It's hard to believe, but a country that can boast of a 5000 year history, has wisdom hiding in almost every corner. At times, this wisdom is passed along. It's October and the season has definitely turned from summer to fall, an indicator of the brutal winter that northern China deals with on a yearly basis. Now, I enjoy wearing a t-shirt with perhaps an unbuttoned flannel over it and jeans. Since the first sign that the weather was changing from brutally hot to a little cool, the issue of my not wearing enough clothes has been brought to my attention with everyone I meet. Today it was 65 degrees farenheit, a rather pleasant temperature. A friend of mine who was giving me a lift to the store on the back of his motorcycle turned around with a grave face and dispensed some of the wisdom that Chinese people are known to possess. "You must wear more clothes. You musn't catch a cold. I know your young and strong, but you need to wear more clothes." That was the end of the discussion. I of course smiled and agreed with him, but in reality I was a little irked. I don't want to wear a coat, and that should be my business. Every day I go to work, the inevitible "Ni lung bu lung" or "Are you cold or not" question is raised by more than one person when my choice of garb is seen. I answer that in fact, no, I'm not cold, and thanks for your concern. I can take care of myself. It's been happening every day for a month now. One time there was a little impromptu meeting about my lack of layers, and decisions were being made about what I needed to spend my hard earned money on. "You need a sweatshirt and a coat. We can have someone take you to the store this afternoon. Do you have enough money?" Was a question put to me after the decision had been made. I know I need a coat and when the weather becomes as such that I'm uncomfortable, I'll buy one. It doesn't help that last week I caught a cold and made all of the grave warnings I had recieved a reality. I'm going to buy a coat today or tomorrow. They've worn me down, and I know that everyday I see someone they're going to ask if I'm cold and why don't I have more clothes on. After I'm seen wearing a coat, perhaps we can deal with more substantial problems. Such as why my toilet wont flush.