Foreign Dignitaries

OOh the hooplah! Oh the grandeur! Well, not really, but at least people were sweeping the streets to pick up some of the garbage. Why you ask? The Chinese President is here for a visit. Last night there were roadblocks to get him from the airport, so we left right after school. Today he and the wife will be all over the city so the office decided to have a short day in the hopes to avoid roadblocks and being trapped here with the entire student body, well into the night. On the way to school this morning we saw the street sweepers and people painting the curbs (where there are curbs) red and white. There were also flags on the street lights and pictures of the Chinese President were up to. Also out and about were dozens of police officers in their neatly pressed blue uniforms and white hats and gloves. We are really hoping that all the kids get picked up on time so we can get home. Last year, when someone was visiting, they locked all the people up in Mahima (the main grocery store) and there was a riot inside, while the big-wig drove by, unaware.