Me, Todd, Emil and Lei Feng

The entrance to Juan’s building always features some well-illustrated admonition to “keep a harmonious neighborhood” or “cooperate for a better city.” Far from aspiring to such anodyne niceties, I’d be happy if the locals didn’t toss their garbage out the window like we live in some squalid medieval village.

In this photo you’ll see myself, Todd and Emil (recently visiting from San Francisco) contemplating the life lessons of revolutionary hero Lei Feng. He’s the quintessential Chinese everyman who, despite being orphaned and penniless, joined the PLA and gave everything to the poor. While his death (killed by a falling pole) might not be the stuff of epic poems, Mao singled him out as an example of a most noble adherent of Mao Zedong Thought.

In other news, Todd and Emil were perfect houseguests – going so far as to help clean up after the birthday party. While collecting garbage at 3AM is maybe not as heroic as getting smacked by a pole, they have my utmost appreciation.

Hopefully they’ll come again soon. After visiting cultural highpoints like this, who wouldn’t?

Next stop: Tonga!