An American in Beijing

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BEIJING -- Terri Hewitt of La Crescenta moved to Beijing last September to study Chinese full time and live here long-term. Almost inadvertently, she has been a witness to history.

‘Since I’ve been here 10 months, I’ve basically seen the city be transformed before my eyes,’ said Hewitt, who got a master’s degree from Azusa Pacific in 2004 in teaching English as a second language and has taught English in Taiwan.

‘Cheng fu lu, the road that leads to the Bird’s Nest, was under construction for about three months straight, every night starting at 11 p.m. and working till 5 a.m. This was all outside my bedroom window -- ugh!

‘It was a mess. I really thought it would never be finished. then once the road was finally paved, new bike lanes were made, banners were put up and potted plants were placed every five meters. It’s beautiful now. You’d never believe the transformation that took place.’

Hewitt watched the opening ceremony with friends on a large outdoor screen and was enormously moved.

‘Listening to these proud Chinese sing their national anthem while standing alongside of them will be a memory I will always savor,’ she wrote in an e-mail to her mother, Deanne McCorkle of Palm Desert. ‘It was a touching time to be by my closest friend’s side, celebrating in a momentous period in time and history.’

-- Helene Elliott