Monthly Archives: May 2008

               Chengdu residents today were quite pleased with themselves.  A pouring, all-night rain  showed their tent purchases, no matter how outrageous the price, proved to be money well-spent. Those who created their own makeshift wonders, stockpiled with comforts of home … Continue reading →

              Upon emerging from my apartment at 11:30 a.m. today,  I found that my neighbors had been quite productive that morning despite little sleep due to our midnight scare.   Elaborate makeshift dwellings had suddenly appeared.  Chairs, tables, sofas, mattresses, … Continue reading →

              Despite bringing along important documents and overnight necessities, my midnight camping “trip,” along with the rest of Chengdu, didn’t last long.  I called it quits at 3 a.m.               All would have been quite comfortable outside had it … Continue reading →

              Near the close of our first day of mourning, panic has set in as TV news reports tell us of a threat of several tremors, perhaps larger than the first.  We are urged to do what we feel … Continue reading →

            Sunday morning after 1 a.m. had me emailing when another 45-second aftershock of 5.7 shook the building.  As it grew in intensity, sounds of doors opening and people talking filled my stairwell.  Our courtyard once again crowded with … Continue reading →

               In my May 13th blog, I told the story of my former college student, Jason (Ji Ke), and his family who live near the hard-struck city of Dujiangyan.  We toured the famous irrigation tourist park there last May.  I visited … Continue reading →

                            For two days, my 20-minute walk across campus to attend my language classes has been somewhat astonishing.               After classes resumed on Thursday, I expected the thousands of university students and faculty living on campus to return to their … Continue reading →

            A hazy moon filled the sky Wednesday night.             Those on the university campus were in for a better sleep than the rainy night before.  With classes starting the next day, they would need it.             As I was … Continue reading →

                           A Wednesday sunrise was to bring normality to Chengdu.              The  pouring rain stopped.  Not a single noticeable tremor the entire night.  Our campers from the upper floors had dwindled, mostly because the constant rain had chased them … Continue reading →