Jan 30

Very cold and windy outside, but the sky is blue. I took a walk this morning around Matt's apartment complex which is still under construction but when finished will house about 100,000 people by his estimation. Despite the four power plants surrounding our site, (one of them nuclear,) the sky is blue and sunny. Most people I see on my stroll are very fashionable, wearing long coats with furred hoods or stylish hats and warm winter gear. Around the apartments most people outside are older folk walking with young children; I assume they are grandparents watching toddlers while the parents are at work.

In a store within the building complex a young Chinese woman points out that I have dirt on my coat and I remember it's from biking in snowy Chicago. We laugh as she attempts to brush it off, which is surprising to me since it's all over my ass and she doesn't hesitate to swipe it away. I am grateful for her telling me since I have a job interview this afternoon and want to look presentable. I thank her, smile, and continue to oggle at the delicious looking snacks and strange fruit.

Still feeling rather tired and a bit overwhelmed today, I walk with headphones on that protect my ears from the wind and deter conversation. Occasionally I make eye contact with someone and smile. They nearly always smile back.