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Beijing, China: Echoes from Belgrade

By SSgt Frank Velasquez
Det 2, 67 IG
Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ.

What timing! What started out as a training opportunity of a lifetime quickly became the experience of a lifetime.

I had just spent the whole day visiting the Great Wall, and suddenly the Embassy notified me that I was going to be living in a diplomatic compound for the next few days while hostilities subsided.

Apparently, NATO had just accidentally bombed the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.

The diplomatic compound was only a few blocks away from the U.S. Embassy -- I could see the protesters and signs and heard rocks hitting the Embassy walls. The repercussions of the Chinese Embassy bombings, along with other issues like China’s entry into the World Trade Organization and the release of the Cox Report, really put a damper on Sino-American relations.

Although it may sound like I was dodging sticks and stones, nothing could be further from the truth. The embassy took great precautions to ensure our safety. Obviously, being in the military put us in greater danger than civilians visiting China at that time, but while there were a few isolated incidents against Americans and Westerners throughout Beijing, life continued as normal for the most part.

The organized protests were concentrated around embassies throughout China, most Americans visiting were oblivious to the protests as they continued visiting the many sites of Beijing.

Beijing is symbolic of China’s struggle between new and old. Historic sites like the Forbidden City and Summer Palace, once despised and destroyed by Mao’s Red Guard, are now national treasures to remind people of China’s history and how “shamefully and extremely” the emperors once lived. The Great Wall is truly a manmade marvel whose size is difficult to fathom, more than 2,000 miles long over high terrain.

On the other hand, Chinese enjoy Western food, clothes, music, lifestyles and ideals.

While the government may occasionally denounce the United States, Chinese, especially the young, are interested in learning English and enchanted at the prospect of visiting America one day.

A highlight of the trip was dinner with a “typical” Chinese family. The food was great and the conversation was enlightening.

The language training was second to none. At first the language seemed overwhelming, I had to constantly repeat to myself what was being said, and my responses were labored and slow. Another student, who had arrived a few days before I did, explained that it took a couple days acclimating to the speech.

Later, I witnessed this myself as I explained what was being said to the next newly-arrived student. The teachers were quick to identify students’ shortcomings, and explained everything in simpler terms, all in Chinese of course.

Conversations with hosts at our lodgings were as beneficial and enlightening as the actual class time. Although the trip was cut short due to unfortunate circumstances, it was still incredible training and an unforgettable experience.