It's been four months since Blogging Beijing's first post, which means the 2008 Olympic Games are four months away.

Since December, snowstorms have buffeted, Tibetans protested, marathoners abandoned, Hollywooders disowned and meteorologists questioned China's Olympic push.

Since December, sponsors have milked, hurdlers glorified and Chinese politicians championed the Games.

If a city can change in just four months, Beijing has. Underground, where migrant workers scraped out new subways. High above, where unique stadia shine. Among Beijingers too. Some warmed to the Olympics - so exciting, so colorful, so important for China. Others cooled.

Beijingers, sensibly enough, went on living as well. Teaching, learning, cooking, cleaning, dancing, biking, working, eating, crying, kissing, sleeping, playing. Not for the Olympics, or China, or Communism. Rather, for the same reasons Seattlites did - family, friends, honor, confusion, jealousy, love, boredom and necessity.

They'll likely keep it up, from now until August 8. And there's nothing right or wrong with that.

A Tiananmen tourist gets behind Beijing's Olympic motto 'One World, One Dream.' (below)

Join the discussion:

Four months in, Blogging Beijing welcomes comments and suggestions.

What aspects of life in Olympic China have you found interesting thus far? What posts have you enjoyed? How has Blogging Beijing failed to deliver? Moving on, what would you like to read?

Thank you to all readers who have commented or offered suggestions already.

(Note - A long-planned post on grassroots environmental protection ahead of the 2008 Games in Beijing will appear online soon.)

Newslinks:

"EU assembly eyes Beijing boycott, if no Tibet talks"

"Why Beijing Needs Tibet's Help"

"Athletes want guidance on freedom to speak on Beijing"