About the language thing, it is not foreigners demanding Chinese speak english, it’s chinese demanding themselves to speak english, and then making rediculous claims like there are more english speakers in China than in America. However, the exit/entry administration SHOULD speak english, that’s common sense. Taxis shouldn’t, but then again they promised they would by 2008. Nobody else should have to speak english, but nonetheless they futily try. The culprit here is not arrogant foreigners, but rather the entire curriculum of the Chinese education system that wastes valueable resources in a language that 99.9% of the populace will never use, rather than making sure that 99.9% of the populace speaks decent mandarin, which so far isn’t happening. China could use a bit more self-confidence in their own language. Japan and Korea are amazingly prosperous and powerful countries, and yet the english level of their populace sucks as well. France is another great example of a country that could care less about English, because they know they’ll do fine without.

1) In restaurants, when confusion arises, just smile and point and smile and point
2) Be sure to have your passport when you check into your hotel, no matter where, they will check
3) Exchange your RMB back to your home country currency before you get back to your home country.
4) Don’t try to bring up political conversations with your Chinese hosts. Remember the adage about religion and politics and acceptable conversations
5) Look both ways when crossing the street. Look both ways when crossing a bike path or walking path as well.
6) Bring paper napkins or tissue paper when you go out …. the restaurants won’t have any in the bathroom and will charge you for them at your table
7) Taxi drivers will give you change (but sometimes you must ask for it)
Conversations in Chinese sometimes sound like arguments but aren’t
9) At the airport, bus station, ferry station, etc., it is always better to take the legitimate taxi vs the private taxi
10) Hot tea after a meal will help cut the oil that you just ate

I know there’s more …..

China should have bid on the Olympics in about 15-20 years. The country would have been more ready.

Additionally, the new “image” that China wanted to present is getting lost. The visa procedures have gotten more complex. Tourism numbers are actually DROPPING because of this. What’s the point of the Olympics? The new “rules” book that was issued for foreigners was only written in Chinese. It’s crazy and embarrassing. I’m saying this as a foreigner who really loves China.

The plan was definitely to be finished by the Olympics:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CCTV_Headquarters
http://www.designbuild-network.com/projects/cctv/

Don’t sentences

“So the powers that be have two months to prove the naysayers wrong. In the meantime we all watch and wonder.”

pretty much address your latter criticism?