Beijing Discovery Tours

I was lucky enough to go watch the USA basketball team play Australia in Shanghai a couple of days ago, and I flew down there and back on China Eastern Airlines. Because it was just a 24-hour trip, I only took a few things and did not want to check any bags, but I still took a can of mousse (completely necessary because I desperately need a haircut.) Unfortunately it was a big can, and it was confiscated by airport security, and they just threw it in the trash can. The only reason that this is notable is that the Chinese airport security people were very friendly throughout my journey both going to Shanghai and coming back to Beijing, such a huge difference from what I see in the U.S. every time I go back. Even though both Beijing and Shanghai airports are under the highest levels of security due to the Olympics beginning tomorrow, airport security people here still manage to smile and be friendly. Also, the friend that I was traveling with managed to change his ticket even to another airline to get on the same return flight as me, and it was absolutely no problem. He didn’t even have to pay a change fee! The U.S.A. could stand to learn a thing or two from how the airlines and airports operate here in China (although our basketball team looks like it will do very well in these Olympics.)