Postcard From Beijing Day One, Aug. 8th By Shan Qiao, Today Daily News

BEIJING - This is the one of the soggiest and most exhausted days in my life. It is also the proudest day that the majority of my 1.3 billion countrymen can ever think about so far.

I chose not to get inside the Bird’s Nest to witness the opening ceremonies.

Rather, I stayed in Tiananmen Square with my average countrymen, who aren’t able to buy themselves tickets to witness the Olympic Games.

Nothing really happened except the massive countdown and outpouring of a chant of “Go China Go”. I’m so surprised by how my countrymen are satisfied to watch a live broadcast through a cell phone in Tiananmen Square. Surprisingly, there was no live broadcast for the celebrating crowd.

I guess it proves one thing at least: the Beijing Olympic Games compensate all sacrifice my countrymen have been making. I wonder what compensates the sacrifice of them after the Games are over.

I caught the live broadcast of the Opening Ceremony at the very end in hotel. It was still impressive!