Terminal 什么?

Currently flying above Novosibirsk (go figure where this is!) l am now more relaxed. But a few hours ago I was running around like a headless chick between terminals. I am not sure how this happened. I reconfirmed online the flight, I even checked twice the printed copy of my ticket. Flying Air France, I had assumed (silly me) that we would be taking off from the new international terminal, Terminal 3, the dragon. I was even planning to take a few more photos for you. 

While standing in front of the departure board unable to locate my flight, my stomac squeezed. Where is my flight??? Did I make a mistake and it is tomorrow? Or did I missed it? I was told flatly that I should go to Terminal 2, but that I might miss my flight since both terminal are not near each other. The whole process of changing terminal was as follow: rushing to the elevator already full with people and doors closing and shoving myself into the passengers, going down all the way to the taxi level, while still in the elevator, convincing an airport agent to run with me to direct my taxi driver (at this point I could not garanty any Chinese language skills), marathon running to the front of the taxi line, highjacking the next available one and repeating kuai, kuai kuai wo hen wan (quick quick quick I am really late!) while he zigzagued his way to the highway, screaming in unisson with the driver to the lazy and slow toll clerk to open the toll gate, and ejecting myself out of the car for a last dash, fearing that the information lady misguided me and that I would have to return to Terminal 3. Fortunately, I made it, maybe one of the last one to check in, but I made it. Wow! I could not afford missing this flight, my appointment with the legal and dental experts is a non negotiable date. 

Later talking to the flights attendants about my experience, they invoqued the bad Sino-French relationship. Now I imagine, writting about this might even get my blog censored. Heck, most of you guys are mostly out of China, so here you go!

Prior the Olympics, France indicated the possibility of boycotting the opening ceremony, in light of the human right and the Tibet situations. Since, both countries relationships have deteriorated themselves. In December, President Sarkozy pushed things further by meeting with the D*alai L*ama just prior to the EU meeting. The Chinese Premier eventually intently avoided France in his recent European tour, visiting everybody else but the French.

On the Chinese side, since the Olympics, several measures have been taken to make the French uncomfortable in China. For exemple, French nationals personal shipments are subjects to stringent regulations, beyond ours, Canadians, Israeli or Americans. The Chinese have been encouraged to boycott French products in a patriotic gesture.

And most likely there are other measures that I am unaware of.

So the fact that Air France was never transfered to the new International Terminal 3, unlike all other international major carriers, is probably another "punishment" by the Chinese government. China, 20 years after its opening to the world, still uses its old tools to obtain "respect" from West, blackmailing, punishing or slapping the fingers of those who dare criticizing its actions. Like a fat spoiled child convinced his way is the only one good, and using screams, tantrums or bullying to get his ways. Quite amazing in today's world, quite amazing at this scale. But even more amazing is the fact that nobody else in the world stands up and says something. Probably economics are more powerful than anything, since China is the factory of the world.

But even if the French "stood up" to China,  it is short lived, as last Sunday the ex-French PM Rafarin arrived in Beijing "to repair sour Sino-French ties", as stated by the China Daily. Supposedly France would have realized the urgency to improve its ties with China amid the global economic crisisl, quoting the Chinese expert in European Studies Wang Zhaohui.  Again the CPC (China Communist Party) is playing the all mighty, turning into puppets everything that comes near it.