SOUL in Beijing

There are a lot of things I miss about not going to China this year. Not the "new" things, but those with "soul". There are a lot of things that still have those special feelings of a place, the depth, the beauty, the poetry. Those people who practice the things that you know one day won't exist anymore, so now they are gold in value.

One day in a park I saw this man who was 80 years old, with a glowing smile, beautiful posture, and a gracefulness that only a person in great shape can have. He walked around and around these shaded trees, with a stick, deepening the already written lines that he carefully created to embellish the area, that by now had become "his". The symbols around the trees were explained to me by my daughter. We followed him both with our steps and with our eyes, admiring his silence, his precision in creating such a beautiful design with pure earth, actually, at times with mud. He would add water when necessary, and return often to make sure the lines were deep enough to maintain the many curved lines that he created. He would also brush away stray leaves, anything disturbing the clean design.

It was beautiful in all ways. His devotion to this special dance, this exercise, all of it leading to beauty thanks to his work and passion.

He would get close to the earth to work on the lines, digging them deeper and deeper to make sure they would keep.

A year after we returned to this area of the park.

Only a faint faint line remained. Only an intent eye would notice it, one who was looking for it as I was.

The lines were gone, I imagine, forever.

Sad and disappointed, I searched and found nothing that showed any life of this excellent and unique area.

Was the man gone as well?

Coronavirus MASKS -- words from China

Just spoke with my daughter who lives in China. She calls to share her experiences, give us advice and we listen.
Regarding masks, this is what she recommends, this is what China recommends:

When you leave your house, for example when you get into a parking lot PUT ON A MASK.
As she states, you do not know WHO was walking in that area BEFORE YOU. 
These are preventive measures for a very contatgious virus. In India, for example, where they don't have masks, they have been told to stay at home inside their houses for two months. Where we DO have masks, we should use them, as prevention. This is how they do it in China, and China has things under control now, so we should follow their example.

When you go into a closed area, such as a supermarket, there it is a good idea to use one of the heavier masks if you have one.

When you put on a surgical mask, pinch the nose area of the mask.
She also says that, if you use the mask for a short period of time, you can use it again and again (since there is such a shortage of masks). When you come home, HANG THE MASK, for example, on a hanger in order for it to dry. Be careful not to touch it with dirty hands, wash your hands before removing it.

Good luck to us all.

Coronavirus and health precautions from daughter in China

The following was just sent to me from my daughter who lives in Beijing China.

This bulletin, in both Chinese and English, is displayed all over China in

public places and advises the public how to help prevent contracting the virus

through simple rules of good health and hygiene.  It was published in mid January, 2020.

“Public Prevention of Pneumonia Caused by Novel Coronavirus”

The pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus is a newly-found disease

 from which the public should strengthen prevention in order to help

 foreigners understand and master the relevant knowledge of prevention. 

National Immigration Administration has compiled and translated this

 guide according to the Public Prevention Notes provided by the Chinese

 Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

      1. Reduce outdoor activities as much as possible.

   1.    Avoid visiting areas where the disease is prevalent

   2.   It is recommended to make less visits to relatives and friends and dining together during    the epidemic prevention and control, and stay at home as much as possible.

   3.    Try to avoid visits to crowded public areas, especially plaes of poor ventilation, such as public bathrooms. Hot springs, cinemas, internet bars, karaokes, shopping malls, bus/train stations, airports, ferry terminals and exhibition centers, etc.

2.  Personal Protection and Hand Hygiene

1.    It is recomended that a mask shall be worn when going out. A surgical or N95 mask shall be worn when visiting public areas, hospitals or taking public transportation.

2.    Keep your hands sanitized. Try to avoid touching public objects and parts in public areas. After returning from public areas, covering your cough, using the restroom, and before meals, please wash your hands with soap or liquid soap under running water, or use alcoholic hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your mouth, nose or eyes when you are unsure whether your hands are clean or not. Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow when sneezing or coughing.

             3. Health Monitoring and Seeking Medical Attention

1.                   1. Monitor the health conditions of your family members and yourself. Measure your      t 

                     temperatures when you feel like you have a fever. If you have a child at home

 t                    touch his forehead in the morning and at night. Measure his temperature in case of fever.

2.                 2. Wear a mask and seek medical attention at nearby hospitals in case of suspicious                                  symptoms. Go to medical institution in a timely manner in case of suspicious symptoms

s                   lating to pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus are found. Such symptoms 

i                   include fever, cough, pharyngalgia, chest distress, dyspnea, mildly poor appetite, 

f                   feebleness, mild lethargy,  nausea, diarrhea, headache, palpitation, conjunctivitis, mildly

                   sore limbs or back muscles, etc. Try to avoid taking metro, bus and other public

 t                 transportation and visiting crowded areas. Tell the doctor your travel and   residence

                    history in epidemic areas, and whom you met after you got the disease. Cooperate

                    with your doctor on the relevant queries.

           4D Keep Good Hygiene and Health Habits

           1.  Frequently open the windows of your house for better ventilation.

2.  Do not share towels with your family members. Keep your home and table clean. Sun-dry your clothes and quilts often.

3.   Do not spit. Wrap your oral and nasal secretion with tissue and throw it in the covered dustbin.

4.   Balance your nutrition and exercise moderately.

5. Do not touch, buy or eat wild animals (game). Try to avoid visiting markets that sell live animals.

American in Italy and Coronavirus -- The Elderly

Coronavirus? The elderly? 

I am not an expert.  Just a normal American woman who has been living in Italy since 1974. And I also have a daughter in China, so I am lucky to receive information and  guidance and experience of this daughter who has learned a lot having lived through this virus directly in China. 

Where I live in Perugia it is a small city, so it is easy to hear directly of people's experiences. The number of contagious people in Italy is very high. We all know someone who works in the medical field here, so information is constantly getting to us.

From afar, I am seeing and hearing things that are being said and shared by Americans. I am disgusted with calling the virus the Chinese Virus (this, thanks to you know who!!). There are various ideas about whether the virus actually did come from China or not, which you can find on the web.

And I am also angered at the hostility against Chinese or Asians in general in the USA. It also has happened here, and is dreadful.

Today a friend just wrote asking me if it is true that "Italy is not caring for the elderly if they contract the virus". I looked it up on SNOPES to get the truth. Snopes searches the truth about current affairs mostly, and you can count on their research and opinions. 

As I had known basically, there are mixed answers on this question about the elderly. Definitely it is not that Italy doesn't care for the elderly, but just like in any other country who is not ready for the amount of people who are constantly being taken in ambulances to the hospitals, if they don't have enough machinery, enough of the machines that aid with respiratory difficulty, then at that point, if the hospitals are overcrowded and a decision must be made about who gets the machine and who doesn't, the choice will go to the person who has the most possibility of surviving.

Harsh, but true. AND THAT IS WHY ALSO, RIGHT NOW IT IS IMPERATIVE TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES AND TO STAY IN GOOD HEALTH.
 Italy is not the only country with a lack of these important machines. Also now we will see if the USA will be prepared to care for the amount of people that most likely will come down with the virus.

Another truth is that visitors are not able to come and visit very ill relatives because this virus is way too contagious. This means, now is the time to stop being with people, and if you have to be, a mask and a very good distance between the two of you. 

 Here is an EXCEPTIONAL list of what happened here in Italy, step by step worth the read: 

https://www.boredpanda.com/coronavirus-outbreak-stages-italy-jason-yanowitz/?fbclid=IwAR3sE81x230zHSJeQq8GHu4TbKyynLYCwrudkqwQzZrypy_zqqnZcfpHGhc&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic

Remember.....

CHECK OUT THE EXPERTS

DON'T SHARE POSTS OR INFORMATION BEFORE CHECKING IT

USE COMMON SENSE

AND STAY IN, START SOCIAL DISTANCING

THIS VIRUS IS NO JOKE....

It may seem like something to joke about in the beginning, I think we all went

 through this period, not knowing much, not believing it was true, and taking 

it as if it was an impossibility. I just heard this morning of an island in Hawaii 

shutting down almost everything. Now in New Zealand they are not permitting

 any more foreigners into their country. And in the States, people are believing 

this is not hitting them? And to not take things seriously??

Coronavirus -- Some Viewpoints from American mother in Italy, daughter in China

It has been a while since I have written here. I feel it is my duty to do so now.
Being an American who has lived in Italy for 45 years, and having a daughter who has been in Beijing, China  for five years, definitely our latest experience of the Coronavirus has changed our phonecall conversations, and has definitely made it more useful for me to talk with my daughter more often.
She gives me excellent advice, and I listen.
I thought I would share some of it here with you now.

She tells me to be very careful in some situations that we do not especially hear about now in Italy. Let's say, these hints are more specific, and can be easy to do and useful.

One things my daughter suggested is to avoid elevators. She suggests using a mask whenever you are in places where people might be, and now, crowds should be totally avoided as we have been doing here in Italy for weeks. But, today she mentioned this. When one walks into a building, where you must go into someone's home (for example, going to visit your mother or relative who you are assisting), immediately before getting into the building, you should put a mask on. Once in the apartment of the building you can take it off.
The reason for this is that you don't know who was in that building a few minutes before you, perhaps someone sneezed or coughed. The virus is not totally known, and extremely contagious. So, this extra precaution is useful.

Another interesting concept is that fruit and veggies, when possible, should be cooked as a preference.
IF you eat them raw, she suggested to peel them with ONE knife, and then when you are eating, use ANOTHER knife, not the same one. In Italy we shop and chose our produce with a plastic glove supplied by the store. But, if you chose and pick, and people are doing the same, this sounds like a logical idea to me.

You don't want to just bite into an apple in these times. Best to peel fruit. Here in Italy I know that sometimes people have the habit of washing their fruit first, and then peeling. But apples and pears are always peeled.

My daughter also told me that at her last apartment they had a large sign with rules to work by, during these times. If a person worked alone, they were told what kind of rules to go by. If they worked with others, there were other things to respect. It is extremely organized in China, and people do go by the rules.

Speaking of rules, it is so necessary now to isolate, and not to socialize. You just do not know for sure who might have this virus, even without having symptoms. That is the tricky part.

It might be interesting to see what the radio station CRI (China Radio International) has to say and what they post, also regarding rules to follow during this time. This is the Italian link. Definitely all other languages exist also, just Google them. I remember seeing an excellent video made by the Chinese regarding hand washing, but I am sure they have many others.

A smart thing, I believe, is to take the experiences of who has or is going through this before you. Read the experts, I am not one, but being here in Italy I have had a few days more experience than friends in the States. And I listen to my daughter who had even more experience, being in China.

As time goes on, each day passes, our worlds are getting smaller and smaller, we are more limited each day with what we can do outside of our four walls. Actually, lots of good is coming from this, along with the inconveniences. Look for the good, it exists, even in this situation.

Good luck and stay safe!!

In China with my daughter

Here's the Chinese Radio link
http://italian.cri.cn/

Wine in China, Sex Toys, and TV!!

So.............
on television in Italy last night I turned on a program about wine in China.

I am always interested in programs regarding CHINA after many trips there and family who are connected to that country for work.

Two elegant sommelier (a lovely Chinese woman, and an Italian man) were  tasting and discussing what kinds of wine sold well in China.

The SURPRISE came (shall I say SHOCK) when they ran a short video of a very wealthy businessman in China who bragged about how much he paid for various bottles of prized wine. One of his bottles is worth 50,000 dollars (!) 

After showing this man surrounded by bottles, there was another surprise ...a  machine transporting what I first believed to be bottles (??....they were awfully thin for bottles, they were a bit curved to be bottles....)

His statement:

"I make SEX TOYS" "I used to like sex....

but now I like wine, one changes."

NOW................RAI UNO, 
Are you trying to tell me that you didn't know what was on that film?
Is money more important than a bit of class? (stupid question)

And....Mr. Wealthy Chinese Businessman....are pictures of your sex toys on an elegant film about wine, especially for Italy, supposed to help sales? (I would imagine so...otherwise, what was he trying to show that he is culturally an "all-around success in all fields"?)

The HILARIOUS thing was that immediately

 after this film, the people in the studio

 (the show host and his two guests)

 just casually continued talking

 ONLY ABOUT WINE....

and not a word about SEX! 

I took this short video while watching the program....not having the faintest idea of what the ending was going to present. Here goes.......................CLICK ON THIS TITLE  FOR A SHORT VIDEO 

China, Wine, Sex Toys

Back to L.A. but this time with a different head

Usually I get to Los Angeles after about a year. I come from Italy, so I exchange pasta and pizza and parmigiano for Indian and Chinese and Thai food, American coffee, cakes, sandwiches.

I also exchange tiny little European streets in the town I live in (Perugia, Italy) with huge freeways, large houses, big cars, everything looks huge compared to here.

Also....there is a lot of constant activity that is different from the activity here, more phonecalls, more appointments to see people at restaurants, lots of walking around the neighborhood seeing different things that are going on, dogs being walked, people jogging. It is all different.

But this time......................

but THIS time.................

it's going to be even more different.

That is, I am different. I recently got back from CHINA.

So...whereas when I used to go to LA. and everything seemed huge, this time, I am not so sure that it is going to seem that way. And when I used to go to LA and it seemed that everything worked so much better than here in Italy, well, after China, I am wondering if it is going to make the same impression (in CHina things work very smoothly, it is just amazing!).

I don't like to generalize, it is dangerous to do so. You can't take a country and say "this country does everything perfectly, or this country doesn't work at all". That shows a mind that isnìt being realistic, a way of thinking that just can't be right.
But anyhow, this time, going to LA.will be different for me, because after China, like I said, I am different.
Should be interesting.

Too great to tell

China, it's a huge country with huge possibilities.
It was more than just a visit or experiences, it gets under one's skin. It can envelope you so much that it is hard to let it out, hard to talk about. It seems that you lose something to discuss what you did, what you saw, and what you felt.
That is my feeling about my experience this time.
Too much.
Too great.
Too powerful, too personal and too many feelings that come out, but then stay inside, close to one's heart.
For now, slowly disclosing a picture at a time.
Here is the mystery dance...............

Unbelievable moments, a moment in time, a smile, a dance, a photo taken with a camera that wasn't set.

China...once again

The thing about China (one thing about it) is that you can be surrounded by hundreds or thousands of people, but you feel a feeling of peace. People don't talk loud on cellphones, they don't yell out, they just give a feeling of inner peacefulness, and that means the time spent there is extraordinary. Here is a hike I took last year, just minutes before we were walking in that crevice, step after step for 6 hours walking up and down stairs. I never thought I would or could do it, but I did.

And then there are those times that hardly anyone is around, but you feel the prescence of
someone, a feeling of peace.

And the nightime scene, and women dancing to music for exercise, it is wonderful! 

And it's just fun to see everything that is around you, and all the newess, colors and people and things to do.

Here I go, back to China!!!

I will never see you again, and I will never see this post on the computer

Beijing, 2014.
This man, as many others like him ride their bikes with loads of papers, plastics, boxes, various wares through busy traffic. As I saw him pass, I took this picture of him.
After this shot, he gave me a smile.
And that is something I love about life. That is what I love about travel and humanity.
I love that complete strangers appreciate the presence of others, people they don't know and will never actually meet, never see again. And yet....
that smile, that fleeting smile and appreciation that says "Thanks for noticing me, thanks for seeing that my image and what I am doing interests you. And yes, here is a smile for you, and thank you for your smile."

Dancing women in Beijing

Beijing at night

Big cities have a rhythm of their own at night. There are cars, and lights, and open shops, and runners, and dog-walkers, and people going out to dinner. Beijing has all of this and more.

I don't think anything is missing in this city. One thing you really do notice is the posture of people. Almost all people are thin and have beautiful posture. 

How about these women, of various ages, who after having dinner quite early, come out to dance to music in various areas of the city. They know the steps, they follow, the serious have a good time while getting exercise. A real delight to watch. 

The story behind the picture of me and the lion

The story behind the picture of me and the lion. There are a lot of impressive buildings and statues in China, most of them very large in size. Well, all of a sudden I saw this wonderful lion, actually there were two of them. I wanted to have my picture taken with this one, with his mouth open. First I closed my mouth, as people went by they looked at me, as they do, in China whenever they see someone who is a foreigner, because we look so different from them. Then, when no one was looking, I said to my husband, "take the picture now, with my mouth open". My daughter was a little embarassed, thinking someone would see me, but I knew this was a "now or never" occasion, so since the lion kept his mouth open, so did I.

Marvelous China

China, where does one begin?

Perhaps with a photo, that may or may not tell 1,000 words.

This one...if one can guess, had something that happened that I didn't expect. It was one of the few times, really rare times that as I clicked a couple of photos, someone to the right of these two young men, motioned that I should not photograph, and that was very clear. No exchange of language needed. But I was content to have gotten the two illuminated figures while they took a break on these phones, in a very busy street filled with restaurants and shops. 

In a magnificent city, Hangzhou, this lovely girl fed her baby. The walk around the lake was filled with lovely women to photograph, with their dark hair, white complexions. Their grace and poise is something else that enhances photographs of them. Their delicacy blends into the environment and the calmness you feel in the relaxing atmosphere. 

Wonderfully chaiotic Beijing, busy, colorful, in constant movement. Here is a night scene of the busy modern area of the city. 

Adventure and beauty -- the famous landmark of Huangshan, which inspires poets and artists.

One of the many villages of China, where old customs continue to persist with much charm everywhere one looks. 

Chinese villages

A most extraordinary time in China, we were lucky to always have with a family member who speaks Chinese, a must!
I learned so much from this trip, and the learning will continue any time I go there in the future.
It is a place, that if you let it, can become part of you as it did to me this time.
I loved the peacefulness of the people. There was silence even in mobs of thousands.
And beauty, quiet, silent beauty.
The women as so beautiful, their poise, and their lovely black hair. A pleasure to look and photograph them, even when only one is walking with the surroundings being either old as in this picture, or the newer exciting shopping malls.
Here is a village we visited one day, the name is Xidi, and the couple of hours there were not enough. There was too much to see and discover.

Capital Museum, Beijing China

At the magnificent Capital Museum of Beijing, the exposition set up of the sculptures was extraordinary with intense lighting, well-balanced supports for the art pieces of all varieties - from clay to fabric to metal. Very exquisite environment, a large public where we, once again were the only foreigners to be seen. And, surprisingly, when we showed our passports we were allowed in for free

Huangshan mountain, China

Life contains new things all the time, you just have to put yourself in new surroundings or meet new people. Here we are climbing China's famous mountain Huangshan. For someone who doesn't like stairs, it was one of those "Well, here I am in front of something I don't like, so, I had better just start doing it, and not think about not feeling comfortable." Six hours of walking up and down stairs that had been created to go from the cable car to the top of the mountain. My daughter, my husband and me, and very few foreigners in the midst of such beauty and thousands of Chinese. Chinese holding babies of just a few months, men and women wearing simple shoes of all kinds, and we in our new hiking boots bought there (had to buy men's, women's sizes only go up to about 39). An amazingly beautiful experience, but with many of those difficult moments, constantly have to climb stairs even in very narrow areas, once between a boulder that had been carved out most likely to contain the stairs, or perhaps it was nature's doings, but the stairs had been created in this vast area to host the thousands of visitors who come to admire this great beauty. Magnificent mountains, and dewy mist in the distance, trees with the top part flat, often portrayed in the artwork of the Chinese.
Here, the man on the right was passing all the tourists while carrying yards and yards of steel rod, what is seen here in the picture is only half of the load. Not only was he doing something outstanding, but also just passing him was a danger to all on that narrow path.

China - 3 1/2 weeks of discovery

The most extraordinary trip to China this time. Lots of wonderful places, new cities and adventures. Good and varied foods, and hundreds of vegetables. Here, a marvelous shopping mall and a screen for the fun of the public, who stood below and could see themselves. Here I am in the red shirt together with dozens of Chinese, everyone taking photos of themselves.
More photos to come..........

Crocevia internazionale, Le istituzioni culturali e la Cina

Yesterday at the elegant and beautiful Posta dei Donini in San Martino in Campo (Perugia) there was a conference  which dealt with the relationship that China has with Italy, both in the  educational field and in the cultural field. After an hour and a half of various speeches, there was a lovely buffet served.

At the head table were prominent people in various fields of interest dealing with education and culture,  and two men from China, one a professor from China and another  from the Chinese Embassy in Rome.

 A very interesting late afternoon, with speeches from each of the following guests:

Franco Moriconi (Preside della Facoltà di Veterinaria dell'Università di Perugia)
Corrado Clini (Direttore Generale dei Minestero dell'Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare)
Yin Jun (Addetto Scientifico dell'Ambasciata Cinese a Roma)
Li Ziwen (Jiling University of Chanchung)
Antonio Bellini (Presidente del Conservatorio di Musica "Francesco Morlacchi)
Gianfranco Di Luzio (Generale Comandante della Scuola Lingue Estere dell'Esercito)
Giovanni Paciullo (Rettore dell'Università per Stranieri di Perugia)
Mario Rampini (Presidente dell'Accademia di Belle Arti Pietro Vannucci)
Moderatore, Corrado Attili

Being interested personally in China, due to my daughter who studies Chinese, and our stay in China years ago, and also to the fact that I have displayed my Chinese photographs here in Italy (and presently have a show in the town of Bettona, "Incontri ravviCINAti"), I went to personally speak to the two kind men from China, Yin Jun and Li Ziwen, who were sitting at another table.

I took this occasion to have my photograph taken with them, which was quite an honor.

Yin Jun, and on the right, Li Ziwen.

CHinese Year of the Dragon

Dalian, China 2007

This boy kindly lifted up his shirt for me when I commented about his tatoo on his arm. Not only that, he showed me his back as well.
I like to see tatoos, and I like to photograph them. And I really  liked that through sign language this boy understood and was willing to let me photograph him. I love that way of communicating, and feeling that we understand each other, even without speaking each other's language.

AT A CHINESE SUPERMARKET.......WHAT IS IT?

During my trip to Dalian China I took a picture of this....in the section where fish were. Yes, it was for sale to be cooked, I imagine. But what is it?
Durante il mio viaggio a Dalian Cina ho scattato questo in un supermercato dove vendevano pese. Sì, era in vendita per essere cucinato e mangiato...ma...che cos'è?