Construction

The entire country of China is under construction. Everywhere you look, there are tower cranes working on high rises. Roads are being built, railroad systems are expanding and airports are being enlarged. It's mind-boggling to actually witness an industrial, societal and economical...explosion of sorts as it's happening so quickly. Coming home one day from the store, I counted 42 cranes and I'm sure I missed many. However, these buildings are going up much faster than they are being filled. Hugh apartment complexes sit empty, shopping malls are deserted and failed stores are stripped down and demolished as quickly as they go up.

Construction has even invaded our neighborhood. Royal Peninsula, where we live, is about five years old. Each townhouse is individually owned and most are then rented out, like ours. Three units across the street are being completely gutted and renovated. I have pitied the poor families who live in between the units as the sounds of jackhammers, saws and drills have filled the air from 8am to 6pm everyday through the week for the past eight months. Now, I am in need of pity. The unit next door to us was sold, the family was told to move out and now it's being gutted and renovated. Dozens of workers are busy from dawn to dusk. A truckload of sand was dumped in our driveway. The machinery cannot be started until 8am, but, I swear, they set their watches and as soon as they click to 8, all hell breaks loose. When I don't have a driver or it's raining torrents forcing me to stay home, I've been popping Excedrin like it's candy. Today, I have gotten a bit of a reprieve. The jackhammering has temporarily stopped and they are removing the debris from the third floor. It's been quite an event to witness. With 'rope', which looks suspiciously like twisted fishing net, tied around the waist of one worker, they are lowering cement-filled bag after bag from the third floor balcony down to another awaiting worker, who has to sidestep the giant pile of sand and our basketball back post. Safety issues are not their top priority. When I took the pictures the guys all started laughing and pointing. I'm not sure who's watching whom as they seem to be looking at me everytime I glance out the window to watch them. Anyway, I hope these guys are quicker than the crews across the street or it's going to be a long fall, winter and spring.

Larry and I have commented how most of the chinese population cannot afford to shop in the stores that are currently being built, nor can they afford to live in the new housing complexes. An example, for instance, is Linda. Her monthly...yes, monthly salary is 700RMB. That's roughly $100. She said chinese people on average make around 1200-1500RMB a month and with that they have to pay for housing, food, etc. and give money to their parents. And they manage. One can sense a change is brewing, though. As more 'westerners' and their western ways embed themselves, the more the younger chinese generation begins to embrace those ways. Good or bad? Only time will tell.