From Xinjiang to Beijing

Dick and the people that he has worked with over the years in China

A lot of people at Dick's birthday party

I'm becoming forgetful.  So much has happened in the last couple of weeks.  On the last evening in Urumqi, we had a party to celebrate Dick's 70th birthday.  This involved him getting a lot of presents and various songs and dances.

Then I flew back to Beijing.  The flight was crazy.  Everyone (including myself) had bought at least one box of grapes.  Unfortunately all boxes of grapes look the same and so this led to some disagreements when we were all trying to pick up our luggage when we arrived.

I was met by Sha and her uncle (who seemed remarkably impressed by my Chinese). The next day, Sha, her parents and I went to the history museum.  The museum started with the Peking Man and went on to almost the current day.

The first section was just as you'd expect from a major history museum.  Very informative.  Lots of pots.  Interesting exhibits.  The second section was much more fun.  It started with a "preface" that read "The Chinese nation is a great nation whose people are Industrious, courageous, intelligent and peace-loving and have made indelible contributions to the progress of human civilization ... highlights the glorious history of China under the leadership of the Communist Part of China."  Apparently people like Sha are "standing firm in the east".

Actually Sha was telling me how, when she was a little girl, she tried to steal the frogs in the earthquake detector.  Anyway, the exhibition continued and said that we should all "hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics" and "strive for the great goals of implementing the 12th Five-Year Program and building a moderately prosperous society."  Why would any country strive towards a "moderately" prosperous society?