From Grits to Chopsticks

On our first night back in China, our dinnertime conversation with friends was interrupted as “Lantern Festival” fireworks began erupting right outside of our restaurant door:

Chinese people are generally frugal, but not when it comes to fireworks.  Many of them are blasting away on the streets:

They start very young:

And even before it’s over, the street cleaners try to get a jump on the aftermath: