Today I got an email from friends who live in Changchun, asking that we remember the city (and the people who live there) because the air pollution levels are extremely high right now. It's over 400 on a scale that goes up to 500... the current level is called "very hazardous," and they said it's the worst they've seen in the ten years they have lived in Changchun.
I can imagine to some degree. There were a couple of days last year that it was just nasty, but nothing as bad as what they have right now. It's gross to go outside and you think what am I breathing? GAK!
Not too long later, I got a message from a dear friend who's a student at Huaqiao, telling me about how her birthday had been. The last message she sent read: "It's been foggy all day and it's beautiful."
Yes, the pollution needs to be cleaned up. A lot of life is like that... filled with real problems that pose real dangers. But often the solutions are not going to come immediately, and so I find myself wanting the perspective that she took.
It's been foggy all day.
And it's beautiful.
:)
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