The perfect smile

The China Daily newspaper reported in today’s edition on how visitors to the Olympics will be guaranteed to receive a perfect smile. Apparently police officers as well as hostesses are receiving training on how to produce the perfect smile. The girls, who are aspiring flight attendances are being taught how to smile from ear to ear by biting down on horizontally-placed chopsticks. They have to do this for up to two hours so that their facial muscles get used to this position. Police officers are watching themselves in the mirror and are told only to show 4 upper and 4 lower front teeth. Showing only eight teeth is supposed to make them appear friendly without looking “goofy”. Stories like that are plentiful here in China and I’m not sure if I should smile or feel sad about it. I do see a lot of happy people here in Beijing, with an explosive economy; there are certainly a lot of opportunities for personal growth. The Arts and Culture scene is also blooming in Beijing. China is moving fast from a Made in China to a Design in China society and no better place to see it all happening than in Beijing. I’m all smiles.