Saying Goodbye.

I left New York City from the SFT Office at around 4am. Kunsang, Tenzin Dolkar, Lhakyi, Yangdon and Julia Kimmel were kind enough to stay around to see me off. Right before I jumped in the cab TenDolkar gave me her "trungkhar" (Tibetan protection amulet). I needed all the help/blessings I could get. After rushed goodbyes the cab sped off to La Guardia, first stop SF.

I had about a day and a half to spend with my family before leaving for Beijing. I told my father and sister about what we were going to do and what could possibly happen when (not if, but when) we get arrested. My Dad asked me if I was sure I wanted to do this, gave me a hug and we then went over the talking points for the media in case they wanted a family member to interview. I gave my sister the envelope full of letters addressed to the family and told her to open this if and only if something happens. I decided not to tell my Mom about what was going to happen in Beijing. She had suffered a brain aneurysm a few years ago, and I didn't want to put any emotional or mental strain on her without due reason. On the way to the BART station she asked me what I was going to be doing there and I told her "media stuff". Which wasn't an all out lie. When we said our goodbyes I hugged her longer than usual and she gave me this "I know you're up to something" look. I told her I'd see her in a week and hastily rushed to grab the next BART train.



Departure

I had about an hour before departing from SFO to Beijing. So I looked over my notes, action scenarios, code phrases and emergency contact numbers. I had to memorize then dump all of this information before getting on the plane. I realized that I wouldn't be able to memorize everything so I started to translate the notes into Baybayin (pre-colonial Pilipin@ script), hell as far as I knew there weren't any Baybayin scholars on Beijing's payroll that could decipher this. I hear the boarding call in English then Mandarin. I semi-frantically feel around my collar to make sure the "trungkhar" is still around my neck and tell myself, "remember: smile like a tourist."

I don't really recall much about the flight, other than constantly praying that I don't somehow get caught and fuck up the years of planning that went into this action. That would be a true, FML moment.

Arrival

We touched down in Beijing around 4pm Beijing Time/4am NYC Time. I start rehearsing in my head what I am supposed to tell customs and any "Officer Friendlies" that I might have to deal with. The moment I step off the plane I am hit by a wave of heat and humidity and sadly I can't see the sun. I continue on to customs, praying/rehearsing what I am going to say. I have to say though, Beijing International Airport was HUGE, sparkling new and impressive. I guess the Chinese govt got the most bang for their yuan. After a good trek I finally see the customs area. They're these elevated kiosks with a person in a blue uniform checking each person passport and right in front of the customs agent is a peculiar black box with a green and red button. It said in Engish "How would you rate the service with customs?" I quickly typed green, "Good." I wasn't about to let a stupid customer service survey mess up my plans. The woman on the elevated kiosk asked for my passport, I smiled and handed it to her and began to pray in every language I knew...Dios Santo Nino Madre Perpetual...Om Jai Jagadish...Om Mani Peme Hung...Khwaja Mere Khwaja. At this point, I wasn't sure I was going to get in. So many others that worked in the Tibet movement, who have kept a low profile, had been either denied a visa or turned back at customs to be on a 14 hour plane ride back to the US. Mantras, Prayers, Bhajans spun in my head and behind my fake smile.

Then she stamped my passport and said "Welcome to Beijing."

Good lord. I got in. Is this shit for reals?! I discreetly looked over my shoulder to make sure I wasn't being followed. Seriously? Did I just get in? For those of you not familiar with my work with SFT, I worked as the Grassroots Coordinator and was pretty much a very public face of the organization. So you would have to understand my vast surprise at being let into a country whose government I have outspokenly criticized and protested. Wow. Talk about not living up to your hype. I gather my bags, exchange my dollars for yuan and try my best to catch a cab.




As soon as I arrive at my hotel, I'm exhausted. I try to gather enough energy to check for bugs or hidden cameras. After about 10 mins, I just give up and turn on the AC and pass out.

I woke up the next day to the hum of the air conditioner. I can smell the pollution in the air that Beijing was supposed to take care of prior to the games. I look at the hotel clock and realize its 3pm. WTF. I still feel groggy and cotton headed. I sit up and begin to collect my thoughts. I take a mental step back and begin to go over all of the action scenarios, the contingency plans (what if one of us are taken in the middle of the night without being able to alert the rest of the team? what if we get tasered during the action? etc.) I take a deep smog filled breathe, stand up and I look out my window and the realization washes over me.

Oh fuck. I'm finally in Beijing.

Tomorrow's Post -Fear and Loathing in Beijing: Scoping out the Bird's Nest

*note: Photos in this post were taken by Noel Hidalgo, citizen journalist, blogger, activist and tech ninja, he was embedded in Beijing to document the actions during the 2008 Olympics. Thank you Noel for letting me borrow your images. Check out his blog here