Coming back from China, what welcomes me is the freezing temperature, which I have never ever experienced so far. Cold wind straightly penetrates everything I wear, like a knife stabbing right into my bones.  Nasal mucus freezes even before it runs out of my nose on my way from the parking lot to the office building. What a day!!! Friends tease me: “You are back right on time.”

Well, people may feel much worse because of the financial collapse. However, it is quite different from the atmosphere of Spring Festival in China. Chinese people seem not be affected by the economy recession wide-spreading in the Western countries. Alternatively, maybe it is just an illusion of coming Chinese New Year. Nevertheless, both the infrastructure including highways, railroads, high-speed trains and communication technologies and the related services have been greatly improved. People look younger, happier and much more beautiful.

Obama will inaugurate to be the first African American president next Tuesday. I am a fan of neither politics nor politician. However, I’d rather believe his inauguration as the first African American president in America history symbolizes the advancement of the entire society and the improvement of the democracy. People finally achieve great progress after having been pursuing racial equality and human rights for centuries.

What average people really care is the issues corresponding to their daily life such as job, retirement, health care, kid’s education. No matter what, solving the basic problems resulted from the economy meltdown would be on top of everything.