There is no such thing as a sidewalk.

Did you know that in China, the cars that want to go a little slower than normal traffic drive on the sidewalk / bike lane?  Do you know where the bikers go then?  Yep, in between the slow cars and the pedestrians.  Guess where the pedestrians are.  Yep, everywhere!  Sean (the other English teacher here at Zhengzhou middle school No. 47) and I agree, crossing a main street is more adventure than most thrill-seekers ever know.  Literally, the goal is dodge the cars.

(I know my mother won't enjoy reading this post, but it's unforgettable that it just deserves a note.)

Later Days,
Rick

P.S.  As you note from this, I went to the hub of the city I'm in (Zhengzhou) and, let me tell you, it is exactly the chaos you envision.  Woah.  (Philipp or anyone who wants to visit, if you read this blog, get ready for it because you know I'm dragging you there as well.)

Always stay flexible...until da2 han1

I'm here in China! Yep, that's right.  For one week I've now been in the most populated country in the world.  1.3 billion Chinese, a handful of westerners, and Rick.  

I'm doing my best to embrace the "This is China" attitude, where odd events will occur, but you just need to accept it.  The most common is the random Chinese person who clearly has the camera pointed at you/your group of Westerners because they honestly are shocked to see a white person.

My travels best demonstrated the, "be flexible attitude".  I was flexible when
*my connecting flight to San Francisco was 1/2 hour late, causing me to run through the airport and security; when
*I got seated on the place next to the window behind a curtain, unable to see any of the movie on the central screen or unable to see the attendants as they passed by to request anything; when
*I arrived in Beijing late, hoping my ride would still be there; when
*None of my luggage arrived and I had to file a claim in Chinese; when
*The driver (fortunately was there) took twice as long to the hotel to pick up some other people; when
*I had to order dinner all in broken Chinese; when
*I fumbled with chopsticks as the child at the next table blatantly stared; when
*I ordered beer (to help me fall asleep and fight the impending jet lag) and it came back room temperature; when
*I finally fell asleep only to be woken by an arrogant roommate arriving at 1:30 a.m.

Up until this point, I had always send, "I'm flexible.  Things will work out."  I had little sleep, no luggage, some food, but was safe in Beijing with at least a bar of soap and something to have eaten.

Then da2han1.

Da2han1 = snoring

My roommate fell quickly asleep and snored louder than a raging bull in sporadic spurts, not allowing any senses to adapt and drown out the sound.  Nope.  That's when I couldn't stand it.  Nope.  I went down to the front desk and asked for a new room.  Struggling with the Chinese, there was nothing they could do, but I was moved the next day, drowsy and irritable. 

Fortunately, I met the other participants, ate delicious food (below, a table with a lazy susan in the middle where the dishes are set as soon as they come out and diners spin it around to take bits for their plate--I loved that idea.)

I traveled with the group on the day before the program started and we went to the Forbidden City downtown Beijing.  We didn't go in, because as we neared it some soldiers were gathering and some tanks were rolling in, and the Chinese girl in our group understood a soldier sounding over a bull horn "Get everyone out of here."  Well, you don't have to tell me that twice in China!

We saw a shopping district opposite the Forbidden City, which, of course, had some familiar sights (look closely). 

I saw things that distracted me...

And, of course, we saw traditional Chinese architecture in stunning detail.  This is the ___ temple (I can't remember... :-( 


After two days in seminar, we were to fly to our home towns.  I am now slowly settling in here in Zhengzhou.  More to come about the apartment--a surprise (in a good sense). 

Remember, fear the da2han1!

Later Days,
Rick

Next stop, China!

It's official, I'm off to teach English in China for the coming school year.  I finally secured my working visa for China this Friday and subsequently booked my flight to leave on August 22nd. 

I'll be teaching in Zhengzhou, a 2nd/3rd tier Chinese city with only 7 million people.  I've been warned that a city that small will have very few western influences so I should get ready.

Enter your e-mail in the box on the right hand side of this blog to receive updates when new posts appear. 

Zai jian!
Rick
(or by my chinese name Lĭ ruì -- 李 睿 )