Aging Issues in China to Be Explored in Olympic Blog
by Former Beijing Resident
Jacquelyn Kung completed doctoral work and now
employed by Erickson Retirement Communities
Jacquelyn Greeted at
Beijing Airport
Aug. 13, 2008 - Jacquelyn Kung, an employee of
Erickson Retirement Communities who was born in China, is writing a
daily blog of her on-site observations at the Beijing Olympic games and
a look at aging issues in China.
It features photographs and is a behind-the-scenes
look at the Chinese cultural subtleties that complement the games. Her
blog is also geared toward her assessment of aging issues in China. Her
blog will appear for the duration of the Olympic games.
Kung completed a doctoral program at the Johns
Hopkins School of Public Health and earned her B.A. and M.B.A. degrees
at Harvard. And, she likes to knit and dance the cha-cha.
A sampling from her first blog speaks to the
nuances of Chinese culture that readers probably will not find
elsewhere:
“Twenty years ago, I lived in Beijing. Back then,
it was a city where you would ride your bicycle to the local produce
market and pick up vegetables for dinner that night.
Today, that ‘bicycle’ is probably a motorized
bicycle – or better yet, a brand new car. And the local produce market
seems to have been replaced by an air-conditioned hypermart hawking
electronic gadgets next to the vegetables, rice, and drinkable yogurt.
“In 2001, when Beijing was announced as the site of
the 2008 Olympics, the city was transformed in lightening speed to one
of modernity and pageantry. So I am not at all surprised by the
grandeur unveiled this past week for the Olympics. “But I must say that
I am just as impressed by the show as much of the world seems to be.
“It begins with the welcome. Upon arrival at the
brand new airport (apparently the largest airport in the world), you are
greeted by one of the cute Olympic characters – Bei Bei, Jing Jing, Huan
Huan, Ying Ying, or Ni Ni. Together, their names strung together –
Beijing Huanying Ni – means Beijing Welcomes You.”
And her blog includes Kung’s personal and, perhaps,
unexpected assessment of United States Gold Medalist Michael Phelps:
“Today I saw him win his third gold medal for the
USA. The reports of him being a dolphin in the water are spot on: he is
visibly much better than those who share the pool with him.”
Kung was most recently the Associate Executive
Director at Erickson’s Greenspring Village in Springfield, VA, which is
home to 2,000 residents. She previously served as the Senior Director
of Strategy at Erickson’s corporate headquarters.
“We are fortunate to have Jacquelyn on site at the
Beijing Olympics to share her unique perspective of the games and of the
Chinese culture with the world,” said Mel Tansill, Senior Director of
Corporate Public Affairs for Erickson.
“The games and the culture surrounding them are
ageless. Jacquelyn’s insightful blog proves this.”
Erickson Retirement Communities is one of the leading national
developers of full-service retirement communities. Headquartered near
Baltimore, Md., Erickson has built an innovative network of 21
communities that combine a maintenance-free active lifestyle with an
ever-expanding host of amenities, social activities, and wellness and
medical centers, proven to improve both physical and mental
health. Erickson was named by FORTUNE as being one of the Top 100 “2008
Best Companies to Work For.” The Erickson enterprise also encompasses
the
Retirement Living TV network;
NorthBay environmental education center; the
Erickson Health system;
Erickson Advantage health plan;
Renaissance Gardens assisted living, long-term nursing care, and
short-term rehabilitation residences;
The Erickson School at University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC);
The Erickson Foundation; and
Point Lookout conference center.
Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby
boomers
