The first word that Chinese try to teach you is "Ni hau". No, not "Nihau" like in southpaw, but spoken separately "Ni hau", more like a somewhat overemphasized questioning of "and how?".   The pitch of the "h" is below that of the "Ni". To compensate, the "au" is higher. Strictly speaking, the "Ni" already shows a slightly rising tendency. For Europeans it is very difficult to internalize that correct pronunciation has a decisive influence on the meaning of words. In order to come yet a bit closer to the correct pronunciation, it is best to move the tones somewhat nasally across the tongue.

After having made these no small efforts, and with a bit of luck, one will have had the satisfaction of at least expressing the desire to have as closely as possible said "hello" in Chinese.  Nice Chinese respond to such experiments with a friendly smile, or like Chris Song of the Otto Bock workshop reception desk they say "perfect". That is definitely not true, but it encourages. Tomorrow we will supplement the "Ni hau" with a short "hma". That then means "how are you?" and establishes a perfect basis for further lessons. Our suspicion is correct; the pitch in "hma" goes up too, sort of like the tone in the workshop.

The more teams move into the athletes' village, the more colorful the cultural scenery at the reception desk gets, where repair orders are accepted and athletes are then picked up by the respective technical specialists. On the third day routine has certainly not crept in as yet, but nonetheless a fixed rhythm can certainly be felt. Midday meals are taken at a canteen for thousands of people working in the athletes' village, most of whom are youthful voluntary helpers.

On the way to the canteen it is always a good idea to change the route every so often. An exceptional, modern and impressive part of the city that always opens up new perspectives. The residential area here will doubtlessly be one of the most attractive in all Beijing. Life on the streets is quiet and relaxed. Of course the way here consists of a foot path. There is practically no road traffic, except for regular service buses along the periphery and an occasional small electric transporter. An exception is the Otto Bock truck, which has received a three-day special permit to commute between the central store and the satellite workshops at the sporting venues. Because these now need to be set up. The opening ceremony is approaching rapidly. Excitement is rising. Sentences shorter. Article end.

Oh, one more thing: The weather conditions have changed once more in the sense that now even the wispy Windows clouds have disappeared and left the sky to be just bright blue.