The Ugly and the Beautiful Part 2: The Beautiful

 

 

  Spring is an incredible event in northern China. You get to watch all the dirty, dry, leafless landscape transform faster than any other place I have ever lived in my entire life. It takes about one week. That being said, the seasonal affective disorder here is no joke. Before that week things look and often feel ba-leak for months, after that one week it is truly amazing how big the difference is.  Tianjin, or Beijing for that matter, go from being a dry concrete debris-filled wasteland with plastic waste floating around, and gray comatose plant life, to a vibrant symphony of nature and people. Things are straight-up better when winter ends - even winter lovers warm to it.

Cherry Blossoms, rose bushes, all means of practical fruit trees and mini gardens erupt around my apartment complex. People smile more, the air smells good for a change. It is an apt metaphor to consider China in a massive cocoon for winter: dark, depressed, hibernating but just waiting, growing, evolving and re-organizing to burst forth in Spring, and fly under the eastern sun. This year it is especially vibrant, because the whole country is waking up after three years of covid. 

Today, April 12th, is known as Qingming Festival, gravesweeping day. It's a holiday where we remember our ancestors. Many visit graves and clean them to pay respects to those that have passed. I know I will say some prayers to the grandparents and a few friends that passed too soon. This is all connected to China's blossoming. It's connected, because this week (contrary to my off dated pictures) almost always has rain. Many say this is God crying for the lost ones- it is also, this year, the first decent rain in about four months here.  haven't seen more than a drizzle in about 1/4 of a year. 

   

With April tears, and memories

respected, the next few weeks will be full of birth and beauty-- this is the northeastern Spring in China. This is a rebirth. 

As for myself, I am also coming out of a cave, or cocoon of sorts. It was a long, harsh winter, but its about to be amazing. 

Book updates coming soon! The next few posts will all be about my crazy vacations to wild places in China and then Phuket! I got caught up with grading and welcoming our new, fantastic teacher to our crew. Happy readiing, take care, and come out of your cocoon. 

Spring from a Temple complex (left) and Spring from my window (right)