"By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest." Confucius 

The sun rises and sets on the pavement of every city in the same way. The shadows lengthen and stretch across the distance until the shadows fill the night and the glow of neon replaces sky's furnace. 

Kunshan is a beautiful little city with thousands and thousands of people at all hours hustling about. When you think about the life of a modern city most think of New York or LA as examples. I have been to Rome, New York, LA , Chicago, now Kunshan on the outskirts of one of the largest cities in the east Shanghai. The same holds true wherever you go. People are out there working hard trying to earn a wage. There are thieves trying to pawn off their goods own you. There are venders of every kind trying to scratch out a living. The basic life is the same for everyone regardless of creed, belief or flag.


Living here these last few weeks, one of the things that strikes me most is just how much we are all human. To a fault, no matter our differences, no matter the challenges of communication. I could walk down to the market downstairs and see the same activity there that I would see and a market in Texas. Ok so there might not be tanks with toad in them but the basic truth still holds. The kids that chased me all over the market yesterday are no different than the ones would chase me at a flea market back home.


We are really not as different as we want to believe we are. Period. 

These ladies are here every day rain or shine, freezing they all sit right here. For some change they will repair any article of clothing you want. Hand sewn and patched usually before you come back from lunch. 

Here is the river I cross every day to get to work at the Language Center. This is a bustling city that apparently is THE place to shop. The Starbucks( about a mile and a half away) is firmly placed at the entrance of a Galleria like high end fashion mall. Down the street from the 3 story Walmart like Mall structure. 

This is called the People's Road. Not a altogether inappropriate term considering the mass of humanity you can find on this road at all hours. I sit in my apartment listening the the sound of construction out of my window. If you look to see the crane there in the upper left that building being belt is the lovely music I am listening to right now. My apartment lies right directly behind that construction. The highrise is right next to the Kunshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. I do not know yet if I am cursed or blessed. 


Hopefully once the work on Rosetta Stone pays off. I have been acing all of the Units I have done so far. I might be able to profit from such juxtaposition. However it, at the moment, seems to be a cruel hoax played on me by fate to put something within arms reach the I can do nothing about. :) At least at the moment. There are no schools of Martial arts in my area of Kunshan. In fact very little evidence of qigong, taiji, or any of the early practices. At some point I will have to get down to the little garden in front of the government building where a group of elderly women get together to dance for exercise I have to get some pictures for you. 


Until later my friends back to work I must go. I will leave a image of the entrance to the building I go to work in. 

 Jia Jian