I wish I could remember the TV host that coined that phrase. It’s just so darn catchy and appropriate at times. Well, here we are, together in 2010 and what better way to welcome in the new year than to welcome you with some new information about life and living in Jiujiang.

This winter has been the worst in more than a decade China has seen. Great way to start off, eh? Jiujiang got it’s 3rd accumulating snowfall on Tuesday, January 5th. Here are the photos from the storm:

After that storm it’s just stayed COLD. Well, cold inside anyway. Huh?! Right, some days it can be warmer outside than in! Strange? That’s my fault. If I’d kept up with updates and what-about’s from here that wouldn’t seem strange.

If I’ve told you this before or you know about it already please bear with me while I reiterate a bit about the local infrastructure here in Jiujiang.
Cities in southern China [Jiujiang is considered southern] build buildings without central heat or insulation. The walls are roughly 10 inches of concrete with [hopefully sound] reinforcement inside. As the temperature descends to near 0c there is nothing to drive off the cold from the interior walls. So by this time of year buildings, especially residences, are virtual cooler boxes. An amusing proof came about when I recently visited Wal-Mart. In Home Furnishings there are thermometers- they were reading a cool 15c [59f]. Is that a comfortable temperature for inside such a commercial space at this time of year in other parts of the world? Comments are welcome and I am curious to know.
The thermometer in my living room today is a balmy 11c [52f] because I was spoiling myself with the heat on high for hours. Outside the temperatures remain in the single digits most of the time. Though yesterday and the day before the sun was out and it was quite warm. It didn’t do anything for the temps inside but then that might be expecting too much. I believe that gives a fair enough picture of the temps we live with here. Enough about the weather. Other parts of China and other countries are experiencing far worse winters than here.

Well that’ll do it for this post. The blog is coming back. What do you think of the color scheme? Enough color? Not enough color? The newsletter is back too. Did you get a copy? Want one? Click here. My new book: Jiujiang 九江 Nine Rivers Special Edition with an introduction and Jiujiang: 九江 Nine Rivers are now on sale. Click the name to have a look.

So until next time- happy and safe travels! Enjoy the world!