Morning Exercises

China is into exercise. Every morning and evening you can see TONS of people gathered for their daily exercises and socialization. It is mostly an event for those that are retired but you can see people of various ages participating. This is one thing that I LOVE about China. I love that folks get off their sofas and get out to spend time with neighbors and get healthy. Sometimes I scratch my head at the methods but then I scold myself and say, "Well, they are out doing something. Am I?" Some questionable methods that I see on a regular basis: 1) walking backwards around the running track 2) Walking backwards around the track while patting their bumbees. 3) Tugging at their ears while marching in place... Oh, I could go on and on with the curious things I see. But again, they are out and about while I haven't officially exercised in years. UGH! There are the more organized groups too. Tai Qi is usually a morning group exercise while ball room dancing and line dancing are saved for the evening.

Anyhow, Morning Exercises are one of my children's favorite parts of their school day. The music starts, the children run to their places and the teachers lead them in synchronized aerobics. I know these type of activities last, at least through, elementary school years but after that I'm not too sure.

Take a peak. Can you find the children? CJ is in a blue sweatshirt in the foreground- middle row, 4th from the front. Miriam is the furthest group wearing pink (I don't think you can see her) and Eliza's class stands and watches on the side (left near CJ) till their turn when the big kids are done. Eliza is wearing a pink sweatshirt and you can see one of the teachers bend down to greet her. I just realized that the morning this was recorded the schools PA system was broken- hence the lack of music.




As I return home from taking the children to school I also observe another group of people doing their morning exercises- the store employees. Yesterday I watched a group of about 40 electronic store employees line up in our plaza for their morning exercises. This group of 20-40 year old males and females, clapped and marched in time to the music. Think that would fly in the US?
Below is a clip of another group- employees of a tiny jewelry store outside our complex.



Yet, another glimpse into a culture that I can't always relate to.