Curiosities

Traveling around 'rural' China, we've noticed we are some of the only Americans around.  In fact, everywhere we go people stare at us!  Not in a malicious way of course, but people seem to see us as a curiosity.  AJ with his beard is a big hit. Megan's blond hair grabs attention.  But Emily blends in like a sore thumb.  We may be a curious sight indeed, but we have also seen and experienced our own curiosities.  Signs and English translations are amusing, of course, and will receive their own post (spoiler: look for 'asses glue' at a supermarket near you!).  But we thought we would share with you some of our favorite pictures of oddities and anachronisms thus far.  And as Sun, our student volunteer so astutely told us, "What seems strange to you is everyday to us."

AJ treated like a celebrity!

The water faucets in most homes, apartments, and hotels in China do not supply potable water.  Instead, many people carry these jugs around and fill them with drinking water at the market.  We even have a jug of our own now!  It has a cartoon goat on it.

Rather than a door, the entryway to many public areas like restaurants, stores, and restrooms is covered by big sheets of plastic.  This door is at the Li family home in a rural Yuntaishan Park village.

Bikes are one of the most common modes of transportation in China.  We wonder if people ever forget where they've parked!

Another common way to travel is by scooter.  Talk about reducing your family's carbon footprint- it looks like this man could have put one more very small child in his basket!

These random large, fenced-in marigolds in the middle of the road are part of Henan Polytechnic's campus beautification project.

Why are the fire hydrants wrapped with thick rope?  Why not?

From now on, Emily and Megan refuse to eat un-tattooed apples!    

What looks like an alien baby in Megan's hands is a delicious dragon fruit!

As you can see by the abundant corn, it is harvesting season here.  What's odd about that?    

Well, the corn is piled up in the MIDDLE of the six-lane highway, reducing traffic to one lane in either direction for miles!

We have settled in to our new home and things that surprised us at first now seem normal.  But this coming week is a holiday week here in China.  What new and exciting things will we see during the holiday rush?  And can we really top miles and mountains of corn?