We have returned to our former abode in the good ol' US of A with many memories of our time living and working in Beijing. One example is our favorite grocery store, happily name Merry Mart. The store is huge by Chinese standards and because it is cheaper to build up than out, the store has three floors. When you are ready to go up or down one floor, you step onto what looks like a metal conveyer belt. The belt is magnetized and the metal wheels of the grocery cart stick to it. It looks very much like an escalator with no steps and the effect is the same. You stand with your grocery cart stuck to the belt and ride to the next floor.

I hope our memories of Beijing are as sticky as the magnets.