Daily Chores

A commonality I see of countries are chores, no matter where in the world people keep their houses in some type of order, though the definition of order might be different depending on the person and culture. The ways about keeping the order, the chores are different. In Norway I cleaned the floors with a squidgy, in Ghana the dirt in front of the huts had to be sweep each morning with twigs, in Germany the hard wood floors had to be waxed on a regular basis and in China… I have an Aiyi, a house cleaner ☺. I feel spoiled knowing that twice a week someone will put my stuff away, fold my clothes and clean the flat. Though it is common to have a house cleaner there are still chores that have to be done.
Yesterday, as I was entering my building there was a resident lining up fireworks on the window seal of the entryway. There have been few days since I have been in Shanghai that I have not seen or heard fireworks in my neighborhood. Since gunpowder was invented in China and the first fireworks were done with bamboo the tradition has stuck. There are many occasions for fireworks, weddings, sporting events, celebrations and the coming Chinese New Year. This particular evening I greeted my neighbor and I commented on his fireworks. He responded in English, saying that he had to set them off, he was not sure why but his wife told him that he must set these fireworks off and that was his chore. I am not sure how that chore compares for taking out the trash, cleaning the bathroom or doing the laundry but it was his task for the evening. As I was putting away my shopping I could hear and see his obedience rather close to the building as usual.