Autumn never seem to last too long in Beijing. Within what feels like a two week span, the dazzling blue sky days are gone, replaced instead by heavy gusts of bone chilling Siberian wind. While more and more people resort to huddling indoor, waiting for the central heating to be turned on, there is one more holiday celebration that will take place and lift everyone's souls before the true mark of winter takes hold.
That holiday also happens to be one of my favorite days of the year - Halloween! My love affair with Halloween began a few years back, when my friends and I attended a huge fancy dress party that was organized by some young expats who were living in Beijing. It was epic, the costumes were outrageous, and I was instantly smitten. I can finally channel my inner Diane Arbus!
While there's still a week and a half left until Halloween, I'm already getting excited and have began brainstorming costume ideas. Above is a picture of my friends, John and Sarah (AKA Oleg and Oksana), in costume as Soviet comrades. Sadly, this picture was not taken on Halloween, but I do hope it will motivate someone out there to come up with an inspiring costume for this year's festivities. Or at least find that little bit of Soviet spirit that exists within all of us.