Hey, can you open this for me?

I love heading out the door of my apartment building. I never know what I will see. Every day is a new surprise, a new learning experience.

Take this week for instance... As I was walking to work on a crisp fall morning, my eye catches a glint in the sunlight. I look over to see an elderly man slowly and methodically wielding a sword. (Don't believe me, click on the link to see for yourself.)

He was practicing with it, almost dancing. He seemed so serene despite dozens of people playing ping pong right beside him. (I also took video of that because it is 8 o'clock in the morning and the tables are packed!)

In America, a man swinging a sword around in a public space results in an arrest. My coworkers in Columbus, GA know a little something about that. But here, in China, public activity of any form is encouraged. Women get together and dance, kids run and scream and play, and the government sets up exercise equipment in almost every park, which I always see being used.

It really is quite amazing and wonderful to see everyone so happy just being outside.