Friday, June 18, 2010

Community Center


Yesterday afternoon we took a trip to see a community health center.  This is an experiential community set up by the government.  It is based partly on a Mao belief that the people should be able to access 10 community services in 15 minutes.  It is called the 15/10 rule.    It is set up in two concentric squares.  The outer square of the community is high rise apartment buildings. The inner square is community stores.  They have 8,000 people living in this community.  This picture is of one pathway.

This is just our group listening to the lecture.


The apartments.

They have all of this beautiful fresh food at their grocerry store.  The whole store was just fresh produce.


As far as I could tell, this was the only available meat for the day.  People just came in and chose which one they wanted.  No refrigeration. No gloves.


This was in the park and recreation area.  The woman facing the camera is 95 years old.  She was happy to show us how to do these exercises.  You push your legs back and are basically leg pressing your weight.  I am constantly amazed at the health of the elderly here.  You see 80+ year old people all over riding their bikes places throughout the city.  Although this picture doesn't show her face too well, I would've guess her 72.

I really liked this model of living.  I guess there is a move to try and incorporate this idea more and more in the US as well.  Living in the community is very expensive though.   It is either 20,000 US or $2,000 US dollars per square meter to buy an apartment here.  Most rent.  The community also included a school, bike shop, hair salon, elderly cafe for special meals, etc.

Sometimes we go to these agencies and we just sit around a huge conference table and talk.  It was nice to be able to really take and in depth tour today.

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