Bejing Ren 2

Here are just a few more day in the life sort of photos that I've been collecting. When I got up this morning, I found some soldiers in the courtyard of the apartment complex practicing their walking. Two by two they would march around, with their boss yelling various criticisms as they strutted around, arms and legs in sync. I got this one photo off before the boss came over and waved me away. Not sure why you're not supposed to be taking photos of the walking practice, but I guess the lao wai laughing and snapping pictures was a little much for this serious endeavor.


Here are a couple of my closest friends from the institute. Chen Shao Qing is my favorite. Isn't she cute?


Wang Lei is sort of a jolly joker. He's like the archetypal chubby kid. Everyone teases him for being fat, but I told him he was skinny by American standards (which is true!)


Lastly, here is a picture Wang Lei's girlfriend gave me of the mystical, mysterious "wild part" of the great wall. The part where you can go and sleep. After I saw the photos, I knew I had to go. It looks like something out of Lord of the Rings to me. I want to stay in one of those guard towers, build a fire at night to ward off the wraiths, tell ghost stories and drink beer. Tell me that doesn't sound fun!