Ramblings...

All of the sidewalks here are made to be easily managed by the blind. The sidewalks are all constructed of blocks or tiles - they are not solid concrete. In the middle are tiles with parallel elevated markings so a blind person could "follow" along. Only problem - I haven't seen one blind person out on the sidewalks yet.

It would be difficult for a handicapped person to get around here. I have only seen a couple people in wheelchairs and they were being pushed around. All buildings are not wheelchair accessible. I haven't seen a single motorized wheelchair - and definitely not in the supermarkets! (My, how do they manage???)

No fire sprinkler systems installed in any buildings that I've seen. Just not necessary - they are almost 100% concrete. And most floors are tile. Explains why I can hear a marble roll across the floor of the apartment above me.

There are many, many dialects in China. While at Li Mountain with my Chinese friend Skye, he commented that there were many people there that he couldn't understand a word they were saying. There are 5 tones in Mandarin, but some dialects only have two. Makes it doubly tough to learn the lingo.

Skye says Chinese men develop iron stomachs. Mine must be getting there, because on the way back from Li, Skye got sick but I didn't. We ate all the same food.

I can't tell the difference between fog, haze, and pollution. All I know is I usually can't see very far.

The taxis here are green and mustard yellow color. They are also very cheap. No tipping. Sometimes someone in a regular car or van will stop and ask you if you want a ride. Get in at your own risk - if the police pull them over (happened to a teacher here), that driver will get in trouble and the police will question you - but most likely let you go.

The roads here are in excellent shape. Haven't seen any potholes. If they need to repair a road, they just put up some barriers around the hole and start digging. There are no lane change warnings or anything to alert drivers. It leads to some crazy swerving around - even into opposing lanes of traffic.

They have trucks that wash the streets down daily. They play music that reminds me of an ice cream truck. I tell my students that it's time to go out and get some ice cream.

Cars here are in good shape too! You don't see beat up clunkers or jalopies (except the old 3 wheeled vehicles of the peasants). And they cost a lot of money too. Skye says a parking spot in his apartment building costs $36,000.

My electricity ran out for the 2nd time since I've been here. Everything just goes out. Then you have to go to the management office and put some money on your electricity credit card, come back to your apartment, put it in the electricity slot and it credits you the amount on your card.

Little kids, who I assume aren't quite potty-trained yet, walk around in pants with no underpants that has an open slit at their butt. Then, if they have to go, they just squat down and do their business wherever. Haven't quite got used to that one yet...

After lunch, they like to take their naps. You'll see street workers just laying on the ground or wherever they can manage taking a snooze. At school, the Chinese teachers take over the teachers lounge and sleep on all the couches. Makes it tough to go in and get a cup of coffee...