17 Nov. 2011: RAIN MEANS ME MISS MAO

It's been dismal the last two days with chilly rain. We even had to buy an umbrella, no bargaining possible this time. Strange thing is even heavy rain doesn't clear the pollution, the air is as dirty as ever. We have had to put off our tribute trip to the nearby Yellow River, the "Mother River" of China. And worse, I missed my chance to slog to Nanjiecun, called The Most Communist Place On Earth. It's China's very last Mao collective, a journey back to puritanical and revolutionary China of the 1950's. Mao is supreme, money is spat on, and red political slogans still dominate walls. "A drop of water only needs to be part of a great ocean to never dry up..."

Apparently it resembles present-day North Korea with perfectly straight clean streets, portraits of the great Commies like Stalin and Lenin, and 24-hr. guard of honour at a Mao statue. Even the shrill 1950's loudspeakers broadcast propaganda denouncing the intellectual class (like all of you!). But at the same time, there is no shouting, no spitting, no beggars or hookers. "A powerful sense of decency and socialist civilization..." Stay there for a month and let me know how you like it. 

Another English Corner has sprung up and we were the guests at their inaugural meeting last night. Topics were family, foods, sports, and friends. We sang Happy Birthday to a member and played Rock-Paper-Scissors. Students are shy but determined.

So, not much to do outside today. The hair salons are busy --- the Cool Boys are stylish with their hair, the Cool Girls are stylish with their clothes. The cake shop girl is wrapping tonight's treat for our tea. Maybe I can read a good magazine?

Followup to yesterday's blog about which is our favourite  food on the street: No, it isn't the candy cart ---- we brought chocolate and jujubes from the Bulk Bins! And it isn't the yams roasted over charcoal, although that's second. Our favourite is the last photo, called kwaychou. It is a vegetarian mix of egg, shredded cabbage, green sprouts, thin noodles and spices. But I'm tempted by that thing that looks like oily pizza...