Village People

I know that out there somewhere is that busy metropolis of Beijing that people so often think about when this city is talked of. Out there are the skyscrapers and busy subway stations and millions of people stuck in noisy, endless traffic jams.

But here, in my little hutong village, it all seems so far away. Of course I visit the world of the busy city at times, to go to work or shopping, but most of my time is spent here where there are no tall buildings in sight, and where the rhythm of life seems quite a few paces slower.

There is something that the people living in the hutong alleys seems to be experts at: taking it easy -- just enjoying their days and watching the world pass by. Don't get me wrong, many people work long hours, but they do it in a way, which allows them to enjoy the days as well. A little laughter here, a few minutes to chat to a passing friend, a good nap after lunch on the bench. And of course, the older people mostly spend their time just sitting in the alleys on little stools, playing mahjong, doing exercises and streching, chatting with each other, and simply observing the world as it goes on around them.

This is something I wish to learn from living here: getting rid of the stress that we have learned to place on ourselves, to just take every day as it comes and to take time to just sit and watch, read a book, talk to a neighbour.