Love the Beard

I don't normally take photos of others without their permission. I respect their privacy... Even though being one of the rare Caucasians in Xian, Everyone does it to us constantly. For some reason they always want to take pictures with me and my son. Even though we don't know them, and we are far far from being any kind of celebrity. We are just normal folks trying to eke out a living on this Earth, but having fun doing it in another culture. Such an eye opening experience. Wish everyone would try it.

You would see all of those distasteful comments of other cultures, from others that know nothing but their homelands, pretty much stop. If you keep your mind open that is.... There are some things about this culture that can drive you mad. There are other parts that are so much more amazing than anything I have ever seen. And every once in a while I get to see an old man like this, and wonder what his life was like 30-50 years ago as a young man, and how much it must be different for him now. I wonder if he still recognizes his culture...

I still love the good ol' USA. In fact I took its' beauty and diversity for granted before I came here. But after traveling so much... I don't take anything for granted anymore. I look at streams like Meadow Mom's or Scott Hudson's

www.flickr.com/photos/scotthudson/

www.flickr.com/photos/meadowmom/

And I see they see the things I missed back home. The history. The beauty. The culture... I love looking at their streams, and any of my friends wandering around on mine should go look at theirs.... Put's mine to same. But I am thankful to call them friends. Even from 5500 miles away they have shown me what I want to go back and see when I repatriate.

Done