwhatIwanted.However,Ifoundsentenceexamplesinthedictionary,whereIgotthesuitablewords“活动人士”.Asfor“yieldto”,Itranslateditinto“让位”atfirst,butaftercarefulreading,Ifounditnotsuitablehere.ThenIsearched“让位”ontheInternetandfounditmeans“让出官位或职位、推让坐位、模具术语”.Therefore,Ireplaced“让位”with“让步”.Example2:ST:Theoldoverheadsigns,announcingthe“FamilyPlanning”and“LittleEdible”departmentsinEnglish,weregone.TT:头顶上，用英语写着“计划生育部”和“小吃部”的陈旧标识消失了。Iwasextremelyconfusedaboutthemeaningof“LittleEdible”atfirst.Whatis“LittleEdible”?IstherethiskindofdepartmentinChina?Whichdepartmentcanbesettogetherwith“familyplanningdepartment”inmarket?Thosequestionshauntedmeforalongtime.AndIcouldnotfinditsmeaningthroughsearchengines.Theoriginalmeaningof“Edible”are“可食用的”and“食品”，buttheyarenotsuitablehere.Ialsoaskhelpfrommyclassmates,butIgotnoanswer.Isolvedtheproblemonasunnymorning.WhenIcametoastoretobuyapen,“小吃部”，aChinesenameofastorecameintomyeyes.Thatwastheanswer.3.3.2AdditionThemethodofadditionintranslationmeanstoaddnecessarywords,phrases,clausesorcompletesentences,thepurposeofwhichistomakethetranslationconsistentwiththetargetlanguageintermsofgrammarandlanguageform.Inthisway,thetranslationwillbeequivalenttothesourcetextintermsofcontent,styleandspirit(Feng,2008,p.58).Duringtranslation,thetranslatormayalsoaddthe9 informationthatisnotwrittenbutimpliedintheoriginaltext.Example3:ST:ThehomeoftheBillofRightswaswhereyouhadtostripoffyourshoesandbelt,wherecheckedbaggagewouldbedivertedandpawedthroughbyinspectors,whereguardswouldstopyouifyoutriedtomakeacell-phonecallfrombaggageclaim.TT:在这个强调人权大于主权的《权利法案》诞生地，人们在安检时却必须要脱下鞋子和皮带，行李还要被安检人员开箱检查，如果人们在领取行李时打电话，安保人员会上前阻止。Myfirsttranslationversionis“在这个《权利法案》诞生地，人们在安检时必须要脱下鞋子和皮带，行李还要被安检人员开箱检查，如果人们在领取行李时打电话，安保人员会上前阻止”.Theinformationthatconveyedinsourcetextwasconveyed,butitfailedtoincludeitsimplicationbecausesomereadersmayevennotknowwhattheBillofRightsis.Therefore,Iaddedinmytranslation“人权大于主权”tomaketheimplicationexplicitand“却”tomakethelogicclear.Example4:ST:Hewentontoaboomingfinish:“JustastheChinesepeoplehavedemonstratedintheearthquake.Theyhaveshowntheirstrongcharacter.Wewillalsoshowour.”TT:接着，他精彩的结尾：“正如中国人民在地震中展示的那样，他们展示了坚强的性格，我们也将展示我们坚毅的品格。”ThesentenceinsourcetextisJinDapeng’swords,whichomits“strongcharacter”,buttheimplicationisthere.SoIadded“坚毅的品格”intranslationtokeepthemeaningintact.3.3.3DivisionandCombinationDivisionisthemethodthatusedtodivideasentenceintotwoormorepartsbypickingoutthosewords,phrasesorclauseswhicharehardnutstocrackand10 makingthemintoChineseword-groups,clausesorsentences,coordinateorsubordinate.Combinationmeanscombiningwords,phrasesandevenclauses,i.e.reproducingtwoormorethantwowords,phrasesorclauseswithfewerwords,phrasesorclauses.Asakindofparataxislanguage,ChinesesentencestructureislooserthanEnglish,andthesentencewouldbeendedafterfinishingthewholesense-group,butitsinternallogicrelationisalwaysrealizedthroughcontextandwordorderwithoutalotofassociatedwords.Incontrast,Englishprefersatree-likesentencestructure.Takingthisdifferenceintoconsideration,IrestructuredthesentencesinsourcetextintranslationtomakeitconsistentwithChinesestructureandsyntax.Example5:ST:Onespecialconsistedoffootageofopeningceremoniesfromthepast,includingaslow-motionreplayofthemomentinSeoulin1988whenafewwhitedoves,lingeringafteramassreleaseearlyintheceremony,perchedinthestadium’scauldronandwereincineratedbythelightingoftheOlympicflame.TT:这些节目还有个特殊环节，那就是播放以往开幕式的一些特殊镜头，其中包括1988年首尔奥运会开幕式慢动作回放镜头。当时主办方先放飞白鸽，一些鸽子停留在体育馆的主火炬台上休息，圣火点燃后，它们就被圣火烧焦了。Duetothedifferencesdiscussedabove,itisnotappropriatetotranslateExample6inaliteralway.Therefore,Idividedthesentencebetween“1988”and“when”.Also,IadjustedsentenceordertoconformtothehabitofChineseexpression.Example6:1.ST:Babyfoodwasfluidlike.Babyfoodwasthereforebanned.TT:婴儿食品是流质食物，所以婴儿食品禁止带上飞机。2.ST:ShespokeEnglishandworeyogapants,awhiteT-shirt,andflip-flops.Herhairwasreddishandpulledback.11 TT:她说着英语，穿着瑜伽裤、白色T恤和人字拖，红色的头发向后梳着。Thetwoexampleshaveonethingincommon:thereisoneoverarchingsubjectwithtwoorevenmoredescriptions.Inthefirstexample,thesubjectisbabyfood,whileinthesecondone,“she”as“herhair”canbetakenasadescription.Inthiscase,Icombinedthedescriptionsinonesentencetomakethetranslationconciseandsmoothanditsperspectiveconsistent.12 ChapterFourConclusionTranslationisapainstakingcreativeprocess.Goodtranslationcanberegardedasaprocessofcorrectunderstanding,accurateexpressionandproofreading.Thefirstthingweshoulddobeforewebegintotranslateistoreadsomerelevantbackgroundinformationtohelpusbetterunderstandthesourcetext.Inordertogetagoodresult,Ihaddonealotofpreparation.Ihadreadabout20bookstofindsuitablematerialtotranslate.AfterfindingBeijingWelcomesYou,Isearchedforinformationabouttheauthorandpublishingcompany,PenguinbyGoogleandBaidu.Duringtranslation,Iusedmanymethods,suchasaddition,divisionandcombinationetc..TheInternetisreallyawonderfulhelper.Itiscrucialtochoosetherightkeywordswhenlookinguptherelevantbackgroundinformationaboutthesourcetextanditsauthor.Readingthesourcetextoverandoveragainisthebasistounderstanditthoroughly,seizethecentralideasandanalyzetheoverallstructure.Aftertranslation,Iproofreadmyworkseveraltimesbecauseproofreadingisalsoanimportantpartoftranslationprocess.Byproofreading,Iwasabletonotonlyavoidsomeunnecessarymistakessuchasinaccuracyandomission,butalsofurtherunderstandthesourcetextandrefinethelanguageinthetargettext.Translationprojectrequiresteamwork.Discussionwithmymentorandclassmateshelpedmesolveproblemssuchasinaccurateunderstandingsofthesourcetextandwording.WhenIencounteredsomedifficulties,Ididnothesitatetoaskmymentororclassmatesforhelp.Goodtranslationrequiresthetranslatortoreviseandpolishthetranslatedversionrepeatedly.Afterfinishingthetranslationproject,IsummarizedthedifficultiesIhadencountered.Thesepreciousresourcesareusefulformyfuturetranslationprojects.Therealsoexistscertainproblemsformetosolveinthefuture.Iunderstoodthesourcetextwell,yetIalwaysfailedtofindaproperwaytoexpressitinChinese.IthinkIneedtoimprovemyChineseabilitybyreadingmore.Specifically,thetranslationisnotfluentenough,especiallythetranslationsoflong13 sentences,andIamexpectedtoimproveupontheminthefuture.14 ReferencesMundy.J.(2008).Introducingtranslationstudies:Theoriesandapplications(p.42),LondonandNewYork:Roultedge.Newmark,Peter.(2001).Approachestotranslation.Shanghai:ShanghaiForeignLanguageEducationPress.Nida,E.&CharlesR.Taber(2004).Thetheoryandpracticeoftranslation.Shanghai:ShanghaiForeignLanguageEducationPress.Nida,E.(1993).Language,cultureandtranslating.Shanghai:ShanghaiForeignLanguageEducationPress.Nida,E.(2007).Languageandculture:Contextintranslation.Shanghai:ShanghaiForeignLanguageEducationPress.Nida,E.(2004).Towardascienceoftranslating(pp.87-159).Shanghai:ShanghaiForeignLanguageEducationPress.Nord,Christiane.(2001).Translatingasapurposefulactivity:Functionalistapproachesexplained.Shanghai:ShanghaiForeignLanguageEducationPress.Reiss,K.(2000).Translationcriticism:Potentialsandlimitations.Trans.ErrollF.Rhodes.Manchester:St.Jerome.Reiss,K.(1987).Texttype,translationtypesandtranslationassessment.Trans.Chestermaned.ReadingsinTranslationTheory.Helsinki:Finnlectura..Reiss,K.(2004).‘Type,kindandindividualityoftext:Decisionmakingintranslation’,translatedbyS.Kitron,inL.Venuti(ed.).Sccoca,Tom.(2011).Beijingwelcomesyou:Unveilingthecapitalcityofthefuture(p.189).USA:PenguinGroup.冯庆华.(2008).实用翻译教程(p.58).上海:上海外语教育出版社.刘宓庆.(2006).文体与翻译.北京:中国对外翻译出版公司.连淑能.(2010).英汉对比研究.北京:高等教育出版社.马会娟.(2003).奈达翻译理论研究.北京:外语教学与研究出版社.牛津高阶英汉双解词典.(2006).上海:商务印书馆.谭载喜.(1999).新编奈达论翻译.北京:中国对外翻译出版公司.萧立明、娄胜平.(2005).英译汉规则与技巧.北京:机械工业出版社.张培基.(2009).英汉翻译教程.上海:上海外语教育出版社.15 AppendixI:SourceTextPublicSecurityWhenwefinallygotintoanargumentwiththeChinesesecurity,itwasoveranoddlyAmericanthing.WehadgonetoUrumqi,thecapitaloftheXinjiangUighurAutonomousRegion,onashorttripforChristina’sjob.MostofthetroublesonthetriphadbeentheusualChineseones:theflightfromBeijinghadbeenlatebecausethewholeplane,inthisegalitarianworkers’sparadise,washeldtowaitforatardyfirst-classpassengertoshowup.Someonesomewhereontheflighthadlitupacigarette.Therewasviolent,tossingturbulence.Thebeverageserviceranoutofwater.Whenthebabyfinallystartedscreamingfromitall,thestewardcamebacktoourseats,nearthepitchingtailoftheplane,andaskedustostophimfromcryingbecausetheotherpassengersweretryingtosleep.ThewayoutoftheUrumqiairportwascloggedbyanalmostimpassablepressingcrowd.BecauseoftheOlympics,ourdrivertoldusafterhelpingussqueezefree,peoplewerenotallowedtowaitinsidetheterminalforarrivalsanymore,sotheyjustformedamoboutside.Then,asweheadedbackthroughtheairport,fortheflightbacktoBeijing,thesecurityscreenerspulledasideourdiaperbag.Theairport-securitywringerwasafairlynewfeatureoflifeinChina.WhenIstartedtravelingbetweentheUnitedStatesandthePeople’sRepublicin2004,onlyonesideofthetriphadairportsthatfeltliketheybelongedtoatotalitarianstate:America.ThehomeoftheBillofRightswaswhereyouhadtostripoffyourshoesandbelt,wherecheckedbaggagewouldbedivertedandpawedthroughbyinspectors,whereguardswouldstopyouifyoutriedtomakeacell-phonecallfrombaggageclaim.Eventually,aftertheliquid-explosivesscare,itwaswhereyoucouldn’tevenbringadrinkofwaterontheflight.WhatwasAmerica’srealcontributiontoglobalcultureinthetwenty-firstcentury?Intheairportline,asinsomanyotherpartsofmodernlife,ChinawascatchingupwiththewaythingsweredoneintheUnitedStates.WhileouractorsandactivistslecturedChinaabouthowtheadvanceoflibertycannotandmustnotbestopped,theAmericanexperiencewassendingouttheoppositemessage:inadangerousworld,freedomandprivacymustyieldtothedemandsoflawandorder.16 InMarch,state-runnewshadreportedthatapassengerorpassengershadtriedtobringdownaflightoutofUrumqi,usinggasolineasthewould-beweapon.Thedetailsofthegasolineplotwereneverquiteclear,buttheresultwas:soonafter,ChinainstitutedanAmerican-styleliquidsbanofitsown.Itisnecessary,inacampaignagainstterrorism,toemphasizeinsecurity.Aworriedpublicismorecooperativewithitsprotectors.TheriotinginLhasadidn’tunderminepublicconfidenceintheChinesegovernment’slegitimacy;itfortifiedit:Thesearethekindofpeoplewehavetodealwith.Chinahadpledgedgreateropennessandadherencetohuman-rightsnorms,butithadalsopromisedthattheBeijingGameswouldbesafe.Andsafetycamefirst.Beijingwashostingamajorinternationalevent,inwhateveryoneagreedwereperiloustimes.TheNewYorkTimeshadreportedthatAmericancompanies,includingIBM,Honeywell,andGeneralElectric,weresupplyinghardwareandsoftwaretohelpBeijingbuildastate-of-the-artsurveillancesystemtoprotectitselffortheGames.AnyterroristwhotriedtodisruptBeijingwouldconfrontasecuritynetworkofhundredsofthousandsofcameras,programmedtoautomaticallyrecognizesuspiciouspeopleordetectunusualcrowdbehavior.Thatsurveillanceability-oidentifyunwantedfaces,topreventtheunexpected-wouldstillbethereaftertheOlympicswereover,forthePublicSecurityBureautousehoweveritmightchoose.OnourwayoutofUrumqi,theX-raymachinesaidweweresuspectpeople.Twoofficers,amanandawoman,werehand-inspectingbagsthathadflunkedthescan.Fromthediaperbag,theyproducedtwobottlesofsunscreen,mineandthebaby’s.Iconstantlyforgettoputsunscreenincheckedbaggage.ThelasttimeI’dforgotten,ithadjustbeenthebaby’ssunlotion,andanofficerhadwaveditthroughoutofsympathy.Buttwobottles?Istoodconvictedofboneheadedness.Thesunscreen(irreplaceableontheChinesemarket)wentintothebinbytheofficers’sfeet,withotherfliers’cast-offbottledwaterandsnacks.Thentheypulledoutthetwojarsofbabyfood.Technically,babyfoodwasillegalunderthenewChinesesecurityrules.ThismarkedoneofthekeydifferencesbetweenChineseandAmericansecurityprocedures.InAmerica,therulesmightbeintrusive,inconvenient,andpointless-andtheycouldbefoolishlyandinflexiblyapplied-butcustomersexpectedtheretobe,atbottom,somesignofreasonableness.Passengers17 needtobeabletotaketheirmedicineonaplane,ortakeouttheircontactlenses.Babiesneedtoeat.TheChineserulemakersandenforcers,ontheotherhand,didn’tworryaboutwhetherornotpeoplethoughtthetextoftheruleswasreasonable.Therulebannedfluids.Babyfoodwasfluidlike.Babyfoodwasthereforebanned.ThemaleofficeratUrumqiwasreadytoletthefoodpass.Therewasababy;therewasthebaby’sfood.Itwassealedinitsfactorycontainers.Butthewomanoverruledhim:Nobabyfoodallowed.Thejarswouldhavetogointhebin.WhathadoncebeeneasyhadnowskippedpastAmerican-gradedifficulty,intotheimpossible.Itwasalittlebeforesixp.m.,thebaby’sdinnertime.Ifhedidn’teat,hewouldscreamallthewaybacktothecapital.Weofferedtofeedhimrightthere,atthesecuritycheckpoint.Noneofthebabyfoodwouldgoontotheplane,exceptinsidethebaby.Buttheofficerswereinflated,pettyauthorityseizingapettyproblem.Babyfoodwasnotallowed.Ithadtobeconfiscated.Somehow,whileIarguedwiththefemaleofficer,mywifegotherhandsononeofthejarsandbeganspooningfruitintothebaby’smouth.Thebabydidnotburstintoflames.Unimpressed,theofficerheldontothesecondjar.Perhapstheblueberrieswereadecoy,andthestrainedpeasweretherealexplosives.WasterroristattackagainsttheOlympicsagenuinethreat?ItwashardtoknowinBeijing,asitisinNewYork.Besidesthereportedairplaneattack,therehadbeenabusexplosioninShanghaiinthespring,andthegovernmenthadreportedraidsinthewestonheavilyarmedUighurandTibetangroups,includingfindsofweaponscachedinBuddhistmonasteries.Thearmed-monkplotsoundedfar-fetchedtoAmericanears,butitwasnotmuchmoreimplausiblethanthekungfuterroristcellourowngovernmentannouncedithadbrokenupinMiami,orthefeeblemindedallegedschemestofloodLowerManhattanorcutthecablesoftheBrooklynBridgewithwirenippers.InBeijing,thepolicewerestoppingforeignersmoreandmorefrequentlyonthestreet,eveninexpat-friendlyneighborhoods,andaskingtoseetheirpassportsandvisas.Everyoutsiderwasapotentialsecuritythreat.Visarenewalshadreplacedairqualityastheinescapabletopicofconversation.Theyearbefore,declaringyouwantedtogetoutofthe18 countryfortheOlympicswasanaffectation,awayforoldChinahandstoexpresstheirdismayatthethoughtofaoncechallengingcitybeingoverrunbysofthordesoffirst-timetourists.Butitwasbecomingapracticaldecision-bettertowaitoutthesecuritysqueezebackhomethantoputupwiththenewannoyances.Wemanagedtoprythepeasaway,andweshoveledthemintothebaby’smouth.Ourterroristco-conspiratorsinthebaby-foodindustryhadoutwittedsecurity,replacingtheexplosiveswithharmlessvegetables.Mackfinishedtheentirejar.Whenhewasdone,wetossedthedrippingjarsbackintotheconfiscationbin,ashardaswedared,andwererewardedwiththesoundofbreakingglass.Thepressbriefingskeptcoming.TheBeijingTourismAdministrationannouncedthatthecityofBeijingnowhad815star-ratedhotels,5,892lodgingplacesoverall,336,000guestrooms,and660,000beds.In2001,thecityhadpromisedtheIOC350morestar-ratedhotels,foratotalof800bythetimeoftheGames.Twohundredthousandstafferswouldreceivetraininginforeignlanguagesandetiquette.Thecoloroftowels,andthesoftnessofthosetowels,wouldbestandardizedcitywide.Therewouldbeacitytourismmanualandatelevisionchanneldedicatedtotourism.Therewouldbeahotlinetoatourists’callcenter.Wouldtherebetourists?Theforecastwasfor450,000to500,000,nomorethantherewouldbeinanormalsummer.TheOlympicswasdrivingoffasmanypeopleasitwasattracting.Whatabouttheproblemspeoplewerehavinggettingtouristvisas?“well,allOlympichostcitieswillstrengthensecuritymeasuresduringtheOlympicGames....Beijinghasdonelikewise,andwehavestrengthenedreviewsontouristapplications.Ibelieveiftheapplicantsfollowourrequirements,forexampleidentificationoftheirhotels,Ibelievetheywillgettheirvisassmoothly.”Whatwerethereservationratesatthemoment?Forthefive-starhotels,theratewas77percent.Forfour-stars,itwas44percent.Theshortfallwas“notentirely”duetothesecuritymeasures.Three-starandlowerhotels“haveplentyofrooms.”Thewintertimeshortageofreservations,itnowappeared,wasfailedspeculation.Thencamethepressconferenceonmedicalpreparations.Therewouldbe5,800hospitalbedsavailable,andthecitywaslayinginasupplyofbloodtypessuitableforforeigners.Less19 thanonepercentoftheChinesepopulationhadRh-negativeblood.Thepublichealthsystemwouldbepreparedforblackplagueandfoodpoisoningalike.Whatabouttransparencyinthehandlingofhealthmatters?“Open,fair,andtransparentistheresponsibilityofourgovernment.”JinDapeng,thepartysecretaryofthemunicipalhealthbureau,wasaheavy-facedmanwithwavyhair,atouchofgrayatthetemples,inabluesuit,blueshirt,andbluetie.Hespokeslowlyandoratorically.Hiseyebrowswereimpressive.HehadgoneintoTangshan,whereanearthquakekilledsomethinglikeaquarterofamillionpeoplein1976,asatwenty-nine-year-oldmedicalstaffer,hesaid.UnliketheongoingspectacleofSichuan,theextentofthecalamityinTangshanhadbeenamystery:Maowasonhisdeathbed,theCulturalRevolutionwasfallingapart,andthedeathtollwastreatedasaninternalmatter.“Atthetime,thegovernmentwasn’topenenoughtoreleasetheinformation,”Jinsaid.“Thistime,inSichuan,youcouldwitnesstheopennessandtransparency.”“Wewillprepareourselvesforallkindsofdauntingdifficulties,”Jinsaid.“Wewilldedicateourselvestoachievingourgoal,despiteallkindsofdifficulties....Wewillgothroughthishistoricalmoment,andhistorywilltellothersthatourmedicalteamiscapableandprofessional....”Hewentontoaboomingfinish:“JustastheChinesepeoplehavedemonstratedintheearthquake.Theyhaveshowntheirstrongcharacter.Wewillalsoshowourstrongcharacter.”Acrossfromthealleymouth,thecornerstoreandthecorneritselfwereintotaldisorder.Insidethemarket,thecoldcasewasallthatremainedofthegrocerysection.Theresthadbeengutted;torn-outceilingtileslayonthefloor.Theoldoverheadsigns,announcingthe“FamilyPlanning”and“LittleEdible”departmentsinEnglish,weregone.Allthesurvivinggrocerygoodshadbeencrammedintothemiddle,wherethefruitandeyeglassesusedtobe.Acurtainofthestripedplasticfabricimperfectlyseparatedtheworkzonefromthecheckout,wherethecashierwascoughingfromthedust.Thepublictoiletacrosstheintersectionwasnowfour-fifthsdemolished,withonlytheeastendstanding.Thenewsstandhadbeenshutteredandmoved,initsentirety,afewyardstotherear.Thevendorhadsetoutpapersandmagazinesintheopen,onracksandatable,nexttowherethestandhadbeen.Thebicyclerepairmanwhousedtoworkalongsidethetoilethadset20 upshopontheamputatedtilefloorofthenewsstanditself,insidetheabandonedhalf-octagonfoundation.ForMack’sfirstbirthday,wetookhimtothezoointhemorningtoseetheEarthquakePandas.Officially,theyhadbeenbookedastheOlympicPandas,buttheSichuanearthquakehadstrucktheheartofthepandareserve,sendingthecollectionofyoungpandasnorthaheadofschedule,asrefugees.TheearthquakerecoveryremainedtheongoingcounterpointtotheOlympicpreparations.Christinahadfoundanotherballetclasstogoto,aself-organizedbandofamateurdanceaficionados-ashipping-industrylogisticsworker,acabdriver-whowouldfindemptystudiosandconveneviatextmessage.OneoftheirpreferredsiteswasthestudioofthedancecorpsoftheChineseCoalMiningAssociation.LikeotherChineseorganizations,uptoandincludingthePeople’sLiberationArmy,thecoalassociationmaintainedaculturalwing.Sincethedancerswerefrequentlyaway,entertainingthecoalminers,thestudiowasavailable.Onenight,therewasafund-raisergoingonthere,withgenuineSichuanorphansastheguests.Onthetaxidrivers’sradiostation,anannouncerwassayingthattaxisoughttomakeitpossibleforpassengerstousechildsafetyseats.Bynow,wehadguiltilygonenative;Mackhadoutgrownhisinfantseat,andluggingalargerversionaroundfromcabtocabwastoomuchtocontemplate.Also,theradiowarned,oneshouldbecarefulnottoblowcoldaironthebabies.PeoplelinedthewindowsintheOlympicPandaHouse,waitingforthepandastoshowup.Aroundeighta.m.,keeperswearingrubberbootsbeganstrewingarmloadsofbambooaroundtheenclosure.Then,tocheers,thepandaswerereleasedfromadoorintherear,eightoftheminall.Theyweretwoyearsold,abittalleronallfoursthanknee-hightoanadulthuman.Appearingallatonce,theygavetheimpressionofactually,adorably,tumblingintoview.Pandaabundancewasnewtome;IwasusedtothedisplayattheNationalZooinWashington,D.C.,withtheexpensivelyleasedpandasdisplayedinindividualsettings,liketheHopeDiamond,tobecontemplatedbyreverentviewers.Ayoungfemalekeeper,skippingandclapping,ledthepandasforwardandspreadthemoutatdifferentpilesoffood,soeveryonecouldsee.Thesurgeofpandaadmirerspinnedmeagainstthewindowframe.21 Weretreatedtotheoutside.NextdoorandalittledownhillwastheAsiaGamesPandaHouse,builtinhonorofthe1990gamesinBeijing.Outsideit,inapitwithaslidingboardandteeter-totterovergrownwithweeds,afull-grownpandawassittinginnearanonymity.PeoplegaveitaglanceastheyhurriedtowardtheOlympicPandas.“TheOlympicPandascannotbethatlazyanddirty,”someonesaid.Awayfromthepandas,ataphoto-takingstation,ayoungchimpinarugbyshirtslumpedbetweentwozoostaffers,whowerealsoslumped.Thegorillahabitatwasempty,withpaintedChinesemasksonthewallleeringatthespacewheretheapeswouldgo.Peoplepluckedleavesofftheshrubberyatrandomandfedthemtotheanimals.Aroundonefair-sizedglassenclosure,withopenmeshatthetop,asmallcrowdwatchedsomeexoticanimalsfromabroadshowingofftheirclimbingskills:huanxiong,or“ashingbears.”Procyonlotor.Theraccoon.IcedancingwasplayingonthesportschannelonceknownasCCTV-5,nowrenamedtheCCTVOlympicschannel.OddhoursoftheTVdaythatmightoncehavebroughtsnookerorbullfightingnowdeliveredOlympicpreliminariesandOlympicretrospectives.Onespecialconsistedoffootageofopeningceremoniesfromthepast,includingaslow-motionreplayofthemomentinSeoulin1988whenafewwhitedoves,lingeringafteramassreleaseearlyintheceremony,perchedinthestadium’scauldronandwereincineratedbythelightingoftheOlympicflame.Sotheicedancerstwirledandglitteredondozensoftelevisionsatonce,allalongtheshoreofthesceniclakecalledHouhai,throughtheopenwindowsandFrenchdoorsofdozensofbars.Houhai,partofastringoflandscapedlakesleadingnorthandwestfromalongsidetheForbiddenCity,wasaphenomenonoftheNewBeijing-aquietstretchofparklanddevouredinlessthanadecadebyanightlifelandrush.AfewbarswherethehutongsmetthelakeshorehadattractedexpatsandBeijingerswithmoneytospend,andthosebarshadattractedimitators,andtheimitatorshadattractedmorepeople,moremoney,andmoreimitators.Thechainreactionwouldrunoutofshorelinebeforeitranoutoffuel.Therewererestaurantsinthemix,andaStarbucks,andaplazaatoneendwheremiddle-agedandelderlyBeijingerswouldwaltzintheopenair.Butthoseweregracenotesagainstthefrantic,eagerlydebauchedairofaboardwalkduringspringbreak-tingedbytheinterethnicMay-DecembersatisfactionofChinese-expatcouplesonthemake.22 Itwaswarmout.AvendorsoldT-shirtswithflickeringgraphicequalizerdisplaysbuiltintothem.Liveheavymetalcamefromanopenbarfront,acoverof“CountryRoads”fromanother.Toutstrolledthestrip,murmuringinvitationstothisorthat“ladybar.”“Ladybar,ladybar.”IwastalkingtoawomannamedEvaShen,whohadsteppedoutsideoftheclubsheco-owned.Itwasnotaladybar,thoughitcouldhavebeenmistakenforone;itwasaplacewherecouplesorfriendsmightgofordrinks.Overthedoor,inglowingcharacters,wastheChinesenameoftheclub,YuwangChengshi;abovethat,inlargerletters,wasitsothername:SEXANDDACITY.ThemovieofSexandtheCitywasopeninginAmerica,andthesignonthebarhadmademecuriousabouttheoutpostofintellectualproperty.IhadlongsincediscoveredthatmyjobforTheNewYorkObserverwastoorecursiveandconfusingtoexplaintopeopleinBeijing-anewspaperreporterwhoreportedonnewspapersandreporters?-butIrecognizedthatpeoplewouldbeexcitedandsatisfiedifIsimplytoldthemitwasthepaperwherethe“SexandtheCity”columnwaspublished.ButinwhatshapehadthisstylizedconceptofNewYorklifearrivedontheshoresoftheimperiallakes?“Ofcourse,nobodywantstobeSamantha,”Shensaid.ItwasawarmSaturdaynight.ShespokeEnglishandworeyogapants,awhiteT-shirt,andflip-flops.(“Idoyogaalot,”shesaid.)Herhairwasreddishandpulledback.Aroundher,thenightwasfullofwomeninshort-shorts,teeteringheels,sparklythings;amongthewomenwereallthemenlookingforwomen.SexandDaCityopenedin2003,Shensaid.SheandaboutadozenfriendshadbeenoutatanightspotcalledtheWorldofSuzyWongClub,andeveryoneagreedtheymightaswellopenabaroftheirown.Whentheyconvenedtodiscusstheideaagaininthedaytime,thegrouphaddwindledtofive.Whenitcametimetotalkaboutinvestingmoney,Shensaid,itwasdowntofourwomen.Thatnight,shesaid,shewenthomeandwatchedHBO.Andrighttherewasashow-hehadalreadybeenafan-about“exactlyfourgirls,”pursuingindependenceandglamourinthebigcity.BeforeShenandherpartnerswenttothebank,anotheroneofthemdroppedout,but23 shehadalreadysettledonthename.Replacing“the”with“da”was,byChinesestandards,afairlyrespectfulnodtotrademarkrights.Shensaidshewaslookingforwardtoseeingthenewmovie.“MaybemyhusbandalreadyboughttheDVD,”shesaid.ShenwasborninChairmanMao’sBeijing,inHaidiandistrict.“IneverimaginedthatIcouldopenabarlikethis,”shesaid.SexandDaCitywasamodest-sizedclub,withasquarefloorplanandasquarebarinthemiddle,withatwo-storymuralofMarilynMonroeabovetheliquorbottles.JodiXu,areporterborninShanghaiandboundforjournalismschoolinNewYork,hadmetmeattheclubtohelpwithChinese-languageinterviews.ADJboothwasplayinghip-hop,loudly.Marilyn’sfacelookedintoathree-sidedloftwheretableswere500yuan.Thedrinksmenuwaslongandincludedan“AbsolutAstronautShooter,”a“SexandDaCityAbsolutCosmopolitan,”andan“OlympicCocktail.”Thelastwasorange-ishandfruity,anditcameinabigmartiniglasswithacherrynotchedontoitsrim.Oneachsideofthebarwasashinymetalpole,runninguptothefacingoftheloft.Aroundelevenp.m.,ayoungwomaninasnugblackdressandshinybootsthatrosepastherkneesclimbeduponthebarandbegandancingaroundandonthepole.Thedancerhadacheerysmileandworesquare-cutbangsdownpasthereyebrows.Shedancedinamatter-of-factstyle,wrappingitupbyshinnyingupthepole,asifingymclass,anddoingabackbend.Anotherdancer,skinnierandinablousy,shorterdress,tookthenextshift.Menpausedoutsideinthelane,gogglingthroughtheclearpartoftheglassdoor.Shensaidsheaddedthepoledancersin2005.“Actually,thereisaschool,apoledancers’sschool,inBeijing,”shesaid.Occasionally,shesaid,thedistrictpolicewouldcomebyandtellthemtomakesurenobodydidanythingtooprovocative.Inside,aChinesecoupleintheirtwentieswerehavingadrinkatoneofthetables.ThemantoldJodiandmethattheyhadcometotheclubbecauseofthepoledancers.Itwastheonlypoledancingonthewholestreet,hesaid.Thedancersusedtobemoresexy,andtheyhadmoremoves,hesaid,butthepolicehadmadethemcutdownontheeroticdancingfortheOlympics,tokeepthecityfromseemingsleazy.24 TheDJplayed“Let’sGetItStarted,”andpeoplewhoopedandbegantodance.Ontopofthebar,thewomanintheboots-nowwearingabluepleatedskirtandaT-shirtreading“AllGoodintheHood”-keptmovingatherpreviouscalmpace.Upintheloft,bythetopofthestairs,theotherdancerwasslouchedinachair,wearingearbuds.ShetookthemouttotalktousaboutSexandDaCity.ShecametoBeijingfromShanxiProvincetwoyearsago,shesaid,andshehadbeenaninstructorattheBeijingpole-dancingschool.Shedancedtenminutesashift-sheheldupherindexfingerstomakeacross,theChinesesymbolfor“ten”-eightshiftsanight,tillonea.m.“IstudieddancingsinceIwasachild,sothat’swhyIlikedancing,”shesaid.“Butatthesametime,Ineedtomakemoney.”LivinginBeijing,shesaid,createdalotofpressure.“Ifthere’snomoney,youcan’tsurvive,andit’shardtofindajob.”Sheconfirmedthatthepolicehadaskedthemtodancelesssexily,morelow-key.Shefiddledwithacigarettelighterinonehandandashinycellphoneintheotherasshetalked.Howoldwasshe?Twenty-seven,shesaid.“Don’taskaboutmyage.”Downstairsatthecenterofthebar,aChinesewomaninadull-patterneddresshadbeensittingforalongtimewithherbacktothedoor,talkingtonoone,stoopedoveralowballglass.AbartendersetabottleofCoronabeer,withalimeintheneck,besideher.Thenheputfreshiceinaglassandpouredthebeeroveritforher.AnotherthingaboutChinesepeoplewouldbethatChinesepeopleloveKobeBryant.TheNBAFinalswereon,Bryant’sLakersagainsttheCeltics,andMaJianwashostingaviewingpartyatasportsbar.ThebartookupthethirdfloorofahoteloutsidetheJianguomeninterchangeontheSecondRing;acrosstheroadwayandalittletothenorthwasasurvivingpieceofthecitywall,toppedbytheplatformoftheAncientObservatoryanditsbronzeastronomicalimplements,orreplicasthereof.TheoriginalimplementshadbeenlootedbyWesternpowersduringtheBoxerRebellion,andonlysomehadbeenreturned-anearlyoneofChina’saccumulatedtwentieth-centuryhistoricalindignities.Mawasstillworkingonthefinancingforhissports-educationplans.Meanwhile,hehadbeendoingNBAannouncingworkforanewsportsnetworkcalledCSPN,acollaborationamongprovincialTVstations.Thenetwork,whoselogoletteringboreastrongresemblancetothatofESPN,wouldcarrythesatellitevideofeedfromAmerica,andMawouldsupply25 Chinesecommentaryoverit.CSPNwasnotavailabletoviewersinBeijing,butthestudiosweredownatthesouthendofthecity.I’djoinedMathereonefrigidwintermorning,ashebroadcastoneofthemostboringmatchupsimaginable-YiJianlianandthelousyMilwaukeeBucksagainsttheawfulNewYorkKnicks.PeoplewantedtoseeYi,eveniftherewasnothingelseworthwatchingaboutthegame.Thestudiowascavernous(thelargestsportsstudioinAsia,Masaid),cold,anddeserted:noreceptionist,noonebringingcoffee,nolightsoninthelobbyorstairwells.TheBuckstookacommandingleadinthethirdquarter,thengaveitallback.Manarratedtheaction-“Youle!”hecalledasashotwentup.Gotit!-andsuppliedoccasionalnotesonstrategy,asmuchashethoughttheaudiencecouldtolerate.“They’renotveryknowledgeableaboutthegame,”hesaid,ruefully.“Iwishtheycouldunderstand.”Iftheyweretechnicallyminded,viewerswouldhavewantedtoseesomeothergame.YiscoredfourpointsandsatonthebenchinthefinalminutesastheKnicksfinishedtheircomeback.TheNBAhadvanishedfromChinesetelevisionaftertheearthquake,underanationalmourningbanonlightheartedprogramming.NowtheNBAhadreportedlydonated14millionyuantoearthquakerelief,andthegriefhadeasedenoughthatthefinalswerebackonTV,andtheleaguewassponsoringapartyfor200peopletowatchgamefour,withabreakfastbuffet.Mawasinacurtained-offVIPlounge,preparingtoannouncethegameforthepartyguests.HeworejeanswithaKobeBryantjerseyoverapinkpoloshirt.ThejerseywascuttobefashionablybaggyonsomeonemuchsmallerthanMa;onhisactualplayer’sbuild,theproportionsweresnugandshort-waisted.Hiscohost,GuYu,wasyoungerandskinnier,andheworeaPaulPiercejersey.Onthewaytothehotel,therehadbeenabillboardofYiJianlian.Twentyyearsago,Masaid,hecouldhavebeentheplayeronthebillboard.ToemphasizeitsgoodwilltowardChina,theNBAhadsentoveraplatoonofMiamiHeatcheerleaders.Theyarrivedinsparkle-trimmedwarm-ups,totingblack-and-whiteHeatbags.Bananasandbottledwaterweresittingout,andthecheerleadersaskedverypolitelyiftheycouldhavesome,theirmannersowinsomeandmultiethnicallyall-AmericanthatIfeltapangofhomesicknessforthefirsttimeinmonths.Matoreoffabananaandhandeditover.Oneofthempluggedinacurlingiron,anditheatedupfast.WewarnedthemthattheChinesecurrentwas220.Theyhadalreadyburntoutonecurlingirononthetrip.26 Chairshadbeensetupfacingastage,whereafull-colorNBAFinalsbackdropwasflankedbytwobigprojectionscreens.RovingspotlightsprojectedLakersandCelticslogos.Beforethegame,public-serviceannouncementsforearthquakereliefplayedoverandover;LeBronJamesandYaoMingspokesomberlyintothecamera,wearingplaingraysweatshirts.Sichuan’stragedybelongedtotheworld.MaandGuwarmedupthecrowd,thensatdowninthefrontrowwithmicrophonestocommentontheaction.Thebigscreenwasbleary,andtheyquicklyrelocatedofftotheside,whereMacouldfollowtheactiononasmaller,crispertelevision.ThecrowdcheeredasLosAngelessurgedouttoabiglead.AfanborrowedmypentogogetMa’sautograph.Duringoneofthebreaks,theMiamicheerleaderscameonanddancedto“TheHeatIsOn,”wearingstring-bikini-styleoutfitsandhatswiththeHeatlogo.Theydancedwiththeforcetoprojecttoa15,000-seatarena,anditwasimpressive,andalittlealarming,tobeinasmallspacewiththem.AwomaninahaltertopandsatinypantssatdownbyMa.Shewasafriendofhis,shesaid,andsheworkedforamodelingfirmthathiredEuropeanmodelsforshootsinChina.FortheOlympics,shewouldbeworkingwithanothercompany,onethatprojectedadvertisingontoinflatabledomes.ItwouldbeinstallingabigsetupinChaoyangParkfortheappliancecompanyHaier.“Ididn’tknowhewassofamous,”shesaid,asMaworkedthecrowdfromthestage.“Whenhewasfamous,Iwasn’tbornyet.”TheLakerswereintheprocessofblowingthebiggestleadinNBAfinalshistory.Backinhisseat,Makepthiseyesonthescreen,twirlingabasketballonhisfingerashesat.TheballwasautographedbytheNBAcommissioner:NBAChina:WhereAmazinghappens!DavidJ.Stern”TheOlympicswerelessthantwomonthsaway.Newstreetsignswereuponthemajorroads,directingthewaytotheathleticvenues.WhenwetookMacktothehospitalforacheckup,themassageparlorsacrossthestreetwereshut.AfriendboughtabootlegcopyofNoCountryforOldMen,andthepapersleeveinsidethepackagehadtheBeijing2008logoonit.Olympiciconographyhadcreptintoeverything,evenwhereitmadenosense.ThecompanythatdeliveredPampersandbabywipeswouldthrowinabonustoyifwespentenoughmoney.Oneoftheprizeswaspossiblythemostunsafetoyevercreated:aballmadeof27 twoclearplastichemispherestintedasicklyglowinggreen,itssurfacestuddedwithsoft,thimble-likeplasticcleats,whichpulledoffeasilyandappearedtobetheperfectsizetoclogachild’swindpipe.Whenyoutuggedanail-likemetalpinstickingoutoftheball,anoff-center-weightedelectricmotorinthemiddlewouldbeginspinning,causingtheballtohopandflipandskitteraroundtheflooronthecleats,whileLEDsinsideflashedandthethingplayedanoff-tempo,flat-pitchedversionof“AxelF.”Therewerefiveirregular-shapedventholesoneachsideofthetwitching,flashing,tootlingball-holescutoutinthetiny,unmistakable,counterfeitsilhouettesofBeibei,Jingjing,Huanhuan,Yingying,andNini.OutbyDongzhimenBridge,thegiantbronzevesselhadvanished.Itspedestalwaswrappedinred-white-and-bluetarps,withrubblepeekingoutthetop.Onouralley,downatthecorner,thenewsstandwasrapidlylosingitsnewpieceofground.Thediggingclosedinonit,tillitstoodaloneonalittlepeninsula,surroundedbytrenchwork.Then,oneday,itjumpeddiagonallyacrosstheintersection,tothecornerinfrontofthenowvacantbank.Thepublicrestroomwascompletelydemolished,butwhenIreportedtoChristinathatitwasgonewithoutatrace,shechallengedthepremise.Notrace?Wasthesmellreallygone,too?(Itwasnot.)Ihadbegun,overtime,tohaveatenuoussortoffaithinthepromisesofimprovedairqualityfortheOlympics.Unquestionably,since2004,theairhadbeengettingbetter-notonlyinthe“bluesky”count,butinthenumberofdayswhenthecoloroftheskywasobjectivelyblue.“Better,”inthiscase,meant“lessbad,”butthatwasthepoint:withnowheretogobutup,thingsdidseemtobegoingup.InMay,theauthoritieshadpresentedthedetailsoftheirplantogetclearairfortheGames:byAugust,evenmoreindustrywouldbeshutdown;halftheprivatecarswouldbeofftheroadeachday;construction-oratleastexcavationandconcretework-wouldbehalted.AsJunestretchedon,though,IwonderedifIwasbeingaPollyanna.Constructionshowednosignsofslowing;crewswerealreadydiggingandpouringthebuildingsthatwouldopenaftertheOlympics,whenBeijing’sfuturecontinued.Cementmixershadbeenliningupattheconstructionpit,tenormoreatatime.Dustcloudsrosetominglewiththehaze.Theairqualityreachedthedon’t-go-outsidelevel,thengotworse.Onaparticularlygrayafternoon,IsetoutforEnglishclass.ThankstoanintroductionbyBigMackinMay,IhadfalleninwithagroupofretireesintheDongsineighborhood,a28 designatedOlympicCommunity,whowerestudyingEnglishinpreparationforAugust.Showingupintheclassroomhadautomaticallymademeasortofadjunctinstructor,availabletoexplainwhywasitpreferabletosay“hadneverimagined”ratherthan“haveneverimagined,”andwhyyouwouldsay“HowlonghaveyoustudiedEnglish?”insteadof“HowlonghaveyoulearnedEnglish?”Inreturn,thestudentswereprovidingmewiththeirownadviceandopinions:Ishouldtakethe106busorthe24busfromDongzhimentogettoclass;mycommunity,Hujiayuan,wasaveryfamousone,withrichandcolorfulactivities;adaytimeayilikeoursshouldbepaidonly1,000yuanamonth.Englishimprovement,likepollutioncontrol,wasnotamatterofstraight-lineprogress.Abannerinthethird-floorclassroomread“PublicWelforeEnglishClassorCitizensofDongsiOlympicCommunity.”ThiswasbetterthanIwouldhavedonetryingtorenderthatsortofphraseinChinese,butitdidcapturetheproblem.TheofficiallineonEnglishwasthatembarrassingerrorsinsignagewouldallberectifiedbeforetheOlympics.Therewere,inpractice,twodifficultieswiththatplan.Thefirstwasinthestrange,pedanticnot-quite-accuracyofthelanguagepolice.Anofficialmunicipalmagazine,presentingatop-tenlistoferrorsinpublicsignage,namedsuchcelebratedexamplesas“acistPark”(for“MinoritiesPark”)and“TheSlipperyAreVeryCrafty”(for“SlipperyWhenWet”),butalsogave,asself-evidentlyhilarioussolecisms,“RoomPrice”inahotelfor“oomRate,”and“EyeHospital”for“OphthalmologyHospital.”(Thelastwasevidentlybasedonamisunderstandingofwhytherehadpreviouslybeenmerrimentoveran“AnusHospital.”)TheothertroublewasthatnewEnglishsignswerespreadingtoofastforanycorrectionefforttokeeppacewith.Nomatterhowplentifulthecorrectionsquads,theywouldalwaysbeoutnumberedbythesigninstallers.Thenewplastic-letteredstorefronts,stillmultiplyinginalldirections,wereatroveoftyposandbefuddlingusage:“FOOTANDDADYMASSAGE”;“Differentqualitytradeclothing”;“CLGARETTESHOP”;“MeatPattyExplode.”AtrashcanattheImperialAcademywasdividedintobinsfor“Recycled”and“Organism.”IntheOlympicPandahouse,allthesignsandbannersrendered“Beijing”itselfas“Baijing.”Outsidetheclassroom,inthecommunityofficecompound,acount-downsignsaidtherewereforty-ninedaystilltheOlympics.Itfeltfurtheroffthatthat.WhenIgotupstairs,the29 lightswereoffandonlyonestudentwasthere-theelectricitytothecompoundwasoutandtheclasshaddecampedforadifferentcommunitycenter,onthenextalleytothesouth.Itrailedalongbehindthecollege-studentinstructorsthroughamazeofcross-lanestogetthere.Thesubstituteclassroomwasinarenovatedcourtyardhouse,aroundabigtableinoneofthesubbuildings.ACCTVcrewwasfilming,andthespacealongtheedgesoftheroomwaspacked.Asignonthewallread“GreattheOlympics/LearningEnglish/Gowith2008.”IhadbeenspendingmostofmytimewithShaMeiyuan,anoval-facedwomanwhowasretiredfromherjobasaqualityinspectorinawatchfactory,andwithherfriendHuYuesheng,whohadcurledhair,smilingcheeks,andsharpeyes.“Mybrainisnogood,”Huhadtoldmelasttime,cheerfully,makingastudyexampleoutofself-deprecation.Isatdownwiththemonthefarsideofthetable,andtheybroughtoutthewordsandphrasestheywantedtoknowabout:“unncomfortable,”“sweltering,”“humid.”Weworkedsomeinreverse,fromChinesetoEnglish:shi...humid;men...stuffy;menre...muggy.ThenmoreEnglish.“Theroomfeelscool.”“It’scoolintheroom.”Therewasrainintheforecast.HowdoyousaythatinEnglish?“Therewillbeastorm.”“therewillbethunderstorms”(or:“athunderstorm”).“Therewillbeheavyshowers.”Teawasservedinpapercups.“Theteaistoostrong.”WereweburnishingBeijing’scredentialsasacosmopolitancity?Theladieswereusinglanguagetosaywhattheywantedtosay.“Iamsleepy.”“Iwilltakeanap.”More:“Itakeanapafterluncheveryafternoon.”“Welearnedmanysentences,butwecan’Trememberthem.”Afterclass,Huwalkedmeouttothemainstreet,wheelingherbicyclealongside.Theframewassturdyandblack.ItwasPhoenixbrand,fromShanghai.Shehadhaditforthirty-eightyears,shesaid.Intheevening,ImetJodiXuinoneofthesleekwhitetowersoftheJianwaiSohocomplex,attheofficesofSoojinDanceTeam,thecheerleadersfromthebaseballexhibition.Ihadkeptthebusinesscardofthedirector,SoojinCho,ande-mailedtoaskifthedancesquadwasinvolvedatallintheOlympiccheerleading.“I’mthedirectorofthebasketballtournament,”Chosaid.Whatshemeantwasthatshewasinchargeofliningupthenon-basketballpartoftheprograminthebasketballarena.The30 entrancetoherofficesuitewaslinedwithbagsandbagsofcheerleadingequipmentandcostumes,withspanglesandpompomsspillingout.SheworeaGuessT-shirtandredgymshortsthatsaid“JuniorVarsity”;farbelowtheshortswasapairoflow-topsneakers.Twolittledogsraninandoutofheroffice.TheirnameswereMikeyandMini,shesaid.Acartonlabeled“KimchiRamen”satinonecorner.ChospokeinKorean-accentedMandarin,withJoditranslatingwheneverabreakinthenarrativestreamhappenedtopresentitself.Shehadn’tbeensleepinglately,shesaid,becauseshehadbeenfightingwiththeconstructioncrewthatwassupposedtobebuildinganewdancestudioforher.Shehadpaid90percentoftheprice-therenovationswerecosting200,000yuan-butshewouldn’tpaythelast10percenttilltheworkwasdone,andtheworkerssaidtheywouldn’tfinishtillshepaidthelast10percent.TheOlympics,shesaid,wouldbeagoodchancetopromoteAsianculturalelementsinthedanceprogram,“insteadofjustlettingthegood-lookinggirlswithbigboobsshowtheircutefaces.”ItwasthefirsttimetherewouldbeperformancesduringtheOlympicbasketballgames,shesaid.Asian-themeddancewouldbepartofaspectrumofinternationalarenaclassentertainment:Ukrainiancheerleaderswerecomingintoperform,andshewasplanningtohaveatrampoline-dunksquad.Chowasborntoa“prettypoorfamily”inKorea,shesaid.“Mydadwasataxidriver,”shesaid,andthefamilylivedinabasementapartment.Shewantedtostudydance,buttherewasn’tenoughmoneyfordanceschool,soshetookaerobicsclassesinstead.Afterhighschool,shebecameanaerobicsinstructor,andatriptoSydneyforanaerobicsworkshopconvincedherlifewouldbebetteroutsideKorea.“It’sbeenchanging,”shesaid,“butwhenIwaslivinginKorea,thesocietywouldratewomenbyhowwelltheymarried....Idon’twantmylifetobedecidedbysomeoneelse.”Herchoiceofalandofopportunitywaslimitedbyherbudget:Chinawasclose,anditwascheap.Soin1994,shemovedtoBeijing,with$4,000tohername.Whenthemoneyranout,afterhalfayear,shegotajobteachingaerobicsinasmallgymfor50yuan,oraboutsixdollars,anhour.“neededtoteachinChinese,”shesaid,“somyChineseimprovedfast.”Herclasseswerepopular,andsheputeffortintodesigningherclothesandgivingalivelypresentation.By1999,shewasworkinginbiggergyms,earning2,000yuananhour,and31 appearinginexerciseprogramsontelevision,andshewashiredbytheChineseAerobicsAssociationasaforeignexpert.Thatwasherfirstcareerpeak,shesaid.Thenherrelationshipwiththestateaerobicsadministrationsoured-heyfoundherteachingstyle“nprofessional,”shesaid-andsheclashedwithgymmanagement.“Alotofthebossesaskedmeoutatnighttogotokaraokebarswiththeirinvestors.Isaid,“I’magymteacher,notanescort.”Shequitthegymworkandstartedherownteamtoperformaerobicsdemonstrations.WhentheWorldCupcametoKoreaandJapanin2002,shesenttheteamasacheeringdancesquadforChina-China’sfirstcheerleaders.“heKoreansfeltitwaskindofunpatriotictorepresentanothercountry,”shesaid.WhentheplanewiththedancersreturnedtoChina,photographerswerewaiting.“Ifeltlikeacelebrity,”shesaid.ShepublishedanautobiographyinKorean.TheChineseBasketballAssociationinvitedhertodevelopcheerleadersfortheleague.“Ididn’tunderstandbasketball,”shesaid.Sometimes,whenthegamestoppedforaquicksubstitution,thedancerswouldjumpoutonthefloorbymistake-Choactedoutafalsestart,bywayofillustration.Fanswereunfamiliarwiththedance-teamentertainmentconcept,too;outintheprovinces,theyassumedthewomenhadcomefromBeijingtocheeragainstthehometeam,andpeltedthemwithsunflowerseeds.SoChomadeherfirsttriptotheUnitedStates,toseetheLakerGirlsinaction.Shegazedupward,remembering.“Ipaidalotofattentiontothedancing.Isaid,‘Ipromise,CBAcheerleaderswillbecatchingupwithNBAcheerleaders.’”ShebegantoincorporateChinesethemes-ethnic-minoritydancing-intotheteam’swork.ThentheCBAfiredher.OneofKorea’smajorexportstoChinaisdrama;itsvarioussoap-operaseries,dubbedintoMandarin,areusuallyrunningonseveralstationsatonce.JodiventuredthatCho’sstorysoundedlikeoneofthose.ChosaidsheneverwatchedtheKoreanshows.“AllthoseTVdramasarealwaystalkingabouthowyoulovesomeoneyou’renotsupposedtolove,andthenwhenyougettogether,thepersonisdying.”(Thiswas,forsomeonewhodidn’twatchKoreansoaps,aprettyaccuratesummary.)“MylifeismoreofaTVdramathantheTVdramas,soIdon’tneedtowatch,”shesaid.“Eventhoughmylovelifewasn’tthe32 juiciestforthelastcoupleofyears...everythinginmylifeisnotlessdramaticthanAngelinaJolie’s.”AreporterfortheSouthernMetropolisDaily,amajorpaperdowninGuangzhou,wroteastoryaboutherdismissal,underthetitle“Good-bye,BasketballBaby.”Otherpublicationsapproachedherforinterviews.“Isaid,“I’mnotworthanything,becauseI’mnotemployed.’”Thereplacementcheerleaders,shesaid,werenogood.Shelaunchedintoanextendednarrativeoftheirshortcomings,crowdingoutthetranslation,talkingwithherhands.Inthemiddleofit,shereachedupandliftedanimaginaryobjectoffhershoulders,tuckingitunderherarms-oneoftheDucksmascots,removingitsheadoncourt.ChohadbeenasdismayedbyitasIwas.Thedancesquadkeptperformingatfunctionsforbusinessenterprises,whichpaidasmuchperpersonasaCBAgamepaidthewholesquad.AndChodidchoreographyfordancerspromotingCoca-Colaandothercorporateclients.Butshehadwantedtofindawaytocontributeto2008.“EventhoughI’mnotaChineseperson,IfeltlikeIwantedtopreparefortheOlympics,”shesaid.Theorganizingcommittee,however,toldherthattheyhadalreadylinedupcheerleaders-Cho’soldnemesis,theChineseAerobicsAdministration,hadgottenintothecheeringbusinessonitsown.“Isaid,okay,ifyoudon’twantmetogetinvolvedwiththeOlympics,I’llgooffonmyown.”AstheGoodLuckbeachvolleyballeventapproached,though,theorganizershaddoubts-seniorleaderswouldbethere,andtheofficialdancesquadwasunderwhelming.Cho,atacheerleadingcompetitioninHongKong,gotacallwithtwoweekstospare.SheflewtoKoreaandbought400poundsofcostumes,andsleptintheoffice.Chopointedtothespotonthefloorwhereshe’dlain.WhatI’dseenatthebeachvolleyballgrounds-onesetofcheerleadersperformingwhiletheotherlookedindifferent-hadbeenashowdownbetweenthecompetingsquads.Afterward,thebeachvolleyballandbasketballcheeringdutiesfortheOlympicswereawardedtotheSoojinDanceTeam,withtheotherteamgoingtootherevents.“Theysawwhowasthebest,andtheygavethejobtothem,”Chosaid.ThetriumphatChaoyanghelpedChoforceanotherdance-off,thisonetogetherteambackintotheCBA.Thechairmanofoneoftheleague’scorporatesponsors,Chosaid,was33 deadsetagainstlettingherteamperform,becausehethoughtherdancersweren’tprettyenough.“Theteamleadersoftheotherteamswerestandingbyhimlikebodyguards,”shesaid.“Theyweretreatingmyteamverydifferentlyfromtheotherones.”ShetoldthechairmanthatmenlikehimwerethereasonChinesewomenbecamemistresses,whythegenerationbornintheeightieswouldsleepwithsomeoneformoneytobuyacellphone.“Iwasveryangryleavingtheroom,”shesaid.“Attheentranceofthebuilding,therewasacleaningladywhowassweepingthefloor.Shesaid,‘Ifwehadavote,youwerethebestteam.’WhenIheardthat,Istartedtocry.”Choactedoutthemoment,thewayherteamhadgatheredaroundher,whileshehadpoundedoutfurioustextmessagestothechairmanthroughhertears.Hebegansendinghertextmessagesback,apologizing,andtheCBAdutiesweredividedthreeways,withtheSoojinDanceTeamalternatingwithtwoteamsfromtheaerobicsauthority.Chohadasaying,shesaid:“‘TIC:ThisIsChina.Chinaisverysexy,”shesaid.ThiswasageneralizationaboutChinaIhadnotencounteredbefore.Itlooksverysimplefromoutside,shesaid,butonceyou’vebeeninthecountryayearortwo,yourealize-“Mobudao,”shesaid.Youcan’tgetholdofit.“Theydidn’tgivemeabudget,”shesaid.“Ihavetofigureoutthebudgetbymyself....IfeellikeI’mavolunteer.”TheusualtoneofdeferenceoneheardfromOlympicparticipantswasnotforthcoming.Shebroughtupthesubjectofthecorpsofwomenwhomadethemedal-presentations-young,maidenlyfigures,selectedforsymmetry,height,andpoise,whosetrainingphotosweresaturatingthepress.Infrontofthecameras-Chopulledherselfuprightandsmiledoverdemurely,holdingupapretendmedalwithbothhands.Awayfromthecameras-shefloppedbackagainstthewindow,slovenly,puffingfiercelyonanimaginarycigarette.“Alsothemascots,”shesaid.“Idon’tunderstandwhythosefivemascotswerereleased.Thepurposeofthemascotsistobelikedbyallthepeople.They’renotservingthisneed.”Outsidethetower,duskandpollutionwereannihilatingtheview.Aviolentdownpourwasonitsway.“IusedtobeaverytypicalKoreangirlwhenIwasinprimaryschool,”Chosaid.“Veryquiet,veryintroverted....Ibecamesomethingthatisnotawoman,notaman.Somethinginbetween....WhenIwastrainingstudents,Ibeatthemup.“Armytraining,”sheaddedinEnglish,withasmile.34 Shecuedupavideoclipofthesortofdancingshepreferred.ItwasfromtheGoodLuckbasketballtournament.Herdancerswereinsevereblackcostumes,withbarefeet.Theybrandishedredfans.Themusicwasdrumming.Fanssnapped,feetstomped.Itgotaroaringovation.Herambitionswentbeyonddancing.Shepulledoutaproposalforarealityshow,tobecalledCheerleaderFever,inwhichwomenwouldworktobecomeCBAdancers:“AsgirlsfromthesophisticatedcitiessuchasShanghaiandBeijingbumpupagainstgirlsfromruralinnerChina,sparksflyasculturalandregionaldifferencesbecomeevident.”Anotherwrite-upproposedTheChoShow,atalkshowhostedby“OprahWinfreywithTyraBanks’sfigure.”Butfirst,theOlympics.“Olympics,”shesaid.“Blahblahblahblah.”35 AppendixII:TargetText公共安全我们终于进入中国安全的议题。这是整个美国的普遍问题。为了克瑞斯缇娜的工作，我们踏上短暂的旅程，去到新疆维吾尔族自治区的省会乌鲁木齐。旅程中最主要的麻烦就是中国常见的问题：从北京出的港航班延误，因为在这职业不分贵贱的乐土上，整架飞机的人都被一位迟到的头等舱乘客拖累，所有人都在等他。一些人还在飞机上点燃了香烟。飞机遇到强烈气流。餐饮服务时竟没有水。最终，我的孩子难受地尖叫了起来，乘务员来到我们座位旁边——我们的位置位于飞机尾部，她要求让孩子停止哭泣，理由是其他乘客要睡觉。乌鲁木齐机场外的道路被人群堵得密不透风。我们的司机帮我们挤出人群后告诉我们，因为奥运会的原因，不允许人们在闸口外接人，所以人们都在外面挤成一团。后来，当我们乌鲁木齐乘回北京的机场，机场安检的工作人员要求将孩子的尿布袋置于一旁检查。机场安检工作在当时的中国还是一个全新的概念。从2004年开始，我就往来于美国和中国之间，但美国机场安检严格的程度让人们觉得美国仿佛就是个极权主义国家。在这个强调人权大于主权的《权利法案》诞生地，人们在安检时却必须要脱下鞋子和皮带，行李还要被安检人员开箱检查，如果人们在领取行李时打电话，安保人员会上前阻止。最后，在一次液态爆炸物恐吓后，人们甚至不能在美国带水上飞机。21世纪，美国对全球文化真正的贡献是什么？在机场线和许多其他现代生活的方面，中国正在赶超美国。尽管我们的演员和一些活动人士向中国宣传不能限制自由的进步时，美国的经历却传达出相反的信息——在这个危险的世界，一切自由和隐私都得让步于法律和秩序的需要。在3月，国家新闻社报道称一名或多名乘客企图用汽油作为武器，劫持一架飞机，试图使飞机迫降在乌鲁木齐之外的地方。我们不太清楚汽油事件的细节，但很快中国就像美国一样，颁布了自己的禁液令。在对抗恐怖主义的战役中，强调危险很有必要。时刻警惕的大众才会更加配合国家的工作。拉萨的动乱并没有削减，反而增强了公众对中国政府合法性的信心，这就是与我们打交道的中国人。中国承诺更加公开和坚持人权的准则，也保证北京奥运会的安全，而且把安全放在36 第一位。北京正举办一场重要的全球盛会，人人都认为这场盛会危机四伏。美国《纽约时报》报道称，包括IBM、霍尼韦尔公司和通用电气公司在内的美国公司，提供硬件和软件，帮助北京建造一个最先进的监控系统，保护奥运会期间的北京。任何尝试扰乱北京的恐怖分子都将面临安全网络的监控。安全网络由数百万的摄像头组成，通过设置可以自动识别可疑人物或异常的人群行动。奥运会结束后，识别不受欢迎的面孔，阻止始料不及的事件的监控系统会保留下来，供公安局随时使用。我们在出乌鲁木齐的路上，X光机显示我们是可疑人物。一男一女两个工作人员徒手检查扫描不合格的包裹。从尿布袋里，他们找出两瓶防晒乳，其中一瓶是我的，还有一瓶是孩子的。我常常忘记将防晒乳放到检查过的行李中。上一次忘记还只有孩子的防晒乳，一位工作人员出于同情就通过了检测。但两瓶？我像个愚蠢的罪犯那样站在那里。那瓶防晒乳（在中国市场无法找到）被扔进工作人员脚边的没收箱，箱子里还有其他乘客扔掉的瓶装水和零食。接着他们又找出两罐婴儿食品。严格的说，在中国新安全法规下，婴儿食品带上飞机是不合法的。中国与美国的安全程序在这点上非常不同。在美国，安全法则也许强制、麻烦和无意义——人们可能愚蠢而又强硬的实施它们——但旅客内心都期待过安检时有些合理的迹象。旅客要能够将他们的药品带上飞机或取出隐形眼镜。婴儿需要食物。另一方面，中国法规的制定者和执行者并不担心人们是否认为法规条文合理。法规禁止液体。婴儿食品是流质食物，所以婴儿食品禁止带上飞机。在乌鲁木齐，男工作人员准备让食物通过。有婴儿的地方就有婴儿食品。食品被密封在出厂的罐头里。但女工作人员却阻止了他：不允许携带婴儿食品上飞机。罐头得扔进没收箱。曾今中国的安检制度较宽松，但如今却超过美国，婴儿食品完全不能带上飞机。快到下午6点了，到了孩子吃晚餐的时间。如果孩子不吃晚饭，他可能在回北京的路上大哭。我们就在安检处喂孩子吃饭。任何婴儿食品都不得带上飞机，除非在孩子肚子里。但工作人员很自满，一个小官抓着小问题不放手。婴儿食品不被允许，必须得没收。但是当我与女工作人员争论时，我的妻子拿到一罐食物，开始用勺子将水果送进孩子的嘴巴里。孩子并没有爆炸。无动于衷的工作人员拿着第二罐食物。也许蓝莓只是个诱饵，青豆泥才是真正的爆炸物。针对奥运会的恐怖袭击真的就是个威胁吗？不仅对北京，对纽约而言依然是个未知数。除了已报道过的飞机袭击事件，今年春天在上海还有一起汽车爆炸事件，政府称在37 西部袭击了高度武装的维吾尔族和西藏集团，包括在佛教寺院里找到藏匿的武器。武装和尚的阴谋让美国人听起来难以置信，但它听起来并没有我们政府宣布的功夫恐怖分子小组在迈阿密瓦解，或水淹曼哈顿下城的弱智计划，或用钢丝钳剪断布鲁克林大桥的线缆更令人难以置信。在北京街上，警察越来越频繁地拦下外国人，要求查看他们的护照和签证，即使是长久居住在外的友好邻居也难逃检查。每位外国人都是个潜在的安全威胁。签证的重新办理已取代空气质量，成为人们必谈话题。前一年，声称想出国去看奥运会是一种做作，是中国通表示沮丧的方式，他们想到曾充满挑战的城市会挤满首次去中国的游客。但它变成了一个切实可行的决定——最好等繁忙的安检结束后再去中国，也不要徒增新的烦恼。我们将青豆罐头撬开，把青豆泥喂进孩子的嘴里。我们在婴儿食品工厂的“恐怖分子同谋”瞒过安全检查，用无害的蔬菜代替了爆炸物。麦克吃完整个罐头。当他吃好以后，我们用力将滴着汁的罐头扔回没收箱，听到玻璃破碎的声音。新闻简报不断刊登出来。北京旅游局称北京市现有815家星级宾馆，共5892处寄宿处，33.6万间客房，66万张床。2001年，北京市向国际奥委会承诺到奥运会举办时，增加350家星级宾馆，其总数达到800。20万工作人员将接受外语和礼仪的训练。全市毛巾的颜色以及毛巾的柔软度都将标准化。这里将有为旅游准备的城市旅行指南和电视频道。这里将有接通游客呼叫中心的热线。这里将有游客吗？游客预计有45万至50万，不超过平常夏日人们的数量。因奥运会离开北京的人和被奥运会吸引而来的人一样多。人们获得旅游签证遇到的问题会是什么呢？“在运动会举办期间，所有举办奥运会的城市都会加强安全措施……北京也会如此，我们会加强审查游客的申请。我相信如果申请符合我们的要求，如酒店的证明，申请人会顺利得到签证。”目前酒店的预订率是多少呢？五星级酒店的预订率是77%。四星级酒店的预订率是44%。因为安全措施，这两类酒店的差距“并不完全”。三星及其以下的酒店还有许多房间。目前出现的冬季房间预订率低，这出乎人们的预料。接下来就是关于医疗方面的准备。北京可用病床将会有5800张，适合外国人的各类血型的血液已准备好。不到中国人口总数百分之一的人是Rh阴性血。公共卫生体系做好准备，应对黑死病和食物中毒。那关于处理健康问题的透明度呢？“公开、公正和透明是我们政府的职责。”北京38 市卫生局局长金大鹏说道，他表情严肃，头发卷曲，太阳穴旁有一缕白发，他身着蓝色的西服，蓝色的衬衫，系着蓝色领带。说话语速缓慢，语气雄辩。他的双眉引人注目。1976年，29岁的金大鹏作为医疗人员曾去过唐山，在那里地震曾夺去了近25万人的生命。与四川持续的惨烈情况不同，唐山受灾的规模是一个谜。当时毛泽东躺在病床上，文化大革命也失败了，死亡人数也被视为内部问题。“那时政府在发布信息方面没有做到足够公开。”金大鹏说道，“这次在处理四川地震问题上，你们可以看到政务的公开和透明。”金大鹏说：“我们做好了迎接各种困难的准备，不管遇到何种困难，我们都会为实现目标奉献自己的力量……我们将经历这历史时刻，历史将会告诉他人我们的医疗团队是一支有能力、专业的队伍……”接着，他精彩的结尾：“正如中国人民在地震中展示的那样，他们展示了坚强的性格，我们也将展示我们坚毅的品格。”穿过小巷口，角落的食品杂货店和角落一片混乱。在市场内剩余的都是杂货铺区，其它的都被拆毁；破破烂烂的天花板丢在地上。头顶上，用英语写着“计划生育部”和“小吃部”的陈旧标示消失了。所有尚存的食品杂货店的商品都堆积到市场中央，那里曾是水果店和眼镜店。塑料的条纹布从收银台将工作区划分出来。收银员在灰尘中不停咳嗽。横跨在十字路口的公共厕所已经拆了五分之四，只留下东边的一点。整个报亭关闭，搬迁到几码外的后面。靠近报亭以前所在位置的石子路上，小贩在桌上摆了纸巾和杂志。在废弃的半八角地基里，曾在公厕旁修自行车的师傅在报亭截断的瓷砖地面上开了家修理店。为庆祝马克一周岁生日，早上我们带他去动物园，看地震灾区转移过来的熊猫。它们本来是被预订为奥运会大熊猫，但四川的地震袭击了大熊猫自然保护区的中心，政府将它们作为难民，提前将一批小熊猫转移到北方。地震的恢复工作和奥运会的准备工作同时进行着。克瑞斯缇娜要去上另一个芭蕾舞蹈班。这个舞蹈班是由酷爱舞蹈的航运物流工人和出租车司机组织的。他俩负责找空的工作室，然后用短信召集大家。他们最喜欢的一处是中国煤炭矿业协会舞蹈团的工作室。像其他中国组织一样，其中包括人民解放军，煤矿协会保持着文化翼。因为舞者经常外出给煤矿工人表演，所以舞蹈室经常空置，可供舞蹈班使用。一天晚上，这里举行了一场募捐集会，嘉宾是四川的孤儿。广播员在出租车司机广播站上说，出租车应尽可能让乘客使用儿童安全座椅。至今，39 我们都没有如乡随俗，使用儿童安全座椅；马克成长速度快，比他的婴儿座椅还大，从一辆出租车到另一辆出租车都要拖着大号的安全座椅实在需要深思熟虑。广播还提醒司机，不要让冷风吹到孩子。人们在奥运会大熊猫园的窗前排成一排等着熊猫的出现。上午八点左右，穿着橡胶靴的饲养员在园里不同地方放置大捆的竹子。接着，从后面的一个门一下就出来八只熊猫。这些熊猫有两岁大，四肢着地时只比成人的膝盖高一点。它们一出现就给人留下真实可爱的圆滚滚形象。我是第一次见到这么多的熊猫；以前在华盛顿国家公园曾看到过熊猫，租金昂贵的大熊猫待在各自的园里，像希望之星一样供人们欣赏。一位年轻的女饲养员连蹦带跳领着熊猫去到不同的竹子堆前便于每个人观看。看熊猫得人往前挤，将我挤到了窗框边。我们退至外面。旁边比奥运会大熊猫园位置低点的是亚运会熊猫之家，用以纪念1990年的北京亚运会。亚运会熊猫之家外，在滑梯和跷跷板所在的坑里，杂草丛生，一只成年大熊猫待在草丛里，若隐若现。人们匆匆忙忙去奥运会熊猫园的途中会瞥一眼这只大熊猫。有人说：“奥运会熊猫不可能这么懒，这么脏。”离开熊猫园来到照相馆，一只穿着橄榄球服小猩猩伏在两位趴着的动物园员工身上。猩猩的住所是空着的，墙上绘着中国面具，面具斜看着猩猩会去的地方。人们随意从树上扯下叶子喂给动物。有一个相当规模的玻璃房，房顶仅用网子罩着，在房子周围有一小群人们在看从国外引进的动物。这些动物正在炫耀攀爬的技能，它们就是浣熊。运动频道，也就是曾经的央视5台，现改名为央视奥运会频道，正在播放冰上舞蹈。该频道曾偶尔会放斯诺克和斗牛比赛，但现在都播放奥运会预赛或奥运会赛事回顾。这些节目还有个特殊环节，那就是播放以往开幕式的一些特殊镜头，其中包括1988年首尔奥运会开幕式慢动作回放镜头，当时主办方先放飞白鸽，一些鸽子停留在体育馆的主火炬台上休息，圣火点燃后，它们就被圣火烧焦了。冰上舞者立马出现在了数十个电视银屏上，他们旋转、熠熠生辉。景观湖后海的岸边，人们透过夜总会开着的窗户和玻璃门都可看到舞者的舞姿。后海是风景优美的什刹海的一部分。什刹海位于紫禁城的西北面。后海代表了新北京的一种现象——不到10年，一片静谧的草地就被夜生活场所取代。一些酒吧就开在湖边的胡同里，它们不仅吸引着移民和北京人前来消费，还吸引来更多的模仿者，而这些模仿者又吸引更多的人来消费，更多的模仿者。这种连锁反应在耗尽“燃油”前会先占完湖边的土地。酒吧区域中也有一些酒店、一家星巴克和广场，广场位于尽头。中老年人可以在广场上跳华尔兹。但在40 春节假期木板小道上热烈、疯狂和颓废的氛围下，这些优雅的曲调染上一对忘年恋夫妻的心满意足。这对夫妻一位是中国人，另一位是外国人。天气变暖，商贩兜售带有图像均衡器的T恤。重金属音乐从前方一个开放式酒吧传来，一首“乡村路”从另一方传来。派单员派发着手中的纸条，低声向路人发出邀请：“女士酒吧。”“女士酒吧，女士酒吧。”我和一位走出自己夜总会的伊娃•陈女士交谈。尽管有人可能会误会，但它并不是一间女士夜总会；这里为夫妻或朋友提供酒水服务。门上闪烁的中文是夜总会的名字——欲望城市；在中文字上面是用更大的英文字母写着它的名字。电影《欲望都市》在美国上映，我很好奇夜总会的名字这家店的知识产权。我早就发现自己在《纽约观察家报》的工作非常重复，不好向北京人解释——我是报道报纸和记者的记者——但我发现如果我只告诉人们《欲望与都市》专栏就刊登在《纽约观察家报》上，他们会非常高兴、满意。纽约的生活理念以怎样的形式来到什刹海呢？“当然，没有人愿意成为萨曼莎（《欲望都市》的主角之一）。”陈如是说道。那是个周六晚上，天气暖和。她说着英语，穿着瑜伽裤、白色T恤和人字拖，红色的头发向后梳着。（陈说：“我经常做瑜伽。”）在她周围都是穿着超短裤、高跟鞋，带着闪闪发光的配饰的女人；而在这些女人中又都是猎艳的男人。欲望都市夜总会于2003年营业。陈和十几个朋友一起去苏西黄夜总会玩。所有人都赞同最好开一家自己的夜总会。白天他们重聚讨论开夜总会事宜时，支持开店的人减少至五个。当说到投钱时，陈说就只剩下四个女人。当晚回到家,陈观看美国家庭影院，电视上放映的是她一直喜欢的节目——关于四个女孩在大城市追寻独立，追求魅力的故事。在陈和合伙人去银行前，又一个人退伙，但她已经确定了夜总会名字。用“da”替代“the”是对商标权的赞同。陈说她正在寻找新电影。“也许我丈夫已经找到了影碟.”陈出生在毛主席所在的北京市海淀区。她说：“我从来没有想过我会开这样一家夜总会。”欲望都市是一家中等规模的夜总会，中间层有正方形的楼层平面图和正方形的酒吧，酒瓶上方是幅两层楼高的玛丽莲·梦露的画像。乔迪是位记者，上海人，曾在纽约的新闻学院学习。我俩在这个夜店见面，他协助我进行中文采访。DJ大声地播放着摇滚乐。梦露的脸朝向三角卡座，那里的每张桌最低消费要500元。饮料单很长，其中包括“绝41 对宇航员”、“欲望都市绝对柠檬大都市”和“奥林匹克鸡尾酒”。最后一种酒是橙色的果味鸡尾酒，它装在一个大的马提尼酒杯中，边缘上还放有一颗樱桃。夜总会的每面都有闪闪发光的钢管，在卡座面前缓缓升起。大约晚上11点，一个身穿黑色紧身连衣裙和锃亮的过膝靴的女人爬上表演台，开始围绕着钢管跳舞。舞者面带愉悦的笑容，齐刘海超过眉毛，舞蹈风格平淡无奇，扭动身体爬上钢管，就好像在上体操课，然后向后下腰。另一位比前一位舞者更瘦，身穿蓬蓬短裙的舞者开始下一轮跳舞。男人们待在外面的小巷里，笑声穿过玻璃门，传到室内。陈说她在2005年新增了钢管舞者。“事实上，这里有一个学校，一个钢管舞学校。偶尔有管辖该地区的警察过来，确定是否有人寻滋挑事。”陈说道。夜总会内，一对20多岁的中国夫妻坐在一张桌旁喝酒。男的告诉乔迪和我，他们因为有钢管舞者才来这里。整条街只有这儿才有钢管舞表演。过去这些舞者更加性感，有更多舞蹈动作，但因为奥运会，警察禁止她们跳色情的舞蹈，理由是要保持北京风气良好。主持人播放着歌曲《让我们开始吧》，人们开始尖叫、跳舞。夜总会的最顶层，先穿着长靴的女人换了衣服，现穿着蓝色百褶裙和T恤，T恤上写着“一切安好”。这个女人依旧保持着她沉稳的步调。卡座的上方，在楼梯的最上面，另一位舞者戴着耳机，无精打采地坐在椅子上。陈将她带出来，和我们谈谈欲望都市这家夜总会。她说她两年前从山西来到北京，是北京钢管舞学校的老师。她每轮跳十分钟——她用两根是指比划了个叉，在中国代表“十”——每晚跳八轮，直到凌晨一点结束。“我从小就开始学跳舞，这是我喜欢跳舞的原因。但是同时，我要挣钱。”生活在北京，压力很大。“如果没有钱，人就不能生存，而且工作还不好找。”她说道。她确定警察让她们不要跳得太性感，低调一点。说话时，她一只手玩着打火机，另一只手拿着手机。她多大呢？27岁，她说：“不要问我年纪。”楼下在夜总会的中间，一位身穿图案沉闷的裙子的中国女人已坐在那里很长时间了，背对着门口，不和任何人交谈，屈身趴在低波杯上。夜总会招待开了一瓶科罗娜啤酒，在瓶颈处放了青柠，招待又在一杯子里放冰块，然后为女人往冰上倒啤酒。还有一件事就是中国人喜欢科比•布莱恩特。美国职业篮球联赛（NBA）决赛正在上演，科比所在的湖人队对阵凯尔特人队，马建正在一个体育夜总会主持球迷看球聚会。42 这间夜总会占据了位于二环路建国门立交桥旁一家酒店的3楼；穿过一条路再北面一点有一段仅存的城墙，其上面是北京古观象台和铜质天文器具复制品。真正的天文器具在义和团运动时期，被西方列强掳去，后来只归还了一部分——中国20世纪积累的历史耻辱之一。马建仍在为体育教育计划筹集资金。与此同时，他还在中国电视体育联播平台（CSPN）播报美职篮赛事。中国电视体育联播平台是一个新的体育平台，由多家省级电视台联合建立。该平台的标志与娱乐体育节目电视网（ESPN）很像。中国电视体育联播平台的视屏输入来自美国，马建在这些视屏上加入中文评论。北京的观众不能看到中国电视体育联播平台的播报，但北京南边却可以下载视屏。在一个寒冬早上，我加入了马建播报的行列，当时他正在播报一场无聊的比赛——易建联所在的糟糕的密尔沃基雄鹿队对抗厉害的纽约尼克斯队。人们喜欢看易建联，即使比赛没有任何值得观看的价值。演播室非常大（马建说这个是亚洲最大的演播室），寒冷以及荒凉：没有接待人员，没人提供咖啡，在走廊和楼梯间连灯都没有。雄鹿队在第3场比赛中以大比分领先，但接着却失去领先优势。当有人灌篮时，马建说：“有了！”。进了！——他还偶尔说一些关于策略的问题，认为观众可以忍受。“观众不太了解篮球比赛，但我希望他们能了解。”马建遗憾地说道。如果观众关注比赛技术，他们可能想看其他比赛。易建联得了4分后就坐在场边，直到比赛结束，此时尼克斯队完成逆转。地震过后，中国的电视频道就没有在播放美职篮球赛，在全国哀悼的背景下，禁止播出轻松愉快的节目。据报道，美职篮捐款1.4千万元用于地震救灾，但当悲痛过去，美职篮决赛重回荧幕，他们还赞助了一个200人的组织观看比赛，并提供自助早餐。马建在待在一个用帘子隔开的休息室里，准备为来宾解说球赛。他在一件粉红色Polo衫外加一件科比·布莱恩特的球衣。这种款式的球衣如果穿在比马建更瘦的人身上则更宽松、时尚。但在马建运动员般的体格上，衣服大小合适，但偏短。与马建合作的主持人叫顾宇，比马建年轻，比他瘦，身穿保罗·皮尔斯的球衣。在去酒店的路上，有一块易建联的广告牌。马建说:“20年前，自己本可以成为一位登上广告牌的运动员。”为了强调对中国的美好祝愿，美职篮派了一只迈阿密的拉拉队员来中国。她们抵达时，穿着闪闪发光的运动服，背着有热火标志的黑白色包。我们为她们准备了香蕉和瓶43 装水，她们很礼貌地问自己是否可以吃一些。拉拉队员的行为举止讨人喜欢，并且带有各自的礼仪特点。看到她们，我在九个月中第一次想家了。马建扯下一根香蕉，递了过去。有一位队员将卷发棒插上插座，这东西热得很快。我们提示她们，中国的电流是220伏。在途中，她们已烧坏了一根。面朝舞台的椅子已经安装好，台上彩色的美职篮决赛幕布悬挂在两块巨大的屏幕旁边。移动的聚光灯照在湖人队和凯尔特队的标志上。比赛前，抗震救灾的公共服务广告滚动播放着；视屏中，勒布朗·詹姆斯和姚明穿着灰色球服，表情严肃地说着话。四川的惨剧是世界的悲剧。马建和顾宇先让观众活跃起来，然后他俩在前排坐下，用麦克风解说着赛事。大屏幕不清晰，于是他俩去到一个屏幕小、色彩鲜艳度高的电视旁边。在这里，马建可以更好地关注比赛。当洛杉矶队遥遥领先时，观众大声欢呼。一位球迷向我借笔，要到了马建的签名。在休息时，迈阿密拉拉队上台表演。她们身穿比基尼式服装，头戴有热火标志的帽子。她们矫健的舞姿投影到可以容纳1.5万人的运动场的荧幕上。一位身穿吊带和仿真丝裤子的女士坐在马建旁边。她是马建的朋友，在一家模特公司上班，该公司聘请欧洲的模特拍照。为了这次奥运会，她要和另一家公司合作，这家公司将广告印在气球上，它还将在朝阳公园为海尔家电公司立一块广告牌。“我不知道马建如此出名。当他出名时，我还没出生呢。”她如是说道，此时的马建正在台前工作。湖人正在试图扳回美职篮决赛史上最大比分差。马建回到自己的座位上，双眼紧盯荧幕，不断用手指转着篮球。这只篮球上有美职篮总裁的签名，上面写着：美职篮中国：奇迹发生的地方！大卫·J·斯恩特。离奥运会开幕还有不到两个月。通往奥运会体育场馆的主干道的新标识已经挂好。在我们带马克去医院检查的路上，我们发现街边的按摩院关闭了。朋友买了盗版的《老无所依》的光碟，发现里面竟然印有北京2008的标志。奥运会的标志无处不在，甚至出现在一些对它的宣传无任何意义的地方。如果我们花足够的钱，运送帮宝适和婴儿湿巾的公司会额外送玩具，其中一个可能是最不安全的44 玩具：由两个透明塑料的半圆组成的球，颜色是淡绿色，球的表面布满柔软的圆柱状物，这些圆柱状物很容易脱落，其尺寸非常容易阻塞孩子的气管。拉一下球外指甲状的金属片，中间的电动小马达开始旋转，使整个气球在地面上蹦跳、旋转，旋转时，球内的LED灯还不断闪烁，还播放着节奏感强的歌。在这个不断震动、闪烁和嘟嘟叫的球上有5个不规则的小孔，透过小孔可以看到北北、京京、欢欢、迎迎和妮妮的样子。东直门桥边巨大的青铜器已不知所踪，三色布盖在它底座上面，布上还压了一些碎石。在路过的一角落里，报亭也即将从新地方搬走。挖掘开发工程不断向报亭靠近，直到它孤零零地立在一小片土地上。接着，一天报亭穿过十字路口，搬至空空的河岸斜前面的一个角落。公共厕所完全被拆了，但当我给克里斯蒂娜打电话说这里连一点厕所的痕迹都找不到时，她反问道：“没有任何痕迹？连一点臭味都没有？”（还是有臭味）一直以来，我都不相信一个承诺——空气质量会因为奥运会的举办而得到提升。毫无疑问，自2004年起，空气质量越来越好，这不仅就天蓝的程度讲，而且就蓝天数量而言。在这里“越来越好“意味着”不那么糟糕“，但在5月，政府给出了他们为奥运会提升空气质量的具体计划：到了8月，关闭更多的工厂；每日限行一半的私家车；暂停建筑工程或至少是暂停挖掘和混凝土工程。随着6月慢慢过去，我怀疑自己是不是太盲目乐观。建筑工程没有任何暂停的迹象；建筑工人已在挖掘地基，浇筑混凝土，但北京未来继续发展时，所修的那幢楼就会在奥运会后对外开放。混凝土搅拌机已经并排在地基旁了，一时间其数量超过10台。扬起的尘土与雾霾混在一起。空气质量指数已达不要外出的程度，接着还会更糟糕。在一个特别阴沉的下午，我去上英语课。感谢大马在五月时给我介绍了这个课堂，我在东四地区与一群退休人员交流英语，东四地区是指定的奥运社区，这里的人们都在为八月的奥运会学习英语。出现在这个课堂让我有种自己是兼职英语老师的感觉，因为我要解释为什么最好说“过去从来没想过（hadneverimagined）”，而不说“从来没想过（haveneverimagined）”，为什么是说“你学习英语多长时间？（HowlonghaveyoustudiedEnglish）?”而不说“你借鉴英语多长时间了？（HowlonghaveyoulearnedEnglish?）”。作为回报，这些退休人员会给我说坐106或24路公交车，可以从东直门到达上课地点；我所住的社区胡家园是个有名的地方，那里有丰富多彩的活动。一位上45 白班的阿姨每月只要1000元工资。英语的提升就像控制污染一样，都不是个直线提高的过程。3楼教室外面的横幅上写着“东四奥运社区居民的公益英语课堂”（PublicWelforeEnglishClassofCitizensofDongsiOlympicCommunity.）。这句话可比中文要好安排语序，但它也反应出一定的问题。官方的英语标识有许多令人尴尬的错误，需要在奥运会开幕前纠正过来。但在实际操作上却存在两个难题。第一个就是用词奇怪、不准确，充满学究味。一本官方的市级杂志上就写了公共标识的十大错误，如将少数民族公园（“MinoritiesPark”）写成了种族主义公园（“RacistPark”），将小心地滑（“SlipperyWhenWet”）写成了湿的地面很狡猾(“TheSlipperyAreVeryCrafty”),同时也有一些明显的啼笑皆非的词语搭配错误，如酒店用“房价（RoomPrice）”来表示旅馆房价(“RoomRate”)，用“EyeHospital”表示眼科医院（“OphthalmologyHospital”）（最后一个明显基于对肛肠医院译成“肛门医院（AnusHospital）”有误解）。第二个就是新英语标识传播速度很快，来不及纠正。无论纠正人员有多少，这些标识制作者所犯的错误总超过他们的工作量。店名用塑料制成的临街小店正向四处扩增，这些小店名也存在拼写和用词错误，如“脚底按摩（FOOTANDDADYMASSAGE）”;“不同质量的服装（Differentqualitytradeclothing）”;“小卖部（CLGARETTESHOP）”;“肉饼（MeatPattyExplode）.”。国子监的垃圾桶分成“可回收物”（“Recycled”）和“有机物”（“Organism”）。在奥运熊猫馆，所有的标识和横幅上都将“北京（Beijing）”写成了“白京（Baijing）”。在教室外的社区办公室里，有一块倒计时牌子，离奥运会开幕只有49天了，但感觉时间还很长。我上楼时没有开灯，只有一位学生在那里——办公室停电了，我们不得不在另一个社区上课，这个社区位于另一个巷子的南边。我尾随还是大学生的老师，穿过迷宫般的十字巷到达上课地点。新教室位于一个重新装修后的四合院里，在小四合院的一间屋里有一张大桌子。一位中央电视台的工作人员正在拍摄，房间的一角挤满了人。墙上的标识写着“伟大的奥运会/学习英语/与2008同行”。我与沙美媛和胡月笙一起待的时间最长，瓜子脸的沙美媛是从一个制表厂退休的质检员。胡月笙有着一头卷曲的头发，时常面带微笑，但眼神46 犀利。上次胡告诉我，她头脑不好使，是个自谦的学习榜样。我和他们一同在离桌子比较远的地方坐下，他们会把想知道的词和短语划出来，如“不舒服（uncomfortable）”、“流汗（sweltering）”、“潮湿（humid）”。我们一同将中文和英语的意思结合起来学习：“湿”对应“humid”，“闷”对应“stuffy”，“闷热”对应“stuffy”。接下来就是句子。“房间里很凉快。”（Theroomfeelscool.）“待在房间里很凉快。”（It’scoolintheroom.）“森林里在下雨。”（Therewasrainintheforecast.）“用英语该怎么说？”（HowdoyousaythatinEnglish?）“暴风雨要来了。”（Therewillbeastorm.）“雷雨要来了。(Therewillbethunderstorms”or:“athunderstorm”）。“将要下大雨了。”(Therewillbeheavyshowers.）。“用纸杯喝茶。”（Teawasservedinpapercups.）。“茶很浓。”（Theteaistoostrong.）。“我们是正在将北京打造成一个国际化大都市吗？”（WereweburnishingBeijing’scredentialsasacosmopolitancity?）。“女士正在说她们想要说的话。”(Theladieswereusinglanguagetosaywhattheywantedtosay.)“我很困。”（Iamsleepy.）。“我想小睡一会儿。”（Iwilltakeanap.）最后就是说更复杂的句子，如“每天下午，吃完午饭后都要睡午觉。”(Itakeanapafterluncheveryafternoon.)。“我们学了很多句子，但不能记住它们”(。Welearnedmanysentences,butwecan’trememberthem.)。课后，胡月笙推着自行车，和我一起走去主干道。凤凰牌的自行车车身漆黑、坚固，产自上海。胡月笙用这车已经38年了。晚上，我和乔迪在守镇之舞的办公室见面，该办公室位于建外SOHO大楼的白塔里。守镇之舞是棒球表演赛的拉拉队。我保留了导演赵守镇的名片，并发了邮件问她，是否该拉拉队将全程参与奥运会。“我是篮球联赛的指挥，”赵守镇说道。但她的意思是她负责指导篮球区域非篮球比赛项目的部分。赵守镇办公室入口整齐的排放着包包和装着拉拉队需要的设备和装着服装的袋子，其中花球和花边装饰圆圈都满出来了。赵守镇身穿盖斯的T恤和红色的体操短裤，上面写着“预备队”；短裤下面穿的是一双平底运动鞋。两条小狗在她办公室跑来跑去，它们的名字分别是米奇和米妮。角落里有一个上面写着“泡菜拉面”的纸箱。赵守镇说着有韩语味的普通话，如果她在谈论时停顿下来，乔迪会进行翻译。守镇47 说自己久久不能入睡，因为她要和建筑工人斗智斗勇，她原本要建一个自己的新舞蹈工作室，费用已付了90%——整修费用为20万元,她要等完工才会支付剩下的10%，但工人却要等她付了剩下的10%才会完成整修。赵守镇说奥运会为促进亚洲元素融入舞蹈提供一个绝佳的机会。“在奥运会篮球比赛中，首次出现表演，这不是只让一些漂亮丰满的女孩展现自己美丽的脸蛋儿而已。”以亚洲为主题的舞蹈将会成国际娱乐的一部分：乌克兰拉拉队将会上台表演，她们打算组织一个蹦床扣篮表演队。赵守镇出生在韩国一个非常贫困的家庭，父亲是位出租车司机，全家都住在地下室里。她想去舞蹈学校学习舞蹈，但家里没钱，于是就学了健身操。读完高中，赵守镇就成了一名健身操教练，一次去参加健身操的悉尼之旅让她意识到，出国可能让自己过得更好。“韩国社会正在改变中，但我住在韩国时，人们以女性嫁的好坏来判断她的价值……我不想他人来决定我自己的人生。”预算限制了赵守镇可选择的国家：中国离韩国很近，而且物价低。于是在2004年，她带着4千美元来到了北京。半年后，钱用完了，她在一个小型健身房找到工作，教健身操，每个小时50元人民币，约合6美元。“我需用中文上课，所以我的中文进步神速。”她如是说道。她的课很受欢迎，自己花功夫设计上课时穿的衣服，生动地进行课堂展示。到了1999年，她开始在一家更大的健身房工作，每小时可挣2千元，她还开始出现在电视的一些健身节目中，此外，中国健美操协会聘请了她，成为一名外籍教练。这是她的第一个事业高峰。但是接下来赵守镇和中国健美操管理人员的关系变僵——他们发现守镇的教学风格“不专业”——她与健美操管理人员起冲突。“许多上司都叫我晚上出去，陪他们的投资者唱歌。但我是一名健身操老师，不是三陪小姐。”她从健身房辞职，组建自己的团队进行健美操表演。2002年，世界杯在韩国和日本举行，赵守镇派一支拉拉队前往——中国的第一支拉拉队，为中国队加油。“韩国人民认为我代表其他国家，就是不爱国的表现，”她说道。当载有拉拉队员的飞机抵达中国时，记者已在等候。“我感觉自己就像个名人。”赵守镇出版了自己的韩语自传。中国篮球协会邀请赵守镇为联赛组建一支拉拉队。“我不了解篮球。”有时，当比赛中途换人时，拉拉队员可能错误地出现在比赛场地上——赵守镇表演了一下错误的开48 头。球迷也还不熟悉拉拉队表演的理念；他们认为来自北京的拉拉队员不是为国家队加油，于是向她们扔瓜子。赵守镇开始了第一次去美国的行程，现场观看湖人拉拉队的表演。她坐在地上，聚精会神地看着表演，仍记得她自己所说的话，“我大部分注意力都集中在拉拉队表演上，我保证，中职篮的拉拉队会赶上美职篮的拉拉队。”她开始将中国的元素——少数民族舞蹈——融入表演中。后来，中职篮开除了她。韩国将大量的电视剧出口到中国；众多的肥皂剧用中文配音后，经常在好几个台同时播出。乔迪说守镇的故事就像电视剧。守镇说自己从来不看韩国的电视剧，因为所有的剧讲述的都是一个人爱上一个本不应喜欢的人，后来两人又在一起了，但最后其中一人死了。（对于一个不看韩国电视剧的人来讲，这是一个非常准确的概括。）“我的人生比电视剧更像电视剧，所以我不必看它们。即使在我晚年时，我喜欢的生活不再丰富多彩……但生命中的每件事的戏剧性都不比安吉丽娜·朱莉的少”守镇说道。南方都市报是广州本土的主要报纸，该报纸的记者写了一篇关于自己被解雇的报道，题目为“再见，篮球宝贝”。其它的出版社也来找到该记者。“我不值得报道，因为我没有被雇佣。”该记者说道。记者说接替的拉拉队员一点都不好，说了她们很多的缺点，手还不断比划着（这个谈话中我们没使用翻译）。谈话过半，她抬起手，从肩膀上拿下一个娃娃，夹在手臂下——它是一只鸭子吉祥物，在谈话时被摘掉了头。赵守镇和我一样被解雇了。健美操队进行商演，每人所得的报酬竟和中职篮球赛整个拉拉队获得酬劳一样多。赵守镇还为可口可乐和其它客户设计舞蹈动作。但她希望能为2008奥运会贡献一点自己的力量。“尽管我不是中国人，但我想要为奥运会做贡献。”然而，组委会告诉她，他们已经找好了拉拉队——赵守镇的老东家，中国健美操协会，已经接下这个任务。“我说，好吧，虽然你不想我掺和到奥运会中去，但我会以自己的方式去。”随着好运沙滩排球比赛的临近，组织者有些疑问——高层领导将要去观赛，但官方拉拉队的表演却反映平平。在香港拉拉队比赛的赵守镇接到邀请电话，当时还有2周去做准备。她飞到韩国，买了400英镑的服装，睡在办公室里。赵守镇指着楼上的一处，那里就是她曾睡过的地方。我在沙滩排球赛场看到的情形是，一只拉拉队在表演，而另一只队伍却表现得漠不关心——这两只队伍正在决一胜负。最后，守镇之舞获得了奥运会排球和篮球比赛拉拉49 队的资格，其它的舞蹈团参加其它赛事。赵守镇说：“他们看那只队伍最好，就把任务交给他们。”赵守镇在朝阳的胜利让她迎来了又一个事业高峰，这次使得她的团队回到中职篮比赛。联赛的赞助公司的主席反对让赵的团队表演，因为他认为她的舞者跳的不够好。“其他队的队长都像报镖一样紧紧的站在主席旁边。他们区别对待我的团队。”赵守镇说道。赵守镇告诉主席，就是有像他这样的男人，中国的女人才会当情妇；就是有他这样的男人，80后才会为了买部手机，就和别的男人睡觉。“我愤怒地离开房间。在大厦的入口，有一位清洁阿姨在打扫，‘如果我们有发言权，一定选你们当最好的团队。’我听到阿姨这样说，不禁哭了出来。”赵说道。赵守镇表演了当时那个场景，队员围住她的样子，那时她还掉着眼泪，给那个主席发了条言辞犀利的短信。主席给她回了短信，并道歉。后来中职篮的任务被分成3个部分，守镇之舞和其他两个健美操强队一起完成。赵守镇有些口头禅，她说：“TIC（ThisIsChina）,这就是中国。中国非常性感。”这个对中国的概括，以前我从来都没遇到过。从外看，中国非常简单，但一旦在这儿待两、三年，你会觉得——“摸不到”。你不能抓得住它。“他们不给我预算，我必须得自己制定预算……我感觉自己就是个志愿者。”赵说道。还没感受到奥运会参与者顺从的口吻。她用进行奖牌展示表演的女子军队举例——她们年轻、有少女般的身姿，选拔时都要看身姿、身高和体态，这些女子的训练照片刊在各大刊物上。在摄影机前，赵守镇挺胸抬头，面带羞涩的微笑，双手拿着奖牌。摄影机外，她倚在窗户上，整个人表现得慵懒，深深地吸了口烟。“还是关于吉祥物。我不明白为什么要有5只吉祥物。设计它们的意图是让所有人都喜欢它们，但并不是所有人都喜欢这些吉祥物。”赵守镇说道。灰尘和污染已经破坏了塔外的景色。倾盆大雨即将到来。“在读小学时，我是个非常典型的韩国女孩，安静且内向……性格不男不女……当我训练学生时，我会痛打他们。“军事化训练,”赵守镇微笑着用英语说道。赵守镇放了一段自己喜欢的舞蹈视频剪辑，来自好运篮球锦标赛。她的舞蹈队员身穿黑色的服装，光着脚，挥舞着红扇子。音乐是鼓声。扇子一张一开的，双脚不断踢着地面。表演获得了观众的喝彩。赵守镇的抱负不局限于跳舞。她提出申请，要办一个节目，叫《拉拉队火力全开》，在节目中工作的女子可以成为中职篮的拉拉队员。“当来自北京和上海这类大城市的女50 孩遇上来自内陆城市的女孩，她们之间文化的差异和地区差异会变得明显。”另一个节目是《赵之秀》，类似由“奥普拉·温弗瑞和泰拉·班克斯”主持的脱口秀。但是，目前最重要的是奥运会。“奥运会，啦啦啦，”赵守镇说道。51'