Things You Never Knew Were Dangerous. Because I haven't done one in a while, this is a two part-er.
1. Walking on the sidewalk
I already knew sidewalks were not safe after being tapped by a car who didn't want to wait in traffic while walking on one in Beijing. Sidewalks in the US are precisely for the purpose of having somewhere to walk without cars, but not so here. Further evidence: A girl in Xi'an last month was walking home and with no warning fell through the cement sidewalk. There happened to be a 6 meter hole underground. Luckily for for her, a taxi driver saw it and heroically went down after her and made sure she was alright.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17827983
2. Driving your normal bus route (danger from the sky)
A bus driver was hit by a flying piece of metal the other day. He was severely injured when it came directly through the windshield and hit him, so much so that he died three days later. But amazingly he managed to pull the bus over off the highway and turn on the hazard lights, so no one else was injured.
The story: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/06/03/3287638/china-hails-bus-driver-who-saved.html
The video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJyWY2Fzzr8
That piece of metal really just flies out of no where.
Both of these storied just go to affirm the fact that living in China is a constant danger, even if you're being safe and doing something you do every day. It's a bit nerve racking. Literally anything can happen to you in an instant. It really gives one a new appreciation for safety regulations.
But we're coming home soon, so knock on wood.
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