Happy Chinese New Year

The Year of the Shu

My gift-video:



If my gift-video doesn't seem to play in your browser, your work-place or your country, try watching it here

Stranded in Guangzhou

Many people asked me if I was ok with the snowstorms and a million of people stuck at the Guangzhou train station:
Well, first off, there is no snow here in the south of Guangdong, but due to snow up north, the trains are not running (the winter has taken the transportation system by surprise, global warming playing tricks, no less). So all the migrant workers who flocked to the well-developed province, as usual this time of the year have to go back home and reunite with the families, - the yearly exodus has started. As they say it is the time when half of China take off and leave for the other end of the country while the rest of the people on the other hand take off and leave for the opposite end. I am sorry for the children who have to endure all this trial of the character, but again, it is a whole lotta tempering for the rugrats, they'll grow to be strong little citizens.To add insult to injury, the weather turned, well, wintry, and for the lack of habit of warming buildings inside down here in the south, those folks are in for a really hard time - the weather is brightening their stay with 45 degrees F (7C), strong wind and that incessant pesky rain. I am freezing my @$$ inside of the house, and it gives me the creeps to just think of the situation at the GZ station.
But we are staying home, trying that slow family housekeeping life for a change (my times of obligatory rough traveling - especially during the Chinese New Year - most fun! - seem to wane).
Mobile phone service providers send off messages warning people that the train station in Guangzhou stopped selling tickets until all who are waiting there take their trains and clear the premises.

But people are people, and the internet is full of topical humor.

Knowing the love of the Chinese towards gambling, this joke wandering around instant messengers (read: QQ) is kinda funny:

To alleviate the situation at the Guangzhou railway station the authorities ordered 20,000 packs of playing cards and 10,000 mahjong sets distributed among the stranded aspiring passengers. Now the situation has cooled down and the people are now reluctant to leave when their trains are ready to board since they got everything they need right here.