A Bit About Beijing

Bombs over Beijing!
I couldn't believe what I saw and heard last night. Yesterday was Chinese Lantern Festival. The Holiday coincides with a full moon and marks the end of the 15-day new year period. Well, Chinese apparently like to celebrate by shooting off Firecrackers and Fireworks! It seemed like it all happened at once; it sounded like there was some sort of war going on outside! I live on the 20th floor and when I took a look out the window all I saw was flashes of beautifully colored fireworks just outside of our window and spanning the horizon. It was amazing. Not just the fireworks but the fact that every other person was lighting these off in a huge city of 18-some million! (The Picture doesn't really justify the occasion, but my roommate took a video and may post it on youtube. I'll let you know if he does!)

Snow in Beijing!

Beijing has a very dry climate and when I first got here the temperature was above freezing and dry. The other day it was raining and it actually began to snow! I'm from MN and they have plenty of snow there but it was really cool seeing snow in Beijing. I really feel at home now! I kind of miss snow.....NOT! The great thing about the snow, cold and wind in Beijing is that it cleans up the air. A little something you should all know about Beijing is that you rarely see the blue sky. Depressing, I know. However, since it got really cold here the other day and the winds have picked up, the air has cleared and you can see the blue sky! It was a brilliant blue!Just as blue as the sky in Minnesota! Since the air cleared up, I noticed that there are Mountains to the North and West of us. Not far at all! As a matter of fact, I think I could see part of the Great Wall!