Like millions of people across the world, my eyes were riveted to the television during the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. To describe it as spellbinding would be a gross understatement. History, grace, art and culture all infused into what many are calling the benchmark Olympic Opening Ceremony of all-time.

Aside from the astounding athletic pursuit displayed, these Games offer us a glimpse into the vast mysteries of the Orient. A couple of years ago my family and I were fortunate to travel around China on a three week trip to adopt my youngest daughter.

I know well the pictures emanating from Beijing. Chairman Mao’s portrait overlooking the concrete expanse of Tiananmen Square. The Forbidden City. The Temple of Heaven and the ancient, back alley areas known as the Hutong. We witnessed the massive infrastructure changes as the new Olympic arenas, dormitories and hotels were being built. At the now famous Bird’s Nest Stadium, our bus was stuck in an enormous traffic jam as structural steel was delivered to the construction site. Curiously, we saw road and business signs erected that featured both the complex pictograph characters of the Chinese language and English.

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