Haerbin has a long and fascinating history, and a good relationship with Russians. Here we see an important institution that underpins every significant Russian expat community – the neighborhood strip club / disco:

Another angle of the same building. And then some more neon lights / kitschy bar district:

Uighur Muslim migrants continue to make China liveable, by offering alternatives to the homogenous flavors of greasy-oversurgared-MSG-ridden-Chinese fare. The most common are simply barbecued sticks of meat, lamb being the most delicious (see second picture). All provided by friendly fellows like these:

And they also have simple types of Naan, again, an excellent alternative:

All for only ~$1.20.

While I’m eating outside.

In my experience, the structure of culture-shock generally tends towards: extreme highs at the beginning, followed by a crash (when you realize a year is in fact a decent amount of time). But fear not – minor emotional quibbles can be easily ignored, by introducing yourself to local spirits. En masse.

Out for the next several days, but I leave you with this: there are a number of ways to deal with your child in China. You could truss them up in a raincoat and send them into a fountain. Or have them walk your dog.

Or, for the more hands off approach, stick them in a plastic sack, inflate it, and roll them out into the river:

Damnit I wish I had grown up in a country with less litigatory nonsense.