Time went fast and things changed a lot especially in the last 30 years from 1978 to 2008.  I can see the progresses of our country, the reformed China, when I recall my housing and compared the old one with the new one now!

I lived in a courtyard house for my childhood for 16 years. That was a traditional Chinese designed house with rooms in each 4 directions and a nice squared courtyard in the middle. It was located in a narrow alley and there were 4 houses on each side of this alley. 

We children of the 8 homes got along and lived joyously, as we could meet each other easily after class. When we came back home from school, we normally threw the bags on bed and shouted to mom or the maid: "We will have a rest and back soon". Then we sisters and brother as well as other children would run out to the playground of the Military district and had a great time there. However, that kind of house was really an old fashion one where we even had no toilet at home but had to go out for 10 minutes to use the public one in the big military courtyard.

After I got married in 1978, I have moved 3 times so far and each time the latter house would be better than the former. I enjoy the advanced facilities of the flat but I still remember the old courtyard house. Why?  From the flat building, I can't meet people as easily as we did in the courtyard house. People are now isolated in a well decorated house but hardly go to visit other's home just for chat. And the young generation currently is often busy with their lessons and has no time to run out for a good time as we did....