Tracking the wind, I'm chasing the gale

It goes without saying that people the world over have their own foibles and funny habits. I've noticed that Chinese people are in no short supply of idiosyncracies. For instance, Chinese people really enjoy walking backwards.
Whenever I'm taking a much-needed respite in the wide open landscape of Lianyungang, I can peek a single Chinese person or in some cases a pair of Chinese persons walking backwards. I thought it peculiar at first, no question. Then I thought that maybe I could relate this odd sight to some extreme weather conditions. Say for example if the wind was blowing up a heavy gale and one wanted to shield their facial orifices from the onslaught of air. But there seems to be no excuse for walking backwards on a perfectly nice, calm and sunny day. I've been told that the Chinese believe the backward walking is good for health. Hm.
I went for a run the other night at the university's track. It was late, maybe around 10:30 or so. I expected to see a few couples sitting on the soccer field in tender moonlit embraces, but I was not prepared for the mob of people that I came across. Did I mention that this was a Friday night? Well, it most certainly was past 10 pm on a Friday (I had my own reasons for engaging in rigorous cardio at this hour) and I think I nearly stumbled over half the student body on the track and adjoining playground. I thought to myself: this is what college would be like if teetotalism was more popular than the current exploits that are in vogue on western campuses. And of course, many of the people on the track got a glimpse of my face, flush from the effort of running, as I lapped them. These were the people walking around the track in reverse. Perhaps they thought I was some kind of monster apparition of the night.

The Watcher

Being a movie-lover can be maddening and blissful here in China. DVDs are so handily obtained, but at the same time a game of roulette takes place: will the film quality be a shoddy substitute or have I got my hands on the real deal? It can be exhilarating. To purchase movies with the mystery of authenticity looming gives the blind spender a surge of adrenaline; and beyond that there’s a carefree blissfulness to the whole affair.
Upon entering my favorite local DVD shop (which I visit at least once a week without fail), I anticipate walking out with at least one new movie in hand. In comparison to the rental craze that fixates most American viewers, the rate of purchasing here must seem rapid and even a little irresponsible.
Take into account the relative price of a new movie out here (9 RMB for a quality copy, 5-6 RMB for a mediocre transfer, and you can even get entire TV series or collections of films for a nominal fee), and it really doesn’t amount to much more than keeping up with your weekly or bi-weekly movie rentals back home. And let’s not even address the gauging that occurs at the cinemas back home (although I’ve always maintained that visiting a theater is an experience altogether worthy of a higher price—but $10 per go is really going too far isn’t it?).
I anticipate returning home with at least 5 kg of added bulk from DVDs alone. And, for the record, I haven’t been completely footloose or numbskulled when buying these cheap little treasures. I generally select films of good caliber that retain at least some replay value. So in that way, I’m really stocking up for good and all…until another format comes along and blows away the fragile and gleaming discs that I covet so ferociously. In vain, let me offer my plea to the unrelenting wheel of technology to stop, or at least pause graciously, so as to allow me ample time to take in all the movies my heart desires.