A walk in the park

[Guest ExChinaExpat]

This morning I took a walk in Yuhua park in Nanjing. This park is a memorial for the Chinese martyrs who died at the hands of the KMT. The KMT was later forced out of the China mainland and took residence in Taiwan.

 

http://i50.tinypic.com/20a2rdf.jpg

http://i49.tinypic.com/9az9cj.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/2d9353p.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/2z6zer7.jpg

 

[Guest ExChinaExpat]

http://i50.tinypic.com/2qn1pwx.jpg

http://i49.tinypic.com/rk7l2c.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/5d125c.jpg

http://i47.tinypic.com/xn87x2.jpg

http://i48.tinypic.com/1o0eqg.jpg

[Guest ExChinaExpat]

http://i49.tinypic.com/2hhisr8.jpg

http://i47.tinypic.com/fz3hae.jpg

[Guest ExChinaExpat]

http://i45.tinypic.com/9zpvf4.jpg

[warpedbored]

Very cool Jessie. I remember going through the People's Park in Nanning and watching all manner of activities. Ballroom dancing, old men playing poker, people playing traditional Chinese musical instruments and of course, Tai Chi. It was great.

[Mick]

Reminds me so much of my years in China. God, I miss that place so much. The parks, especially in the early morning hours, are filled with people doing all manner of things. In Hefei, the inner city is circled by what is called "Ring Park" and it is really lovely. They dug out and widened the ancient moat and the ring of water forms the basis for the park. Qigong, Taiji, and ballroom dancing. They even had a group of old guys who had birds in cages and they would congregate so their birds could socialize. Before it was declared evil and illegal, the park in Hefei was filled with folks practicing Falun Gong. There was also a group of ladies who used to gather and do the Taiji Fans. Just incredible.

[Guest ExChinaExpat]

Very cool Jessie. I remember going through the People's Park in Nanning and watching all manner of activities. Ballroom dancing, old men playing poker, people playing traditional Chinese musical instruments and of course, Tai Chi. It was great.

 

 

Reminds me so much of my years in China. God, I miss that place so much. The parks, especially in the early morning hours, are filled with people doing all manner of things. In Hefei, the inner city is circled by what is called "Ring Park" and it is really lovely. They dug out and widened the ancient moat and the ring of water forms the basis for the park. Qigong, Taiji, and ballroom dancing. They even had a group of old guys who had birds in cages and they would congregate so their birds could socialize. Before it was declared evil and illegal, the park in Hefei was filled with folks practicing Falun Gong. There was also a group of ladies who used to gather and do the Taiji Fans. Just incredible.

 

As I am pondering whether to stay in China and retire, or return to the US, I think of my many experiences here in China. It is indeed a land that grows on you. Thanks Carl and Mick for your input and thoughts. I have often walked at this park in the morning, and as you know, Chinese people get up before sunrise en-masse to go walking and exercising. From Tai-Chi, to badminton, to yo-yo's, to dancing, to single people yelling at the top of their lungs to free the stress. It's just something you don't see in the USA, yet is found in every single city big and small in China.

 

I feel a part of them, but can also hear the whispers of laowai as I walk about. There is a warmness, and welcoming spirit that as I take photos, I smile at them before and after. They nearly always smile back, and I wish I could exchange more words.

[Urkidding]

I feel a part of them, but can also hear the whispers of laowai as I walk about. There is a warmness, and welcoming spirit that as I take photos, I smile at them before and after. They nearly always smile back, and I wish I could exchange more words.

 

WOW! Great pictures Jessie.

 

It also reminds me of my adventures through China.

 

We have these same practices here in America though but not as visible as you have in China.

 

My mother goes to the community center in town where all of her friends gather to do exercises, arts, exchange stories, field trips and other activities. Of course this is Monday through Friday. She looks forward to her little part of the world of old retirement activities that they schedule for them.

When she comes back she describes all of the people there and what they say. Kind of like a bowl of colored marbles and each one having a special sparkle when the light hits it. On Wednesday they all look forward to their “Pot Luck” lunch where everyone brings a dish of their own ethnicity type of food. Of course, Mother is from Greece and she takes pride in how she makes her tasty dish so that her friends can enjoy a little part of the world that they will never see. She clamors about how they all want a part of her world to taste.

 

Because of my wife’s background, she tells me about a little lady from China and how young she (55) is to be at the center where the majority of those are 65 – 80 years young. Then she explains to the Chinese lady about how her daughter in law is Chinese and they start a new conversation about different stuff that retired people will talk about.

 

I often listen to her conversations with a distant stare wondering if this is my future. Will I also go to a center where old people gather and have fun, exercise, and have “pot luck “ lunches or will I just stay at home and get pampered by my young Chinese wife. Heck, I’m like a lot of other guys here on the board whose is almost at retirement age as you and is raising a child who is not even 10 yet. Me, retire early, I don’t think so!

 

Jessie, no matter what you decide to do just remember to live today like there is no tomorrow.

 

p.s. - Smiling is something that is understood by everyone despite culture, race, or religion; it is internationally known.