Some things we can definitely learn from the Chinese are community, companionship and keeping from idleness. It took me seeing how they live to realize just how lacking our culture is in all of these things. It seems that overpopulation actually has its advantages. The average one room home (which is more of an apartment style) is around 500 sq. ft., I believe. (all you China goers, correct me if I'm wrong) So, people don't necessarily live in their homes. They live in community with one another. One style of living is Courtyard Homes. This is where buildings are built on two, or four, sides of the courtyard, being in the middle. In this case, people tend to congregate in the courtyard, in Apartment-style Homes this happens in the parks. When we were in China, we saw both parks and courtyards, where all hours of the morning, day and night they were filled with people of all ages getting their exercise. It was a really neat thing to see. Children on recess from class doing aerobics, parents and other adults dancing in the park, teenagers working out at the metal park stations in mid-day, and the older generation doing tai chi at dusk and in the dark. I realize since being home, that I did not get nearly enough pictures!!! Some of these scenes remain only in my memory, and some are here for you to see in their blurry form, because my camera just doesn't take good moving shots.
Just another taste of China, and what I miss about it there. That and Sticky Buns!!! Mmmmmm as Lulu would say when she saw a picture of them yesterday. She and I both miss them.....Mmmmmm
You know how your kid does something too strange and so cute, and you race to grab the camera.....but by the time it's in-hand and ready to snap, it's OVER! Well, I did it; I caught the picture this time!!!! Pat was playing music, I was dancing, and Lulu thought she'd just be the Girl in the Plastic Bubble for a while. I love these kinds of pictures, and they'll hopefully make for fun memories in our future! I am so thankful to be in such a different place than I was this time last year. God is good!
