Our 11th floor apartment overlooks an unoccupied 4 story building. But recently, the building has been undergoing a renovation, where the walls are being busted out and rebuilt. Here is the building at the beginning of the project:
A major part of any building project are the laborers. These men and women possess an amazing amount of strength and determination, carrying debris down and hauling new materials up:
While they work on a project, they take up residence wherever is most convenient. Since the weather has been nice lately, they’ve been spending most of their time on the roof.
Unlike suburban America, everyone’s lives in our compressed city of 8 million intertwine. Each time we look out our window, we catch a glimpse of their simple lifestyle. Using just a few tools, they cook and eat some delicious looking meals:
They do laundry:
Work on projects (with minimal safety equipment):
Wash hair:
and, time permitting, play cards and relax:
When we moved to China, we downsized and simplified our lifestyle. But after watching our new neighbors, we have a long way to go on the path toward true simplification.
It is amazing they live life like that. It is funny, almost “Truman show” ish watching them 😉
It’s hard not to see what’s taking place directly out our window, but we’re beginning to ignore the activity as the newness wears off.