Forget Culture Shock

Let's talk about Chongqing Shock.  It's far more serious, recurrent, and virtually without cure.  And certainly un-operable.  In the 5 weeks since I've been gone, here is a brief list of the major changes:

• Entire school paved with new asphalt
• Bank of China now a fruit stand
• Huge new building growing out of the ground
• Enormous 50 ft high concrete wall covered with granite calligraphy
• Delicious restaurant is gone
• China Mobile shop converted in Fujian noodle shop (sells pig hearts, brains)
• building outside my school knocked down

That about sums it up.  In the pictures above you can see the fruit stand, building, and a comparison on the view from my porch on a cloudy day and later that day.  In all seriousness, Chongqing can be a tough place to live sometimes.  Thankfully, I have a good friends.  And enough money to go visit Hangzhou once in a while, which has to just about be God's gift to humanity.

In other news, I am starting my own translation company, Blue Line Translation.  Please seek me for all your copious Chinese/English translation needs!