FB Post from China

Got a fb post from an acquaintance in China today. She has an orphanage and adoption placement home, although she does not seem to live right with the kids. I thought it is quite telling about how many of us feel. She writes: “Thanks to the 2nd wave, we are back in quarantine. This time only allowed out once every three days for food shopping. So ready for this to be over. Grateful to be in China and not in America. Here there is a solid plan, swift action and a focus determination to get through this quickly but without sacrificing safety. Frankly, the news reports coming from the US looks like a dog's breakfast.” In the comments underneath she says that they are in quarantine because a foreigner in the general area tested positive, and so they are locking down foreigners there as the thought is they are communicating with each other and infecting one another. She writes that she will gladly do this in order to provide safety. Yes, it is restrictive, but those of us livi...

Tomb Sweeping Day and Personal Update

Tomb Sweeping Day Today in Traditional China, one should go to the tomb of your ancestors and honor them. This involves usually cleaning the tomb area, but also often includes bringing food, etc. to offer to the ancestors for a certain amount of time, and then sometimes you get to eat the feast. …although they say that it never tastes as good after the ancestors have partaken. I always thought this was observed much the same way all over China, but have realized that even in normal times this is not true. It is very much a part of Taiwan society, but I have realized that it is probably the Buddhist part. My students in modern mainland China more seemed to view it as a family day to go hiking and kite flying and enjoying one of the early spring days. Many look at me strangely when I talk about the things I knew to be true of celebrations around this holiday. There are some postings on news feeds that have mentioned that with social distancing of today’s contingencies most communit...