Sounds of September

September is noisy as heck in China.

First, you got Ghost Month, a when it is believed the the underworld opens and ghosts are free to roam and trouble the living. Every single day we hear firecrackers exploding obnoxiously, like rounds and rounds of ammo, because it is thought that this will scare away the bad spirits.

Ghost Month is also a good time to send your underworld-dwelling ancestors some comforts of home. You can buy paper cars, shirts, money, and houses to burn in a pyre, the postal method of the underworld.


On top of the explosions, every corner of our campus is occupied with university freshman in military training. Yes, freshman actually do not go to class in September, they just drill all month. If you could have watched them, you'd agree, they've really improved their marches and chants. And they're all decent, but I think the girls look more in unison than the guys. Maybe dance classes help with this sort of thing.


Well, I'm looking forward to a quiet October, free from explosions and drill sergeants.

rach