Three weeks ago I noticed some people walking around the deserted area. They seemed to be talking measurements and generally casing the area. About three days later the first store, which is a steamed-bun chain-store, opened up. There is now a convenience store, four restaurants which are officially open, a bar around the corner, and a plethora of storefronts that are being worked on.
That's China. Things are changing every day and sometimes I feel like I'm in the biggest game of catch-up, but mostly I feel like I'm part of a giant video game in which every day that I survive, with a smile on my face, is an accomplishment. I know that a country which practices censorship and harsh recreational-drug enforcement is scary. I understand that a lack of a Romanized alphabet is intimidating. I empathize with the struggle of trying to find high-quality food, clothes, and services, especially in a system overrun with subpar products.
But, I am loving all of it. The good, the bad, the ugly, and the babies who wee in our cafeteria during lunch.
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| Don't mind us |
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| Putting up the sign |
