Being from the quiet, forested land of Dole Valley, Washington, we are in awe each day, with the sights and sounds of one of the biggest metropolises on the planet:
Chongqing, China
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| Our neighborhood of Shapingba has activity all the time. Young roller-bladers practice on the shopping mall square at night. |
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| ......and during the day. |
At night, out in the big complex of stores that is the shopping mall across the street from our apartment, speakers are set up every night.....in about 6 different locations......with various kinds of music playing. People come out of the neighborhood apartments to DANCE ! People are waltzing, break-dancing, two-stepping, doing ballet, doing Tai Chi, or (most popular of all) line dancing. I didn't know that Chris was taking the above video, and it is quite embarrassing, but it does give you an idea of what happens in our neighborhood on a nightly basis. Very cool, quite fun, and good exercise!
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| Motorcycle Taxis line up, always ready for customers. |
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| We had a tour of the LONCIN Motorcycle factory. They make engines for BMW. |
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| LONCIN ships motorcycles all over the world. You must know that, if we were allowed to operate a motorized vehicle here, Chris would have a motorcycle! |
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| Paula liked the scooter. |
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| We got free tickets to a wonderful concert put on by the Tourism Promotion group of Chongqing. |
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| Ma Yanfei is the administrator who arranged for our year of teaching in China. She is also our Chinese Language class teacher. And, she arranges all kinds of special events for us. A good friend! |
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| Here we are at a fancy dinner with the principal of our school, along with other administrators. |
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| Ma Yanfei, Sophie, the principal, Chris, Paula, Qing, and Senlin Li. Both Qing and Senlin had spent full years teaching in the Battle Ground School District back in Washington. |
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| Another occasion: celebrating Chris's 58th Birthday, with a beer and a cribbage game, out in a street-side "cafe". |
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| Toasting Chris at his second birthday party, with Qing and friends. |
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| Sometimes we get all excited about some possibility, only to be disappointed. In this case, we found a restaurant that advertised "Western Food!!" and called this "traditional Italian Spaghetti." I think NOT! |
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| Speaking of foods: These are available (dead or alive) in our local grocery store. |
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| And this is how you select your fish in our grocery store. |
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| All foods are fresh. |
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