Riverculture

Our city is divided by the wide Xiang River, and the river itself is split by long Orange Island, great bust of young Mao presiding over the waters. Xiang means fragrant, currently a serious misnomer, but in times past it must have been a sweet tributary running north to the Yangtze (Chang Jiang). 

Riverculture defines Changsha. We eat fish. We reference locations according to West Side or East Side of the river. We debate with taxi drivers whether it's more direct to take the first, second, or third bridge. We wonder when the second underwater tunnel will be completed. From bus windows, the kids count barges when crossing bridges. We drink bottled tank water (think Culligan man) because the stuff from the tap is polluted and contaminated. We flock to the banks on good-weather evenings, strolling, gazing at the weekend fireworks display, lighting floating lanterns, smirking at the karaoke and carnival. The kids are reluctant to leave until they see that fisherman make a catch.

All of these summer river photos were captured by my mom in 2011! Thanks Mom!

And the following are our photos from late winter and early spring 2013.

 counting the graces

thank you Father for

neighbor's baby duck for the kids to harass play with

spontaneous outing to kids' indoor play gym with neighbor family

unhurried time of pr with another sister

breakfast as a family

porch windows wide open, laundry drying quickly

Drew feeling his job interview went well, good communication, good connection

Jon initiating "I love you"

Titus improving his ability to express himself at school

Mike trying to write his name