When

When will this city open its secret heart to me? It took me five years to see the Soapbox Derby, would it take five years for Beijing to reveal its center?

Yesterday the surly cook at the open air restaurant near our apartment kneaded a ball of dough the size and shape of a football. Then he grapped some sort of special tool and, holding the ball to his chest, with rapid motions shaved off hundreds of tiny noodles, one at a time, into a giant steaming pot.

I will stay until August, but you are not under a deadline Beijing. I will come back. I can wait.