Vanished

China is ever-changing giant chameleon. Things never stay the same for long.

I'm sure there are more cranes in Beijing alone than in all of America combined. Don't quote me on that, it's a guess.

My Jiaozi Parents proudly displayed this picture on top of their TV. 

China has gone from the Industrial Revolution to the Digital Era in the span of fifty years. It took Europe a little longer.

When things change here, they change fast.

People are constantly changing too. Not just fashion, but location. Beijing is like Las Vegas in that few people in the city are from the city. There are millions of migrant workers who come to the big city to earn money and send it home to their parents or children.

The other day I was biking past my old house (The Cloister) where I lived for almost two years and thought I would stop in and see my "Jiaozi Parents."

Jiaozi is a Chinese dumpling and this couple made it better than anyone I knew. Their little shop was about seven stone throws from The Cloister, so I used to eat there two or twelve times a week. They really cared for me like a son. They always tried to give me food for free. It was a fun game - I would hide 10 kuai ($1.55) underneath my bowl and run out before they could catch me and return my money. When I met my Jiaozi Parents I knew no Chinese, but we were really good at charades and smiling. And a smile needs no translation.

Anyway, I wanted to drop in and say, "Ni hao" the other day. But as I rolled up to their shop I could see they weren't there. There was some other dude cooking noodles. I asked him, "Where did the old owners go?" He replied, "They went back home."

I didn't cry, but must have walked past someone cutting onions because my eyes got a little moist.

Here for a season, then vanished. Things never stay the same for long.

米佳 mijia