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.
Showing posts with label hate China. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hate China. Show all posts
Monday, June 4, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Just to give you an idea...
Just to give you an idea of what it's like here. This is a very common scene, but I hadn't gotten evidence of it because it's illegal (not to mention weird) to take a picture of kids taking a dump on the sidewalk and then having their butts wiped by their parents.
Not kidding, it's a daily view here. Kids don't wear diapers, they wear pants with a slit up the backside so they can take a squat where ever. That smelly thing you stepped in is more likely from a child than a dog! Oh, China.
Not kidding, it's a daily view here. Kids don't wear diapers, they wear pants with a slit up the backside so they can take a squat where ever. That smelly thing you stepped in is more likely from a child than a dog! Oh, China.
 |
| Picture from http://i.imgur.com/pzRXJ.png |
Monday, February 20, 2012
TYNKWD -- Security Guards
Things you never knew were dangerous, in this case by being simply inept and entirely useless -- security guards.
Several times we've witnessed scenes where in the US, or almost anywhere, security personnel would have immediately stepped in and taken action. And every time we've seen Chinese security guards... do nothing. It's amazing. They are possibly more useless than banks that can't make change for a Y20.
Example 1. While enjoying a latte at Starbucks, Thomas and I witnessed a young woman in a dramatic tantrum worthy of a soap opera. While we watched, she lay down on the ground and didn't move for 10 minutes, no exaggeration. However, there was a security guard walking around who saw it, so we assumed it must be alright. Just when we were getting concerned it was a health issue, she stands up and starts screaming at the man she was apparently with. Sadly, we have no idea what about and it has been the object of speculation ever since. They went back and forth for a while, with security looking on, and then he starts to walk away. At which point she flat out attacks him. He stops her, they talk some more, and then they storm away. During this entire exchange, security guards did nothing but join the gathered crowd to watch! Mind boggling.
Example 2. At a bar, several people had gotten entirely too drunk including a young woman. She had been falling down and acting plastered for a while. All of a sudden, she runs up to a man at the bar, grabs him by his hair, and drags him by the hair 10 feet across the floor. Drunk people jump in to help, and a small fight breaks out. During this fight, several people are hit and a large disgusting man even shoves a bystanding woman onto the floor. A security guard comes up, tells the woman to stop, she kicks him, and he steps back and does nothing.
This fight continues as several of the involved people make for the door, and re-erupts outside the bar. Again we aren't sure what was going on or why she was so mad at this man, sadly, but it made for an interesting show. An hour later when we were leaving, the woman and her people were still outside blocking the exit, and just inside the doors was a circle of security guards talking with each other. Again, doing nothing.
Example 3. In the paper today --
Many of the guards are not actual police officers. But do they call the police? Do they even attempt to help? Nope.
In summary, perhaps security guards are not dangerous. In fact, they are the exact opposite -- useless. The dangerous thing here is to be attacked in front of a security guard because they will do nothing. "I'll call the police!" just doesn't have the same threat that way.
China, China, China... Tsk tsk.
Several times we've witnessed scenes where in the US, or almost anywhere, security personnel would have immediately stepped in and taken action. And every time we've seen Chinese security guards... do nothing. It's amazing. They are possibly more useless than banks that can't make change for a Y20.
Example 1. While enjoying a latte at Starbucks, Thomas and I witnessed a young woman in a dramatic tantrum worthy of a soap opera. While we watched, she lay down on the ground and didn't move for 10 minutes, no exaggeration. However, there was a security guard walking around who saw it, so we assumed it must be alright. Just when we were getting concerned it was a health issue, she stands up and starts screaming at the man she was apparently with. Sadly, we have no idea what about and it has been the object of speculation ever since. They went back and forth for a while, with security looking on, and then he starts to walk away. At which point she flat out attacks him. He stops her, they talk some more, and then they storm away. During this entire exchange, security guards did nothing but join the gathered crowd to watch! Mind boggling.
Example 2. At a bar, several people had gotten entirely too drunk including a young woman. She had been falling down and acting plastered for a while. All of a sudden, she runs up to a man at the bar, grabs him by his hair, and drags him by the hair 10 feet across the floor. Drunk people jump in to help, and a small fight breaks out. During this fight, several people are hit and a large disgusting man even shoves a bystanding woman onto the floor. A security guard comes up, tells the woman to stop, she kicks him, and he steps back and does nothing.
This fight continues as several of the involved people make for the door, and re-erupts outside the bar. Again we aren't sure what was going on or why she was so mad at this man, sadly, but it made for an interesting show. An hour later when we were leaving, the woman and her people were still outside blocking the exit, and just inside the doors was a circle of security guards talking with each other. Again, doing nothing.
Example 3. In the paper today --
A 20-MINUTE camera video clip showing inaction by a security guard while a middle school student was attacked by a dozen other youths has drawn wide criticism from the public.
The video clip showed the student was cornered and attacked Tuesday in front of the security office in Songquan Middle School in Luohu District. Twelve or so youths slapped, kicked and threw cigarette butts at the student, the video clip showed.
The security guard who witnessed the incident later explained he was alone in the office while on duty and was afraid of the youths, who often hang around the school to collect Mafia-style protection fees and beat other students.
Many of the guards are not actual police officers. But do they call the police? Do they even attempt to help? Nope.
In summary, perhaps security guards are not dangerous. In fact, they are the exact opposite -- useless. The dangerous thing here is to be attacked in front of a security guard because they will do nothing. "I'll call the police!" just doesn't have the same threat that way.
China, China, China... Tsk tsk.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Surprise, Monsoon! video
A video from about a month ago during what I like to call "flash monsoon season", when intense rains would come and go as quickly as you please. As a Coloradan, I was a bit taken aback and had some trouble guessing when these anomalies would strike. Here, I am again thwarted during an attempt to dry laundry.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Materialism in China
Materialism is a big thing around here. Every time a teacher has a new dress, it's the talk of the dining hall. If you ask a student what they'd like to do in America, they'll say "buy an ipad!" The teachers are found of specifying things like "You have a lot of pretty jewelry and I only wear this necklace, but mine is much more expensive I think." When a coworker and I met a guy who speaks English in line at the supermarket, her first question when he said he was a lawyer was "Oh, then you are a very rich man?" And what would the students bring if they were stranded on a desert island? "Money!"
I realize that the U.S. tends to be seen as the mother of all consumerism, but what I see here is on an entirely different level. I will spend money, yes, but I would rather spend money on a trip somewhere rather than a Gucci handbag. And they cost about the same.
This morning, while reading my favorite newspaper I found this gem of an article that perfectly demonstrates my point:
Shenzhen Daily, November 15, 2011
Shopping bags with luxury brands in vogue
I realize that the U.S. tends to be seen as the mother of all consumerism, but what I see here is on an entirely different level. I will spend money, yes, but I would rather spend money on a trip somewhere rather than a Gucci handbag. And they cost about the same.
This morning, while reading my favorite newspaper I found this gem of an article that perfectly demonstrates my point:
Shenzhen Daily, November 15, 2011
Shopping bags with luxury brands in vogue
An increasing number of white collar workers are following an emerging fashion trend in Shenzhen by carrying paper shopping bags with designer names to indicate they had bought luxury goods to show off to their co-workers.
The bags, with designer logos such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, or Cartier, are mostly replicas purchased from online stores, yesterday's Shenzhen ecoonomic daily reported.
This new trend was spawning a booming business for paper bag makers, the paper said.
A 24-year-old woman surnamed Gao carries two such bags to work every day, a bronze-colored bag with a Gucci logo for her lunch box and a red one with the Cartier logo for daily necessities, the report said.
She told the paper she bought the shopping bags online and the Gucci bag cost her Y120 (US$19) while the Cariter bag cost Y180.
"A few women co-workers fomr the rich families often show off their luxury acessories in the office and look down on us new graduates," the woman was quoted as saying. "I'm not a show-off person by nature, but I feel I have to adjust myself in this environment."
To save her face, she sometimes loosens her purse strings for a few small luxury accessories, but can't afford large items like handbags or clothing.
"Now I found a better way," Gao said. "Carrying such a shopping bag to work, other people often thing I bought luxury gooss and I feel good about myself."
....
That's right. Carrying your things in paper bags with designer logos so your co-workers will think (your lunchbox?) came from LV. This is so ridiculous I couldn't believe it. I admit, if these women really feel like they are looked down on for not having bought their handbag from Gucci then I feel sorry for them. But I just can't bring myself to sympathize.
My next obvious question being: communism?
Monday, October 10, 2011
Xi'an -- Bad seats
As I mentioned, October 1st was National Day (which is Chinese 4th of July) so we had the week off of work. To celebrate, I went with some friends to Xi'an. Xi'an is the ancient city that was the capital of China for almost 2,000 years (I think) and home of the famous terra-cotta warriors of Qin and other terra-cotta figurines, or as I like to call them, the clay dudes. I had been once before but only for a day and a half so I hadn't seen anything but the Qin warriors and briefly around the inner city.
As you may have guessed, I am now returned. However, the traveling was extremely brutal. In fact the worst traveling I have had to do in a very long time, if ever. I will continue blogging about the amazing trip as the week progresses but I am currently so exhausted that all I will show now is exactly how bad of a travel it was.
Let me draw a picture. Trains in China are not like trains in the US or Europe. They are somewhere in between Europe and India, leaning far towards the India side. It is almost impossible to get the tickets you want on a holiday because of all the other travelers, so we could only get tickets for hard seats. Which was actually very lucky. Because it's a 30 hour train ride. And they selling standing room tickets. That's right, they crowd the train to twice capacity with most of the people only having STANDING TICKETS FOR 30 HOURS.
So, you get to the train station, stand in a huge like, rush to the front like a maniac, with people actually getting into fights to get there, try to find your seat which someone is inevitably already in, kick them out and settle down. Because you will not be moving -- and I mean it, not even standing -- for at least 10 hours. The train is so packed with "standing tickets" that you cannot stretch, stand up, store your luggage, go to the ::extremely nasty:: bathroom, anything. Eventually around hour 10 they started to deboard and around hour 20 we were able to steal some sleepers and crowd into there for the remaining 10 hours. Which was nice, because on the way out some asshole decided to bring a 22" flatscreen with him and store it in our leg room in the hard seats. So not only could we not stand up, we could not, literally could not, move our legs.
Yep, Jenn was pretty grumpy.
The trip back was essentially the same, only no TV box THANK GOD and friendly English speaking neighbors, but no sleepers either. We almost didn't make it back because the train was so late that we barely made the last connecting speed train from Guanzhou to Shenzhen, had to battle violently pushy Chinese to get the tickets and then runnnnn to board the departing train. It was as close as it possibly could be. We didn't get back home until after midnight, and then up again the next day at 6:30am to teach because in China they have this hellish idea that it's ok to work and have school on the weekends if you just had a holiday. Nooooo. I do not remember what I taught that day, and I'm still exhausted!
Ok, that's my ranting about the god awful train travel to Xi'an. I promise, it's the last of my complaints about the trip because the resting of it was AWESOME. I was lucky to go with some great people, which almost cancelled out the hellish seats. Almost.
As you may have guessed, I am now returned. However, the traveling was extremely brutal. In fact the worst traveling I have had to do in a very long time, if ever. I will continue blogging about the amazing trip as the week progresses but I am currently so exhausted that all I will show now is exactly how bad of a travel it was.
Let me draw a picture. Trains in China are not like trains in the US or Europe. They are somewhere in between Europe and India, leaning far towards the India side. It is almost impossible to get the tickets you want on a holiday because of all the other travelers, so we could only get tickets for hard seats. Which was actually very lucky. Because it's a 30 hour train ride. And they selling standing room tickets. That's right, they crowd the train to twice capacity with most of the people only having STANDING TICKETS FOR 30 HOURS.
So, you get to the train station, stand in a huge like, rush to the front like a maniac, with people actually getting into fights to get there, try to find your seat which someone is inevitably already in, kick them out and settle down. Because you will not be moving -- and I mean it, not even standing -- for at least 10 hours. The train is so packed with "standing tickets" that you cannot stretch, stand up, store your luggage, go to the ::extremely nasty:: bathroom, anything. Eventually around hour 10 they started to deboard and around hour 20 we were able to steal some sleepers and crowd into there for the remaining 10 hours. Which was nice, because on the way out some asshole decided to bring a 22" flatscreen with him and store it in our leg room in the hard seats. So not only could we not stand up, we could not, literally could not, move our legs.
Yep, Jenn was pretty grumpy.
 |
| How do you fit this many people in one train car? Just you wait. |
 |
| This is not a dramatization, this is literally the first 10 hours of the train ride. |
The trip back was essentially the same, only no TV box THANK GOD and friendly English speaking neighbors, but no sleepers either. We almost didn't make it back because the train was so late that we barely made the last connecting speed train from Guanzhou to Shenzhen, had to battle violently pushy Chinese to get the tickets and then runnnnn to board the departing train. It was as close as it possibly could be. We didn't get back home until after midnight, and then up again the next day at 6:30am to teach because in China they have this hellish idea that it's ok to work and have school on the weekends if you just had a holiday. Nooooo. I do not remember what I taught that day, and I'm still exhausted!
Ok, that's my ranting about the god awful train travel to Xi'an. I promise, it's the last of my complaints about the trip because the resting of it was AWESOME. I was lucky to go with some great people, which almost cancelled out the hellish seats. Almost.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Now I'm not sure what banks are for.
Sometimes I feel this blog is a complete waste of time, because there is no possible way to properly convey the experience of living in China
First, some background. This is a cash society. They don’t really use plastic for anything but major purchases like airline tickets or at the numerous extremely swanky malls. Which, on a side note, are bizarre in themselves because I couldn’t even afford to shop there in the states and yet they have these malls every few blocks it seems. The income levels and gaps here are both extreme and strange. You know, because it’s “communist” here.
I’ve gotten well used to paying for everything with cash, no problems because my card works at most ATMs here. Just have to remember to take money out every couple weeks.
But here’s the first headache: for some inexplicable reason, giving back change is the most troubling, soul crushing act for every seller in China China China
Which leads me to my tiny event. I finally got my passport back from the visa people, so I could finally go open a bank account here for that shining future day when I get paid. After a funny moment of confusion when all the little Chinese girls were trying to figure out whether “Jennifer” was my first name or last – apparently my school has also been confused on that because neither attending teacher could correctly answer – I was asked to pay $15 for the account and card. I handed them a $20, being the only smaller bill I happened to have at the time. And waited. And waited. Brace yourself. The bank, THE BANK, did not have $5 to give me. They finally decided to credit the money to my cell phone. Which I could care less about. What I am mind boggled about is that THE BANK DID NOT HAVE $5 CHANGE. What do they do there??
Hopefully, this post has enlightened you just a bit as to my current plight. Every day in China is….a day in China US
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Panic Attack and The Land Without Cheese
The journey begins tomorrow.
What have I been doing in the couple days leading up to my departure, you ask?
I have literally been weighing individual items in my suitcase (via electric scale, thank you mom) trying to get the damn thing under 50lbs. Not easy. Who knew shoes were so heavy?! And big?! Too bad those are the things I do actually need to bring because they don't outfit godzilla with work shoes in China. It's at least 80f in Beijing right now, and I will arrive dressed in pants and two jackets, because they weigh too much to make the cut into my suitcase. One 50lb suitcase is ridiculous.
I went and saw Harry Potter (thus ends my childhood )-': ), X-Men: First Class, and Captain America. A good dose of American movies at their finest. And no, I'm not being facetious, I really do love these genres.
I've also been indulging in every delicious dairy product I can find, effectively counteracting a summer of dieting. I regret nothing. While Chinese food is wonderful is almost every way, there is a blaring lack of dairy of any kind. Especially cheese, the best dairy of them all.
In other news, I am FREAKING OUT about leaving right now. All my weeks of preparation don't seem to have helped. There are piles of everything everywhere around the house and no time to figure out what I was going to be doing with them. As far as being gone a year, there was no problem until I started saying goodbye to people. They ask, won't you be sad about missing Christmas? Won't you miss everyone? Your nephew will be walking and talking when you get back! Tears tears tears. Well now I'm upset about being gone! I'm a great traveler right up til about two days before leaving, when I enter the you're-strapped-into-the-roller-coaster-and-it-starts-moving-up-and-all-of-a-sudden-you-start-panicking-and-want-off-but-too-late!-you're-s.o.l. phase. It's almost cruel that I leave in the evening, because I'll have the whole day to dwell on it. Positive thoughts, positive thoughts.
The good news is this seems like it will be the cushiest arrival I've done. The program has taken care of everything I can think of, from getting me a window seat and a vegetarian plane meal, to extensive directions to the hotel in case we somehow miss the van, names of everyone, phone numbers... They even sent photos of the people we're arriving with! I don't think I'll memorize that, but it's a nice thought. Guess they don't want their precious teachers having a nervous breakdown before they get to the school.
Well, nothing for it now. I'll try and post again in a couple days when I'm there and settled and have found the interwebs. Wish me luck.
If I don't come back, avenge me.
What have I been doing in the couple days leading up to my departure, you ask?
I have literally been weighing individual items in my suitcase (via electric scale, thank you mom) trying to get the damn thing under 50lbs. Not easy. Who knew shoes were so heavy?! And big?! Too bad those are the things I do actually need to bring because they don't outfit godzilla with work shoes in China. It's at least 80f in Beijing right now, and I will arrive dressed in pants and two jackets, because they weigh too much to make the cut into my suitcase. One 50lb suitcase is ridiculous.
I went and saw Harry Potter (thus ends my childhood )-': ), X-Men: First Class, and Captain America. A good dose of American movies at their finest. And no, I'm not being facetious, I really do love these genres.
I've also been indulging in every delicious dairy product I can find, effectively counteracting a summer of dieting. I regret nothing. While Chinese food is wonderful is almost every way, there is a blaring lack of dairy of any kind. Especially cheese, the best dairy of them all.
In other news, I am FREAKING OUT about leaving right now. All my weeks of preparation don't seem to have helped. There are piles of everything everywhere around the house and no time to figure out what I was going to be doing with them. As far as being gone a year, there was no problem until I started saying goodbye to people. They ask, won't you be sad about missing Christmas? Won't you miss everyone? Your nephew will be walking and talking when you get back! Tears tears tears. Well now I'm upset about being gone! I'm a great traveler right up til about two days before leaving, when I enter the you're-strapped-into-the-roller-coaster-and-it-starts-moving-up-and-all-of-a-sudden-you-start-panicking-and-want-off-but-too-late!-you're-s.o.l. phase. It's almost cruel that I leave in the evening, because I'll have the whole day to dwell on it. Positive thoughts, positive thoughts.
The good news is this seems like it will be the cushiest arrival I've done. The program has taken care of everything I can think of, from getting me a window seat and a vegetarian plane meal, to extensive directions to the hotel in case we somehow miss the van, names of everyone, phone numbers... They even sent photos of the people we're arriving with! I don't think I'll memorize that, but it's a nice thought. Guess they don't want their precious teachers having a nervous breakdown before they get to the school.
Well, nothing for it now. I'll try and post again in a couple days when I'm there and settled and have found the interwebs. Wish me luck.
If I don't come back, avenge me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)