Everyday Moments

Recently, I was flipping through my iPhone and I realized that there were so many photos I was yet to share with you all. So here are eight photos accompanied by eight little Nanjing vignettes to match!

This past fall, the pollution in Nanjing was horrendous. Usually, the AQI level (Air Quality Index) was three times as worse as New York City. I even had classes cancelled because parents didn't want their children to leave the house. There were days we couldn't see more than a few feet in front of us, the smog was so terrible! This dusty car is just one example of visual pollution I saw.

I spent New Year's Eve with a large group of friends, who bought fireworks to set off at midnight on the Caochengmen Bridge (which happens to be the bridge that separates their apartment from mine!) I guess the idea to spend New Year's on the bridge had occurred to other people in the area, including these two Chinese girls, who lit their lantern (with their wishes for the new year written on it) and chatted with us in Chinese as we watched it float over the river.

One Saturday, Evan and I were wandering around Nanjing and we happened upon a kind of unremarkable market. There was no prepared food to buy and a lot of "Made for TV" type junk. However, it was worth it in the end because we found that they had bumper cars! It was a fun addition to our errand-filled day.

Deji Plaza is the fanciest mall in Nanjing, it's where all the designer stores and most expensive restaurants are located. I've always love this cute decoration and how this open area allows you to see all the floors together.

So glad I went to the annual Plum Blossom festival in Nanjing, the flowers were absolutely beautiful. Even though the AQI level that day was still dangerously high, the sky was blue, the flowers smelled amazing, and it was a nice way to spend a Friday afternoon.

Plus a bonus photo from the festival: a Chinese-opera mask kite being flown at the park.

In addition to my work with Hohai and Rise, I also am college consultant. My Chinese coworkers and I had a long day, so they all gathered on the couch with ten minutes left on the clock to chat in Chinese.

Hohai's campus is really beautiful. I snapped this shot on my way to work one day. Even though I hate that my classes are so early and require me to be on the bus to Jiangning at 7, I like seeing the campus empty and flooded with sunlight at 6:40 AM.

Everyday life, no matter where you are, is filled with these little neat, beautiful moments and I think it's important to capture them. And more importantly, enjoy them!