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Carrefour and Militant Hair Stylists Dominate the Weekly China Roundup

The Weekly China Roundup from Sino News on TeachAbroadChina.com

• There was supposed to have been a huge protest at my local Carrefour on Thursday (Labor Day in China). Lots of people stood around all day waiting. The police and some soldiers were waiting in the back with their riot gear. Reporters waited with their cameras. People like me loitered around waiting for some excitement. There was no protest. Actually, when I walked into Carrefour, the store was filled wall-to- wall with Chinese people who were taking advantage of some great discounts. However, my friends tell me that bus drivers in the area staged their own little protest by refusing to drop people off at the two bus stops nearest Carrefour on Thursday. I guess some people got a little extra exercise.
• We all know that Chinese black tea is not actually black, right? So why do they call it black tea? My students explained to me this week that black tea is much ’smoother’ on the tongue if it has been allowed to age for a few years. And black tea, which can be a variety of colors at an early age turns black after a few years of ’sitting around.’ Other friends tell me however, that black tea is labeled as such simply because its tea leaves are black.  If you have an answer, please leave a comment below.
• I passed by a local hair salon earlier in the week and witnessed a military style exercise being conducted by the members of the staff. There was marching, full about-faces, and alot of yelling taking place. My students tell me that these drills are a part of Chairman Mao’s legacy and that they are intended to ‘wake up’ the staff, unite them, and prepare them to ’seize the day.’
• Finally, there has been a recent epidemic of Enterovirus 71 in China’s Eastern Anhui Province. As of today, the death toll stand at 22 but the Chinese government appears to be doing the right thing by spreading awareness about the virus in China.  Please join me in saying a prayer for all of the beautiful little Chinese boys and girls who are at risk for this virus which can cause hand, foot, and mouth disease and is often fatal.

See you next week!

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