China - Day 71, Wednesday

We have been in China 10 weeks already (well technically only 9 because we were in Germany for a week - but you know what I mean!)

I thought I would talk about exercising here in China. The people seem to find ways to stay fit here. They do the normal walking, running, swimming, etc. But they have a few different types also.

Today as I was on the balcony hanging laundry, I watched a couple exercising or at least that is what I think it is. They had swords with red tassels and they were doing a synchronized movement, kind of dance or Tia Chi type. It was interesting to watch.

Yesterday as I was hanging the laundry (never been so entertained while doing laundry before!), there was a group of eight women doing the same kind of dance/Tia Chi but with 2 fans. They would have them closed then they would all snap them open. I tried to to take pictures but my camera has a lousy zoom feature and the fourth floor (and trees) is too high for good pictures, but I posted them anyway.

The red is the fans that the ladies are dancing with. The trees are in the way a little, but you get a sense of what they are doing.

Really neat to watch them snap the fans open.

Every morning out the office window I can watch a group of people, I want to say about 20, doing Chinese type dances. They play different types of Chinese music, so I have music in the morning while I work on the computer!

When I walk around the complex in the morning there are people doing Tia Chi, some by themselves and some in pairs. Many people are walking and as they walk they are slapping themselves  - on the stomach, arms, back, etc.  This morning as I opened Daniel's curtain I watched a person standing with their back to a tree and falling backwards onto the tree (unclear as to why this would be healthy). There are also people playing badminton - just hitting the birdie back and forth. Badminton is big here!

In the mornings, when I walk to the store, I pass different shops. Many of them will start the day with the employees out in front of the shop and they all do some warm up type exercises. I have seen an office (I think a real estate office, among others) of 15 people, or so, all outside doing this.

At certain times of the day when I walk past a school, the children are all lined up (and I mean nice neat rows and columns) doing morning exercises.

One of these days I will have my camera with me and be able to take some pictures to post.

I think that the Chinese are very health conscience. Now if only they could do something about the air pollution...