Happy New Year

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

February 18, 2007 marks the first day of China's New Year!

2007 is the Year of the Pig.

Today, Chinese New Year's Eve is known as Chu Xi, Chu literally means "change" and xi means "eve".

If you were born in 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983 or 1995 - you were born under the sign of the pig. Like the pig, you are highly regarded for your chilvary and pureness of heart, and you often make friends for life. For pigs in 2007, any recent setbacks or obstacles can be overcome so look forward to a year in which to really shine, either personally or professionally.

****Edited to include:
A baby boom is about to hit parts of Asia, as couples try to ensure their newborns get a happy, wealthy life by starting off in the Year of the Pig.

Maggie's Blog

Maggie at To China and Back met with a professor who has adopted Internationally. Her post about attachment issues is informative and useful. Take a look.

Bashang Grasslands - Hebei province - China

Oh! This area is just beautiful! I am going to borrow one of Justin's pictures to show you just a smidjin of what he found there. If interested click on the Title of this post and be transported to Hebei Province where he is visiting.

Movie

I enjoyed this one. Got it off Netflix.

The Story of Qiu Ju

Gong Li delivers a superbly nuanced performance as the titular heroine in director Yimou Zhang's droll take on the absurdities of bureaucratic impotency. Set in a remote Chinese province, the film follows pregnant peasant Qui Ju on her resolute quest for justice after the village elder kicks her husband in the family jewels. Merely seeking an apology from the stubborn chief, Qui Ju soon gets caught in the cogs of an exasperating legal system.