I got a call from a friend on Monday afternoon. She said she was in the Forbidden City and she had just met Steven Spielberg.

"I was just about to quit that job, you know. I went there only to take my last month's pay." She could barely contain her excitement as she went on: "He was on a two-day visit...By the time I came, they were looking for a guide...and the HR manager recommended me!"

This girl works part-time as an interpreter in the Forbidden City. Every time I meet her she is up to some new adventure in life.

I said "Wow".

Still agitated, she said the Hollywood director was a mild, pleasant sort of guy. Before he left she asked him: "May I hug you?" (I don't think she's ever a big fan of him, but in such cases, adrenaline could make her one.) To her surprise and joy, he said yes with a hearty smile, then gave her a warm hug.

Steven Spielberg will team up with Chinese director Zhang Yimou in designing the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games. He was named artistic adviser for that project on Monday.