“Springing” Forward

By Sunday morning, almost all of the snow, slush, ice, and coal-dust-coated frozen substances had melted away.  We were seeing pavement for the first time in months.  While we weren’t changing time with the rest of the world (China doesn’t do the whole fall back and spring forward ritual), it appeared we were making bold strides toward spring.

This is what the road looked like as I walked to class this morning.  It started snowing Sunday afternoon.  And it just kept coming.  And coming.  And coming.  Piling up into what is one of the biggest snows I’ve seen in this (usually) dry frozen tundra.

Don’t get me wrong, it is beautiful.  But to be honest, I was less concerned with capturing its beauty than documenting its presence.

It was my first day back to class in a week.  I didn’t have time to putz around looking for the perfect shot.  I was in a hurry to make copies before class.  I had planned on making the copies Sunday.  But then it started snowing…and I wasn’t about to go out in that unless I absolutely had to.

On an entirely different note, I have a new favorite Chinese word.  You see, every time there’s a new invention, the Chinese don’t create a new character.  Rather, they combine already existing characters to form the new word.  The resulting literal translations of object names are quite descriptive and often amusing.  Today in one of my classes I learned the word for trampoline, and it just made me giggle .  ??? (bèng bèng chuáng).  Literal translation? Jump Jump Bed.  If that doesn’t bring a smile to your face, I don’t know what will.