My neighbors and I had a deal. They brought the dumplings, fireworks and baijiu; I provided the house and the beer. Then we had a party. The occasion was the fifth day of the Chinese New Year.
After a few toasts, I added another condition. Everyone had to submit to a little interview about their hopes for 2008. The answers are recorded here:
In reviewing the clips I noticed a distinct difference between the answers of my Chinese friends and those of my American friends. The Chinese want health, prosperity and a successful Olympics. The Americans want fame and glory. Therefore, I’ve decided to scale back my New Year wishes. I no longer hope to win a lot of medals at the Olympics. I only hope to equal my haul from Athens.