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School For Smiles
Today's lesson is how to learn to smile. I know it's not easy but we must try.
We are in Beijing in January for early homework for hosting the Olympic games in August. The teacher is Ms Liu Wenjing, vice-principal of the new 'smiling school'.
The pupils are group of 32 young women, most of whom are aged below 20. These are testing times. The location of the academy is secret.
They are candidates to train to become one of approximately 380 head-girls to carry medals to athletes at the various tournaments.
The curriculum is fairly straightforward. You must not show more than six-to-eight teeth. A 45-degree bow is a requisite. Not more, not less. All of the winning candidates must measure between 1.68 metres and 1.72 metres in height.
Vice-principal Lui Wenjing is pleased with the beginning of term. She says her class is "Good-looking with good figures ... up to the standards to take part in the ceremonies".
The secret smiling school in a suburb of Beijing has got a certain thing right. The way to win the hearts and minds of a billion television viewers is a 45-degree bow.
