China 2006

Shanghai Mornings

Brett Neely Jan 12, 2006

We’ve been working 12- and 14-hour days, every day. It’s starting to catch up, and I’m occasionally feeling like the mountain climber who forgot to turn on his oxygen tank above 20,000 feet.

But despite feeling exhausted, there’s so much to see and appreciate here. And mornings especially are worth watching here. A few days ago, I got up early to go to a Chinese elementary school. On the cab ride there at 7:30 in the morning, I saw groups of people all over town practicing Tai Chi. Some were on sidewalks, some under highway overpasses. I saw parents walking their kids to school – and not one of the kids carried their own book bag. I guess they really are little emperors…

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