Well I am sitting at a local "bar and grill" waiting for Melody to finish getting her hair done so we can get something to eat and I just realized we have less than a week to go. I mean I know we have 6 days counting the day we actually leave, but it's 6 days not 6 weeks. It just seems that 6 weeks ago was yesterday. But I guess that can't be true because yesterday I took a bunch of stuff to the post office to have it all sent home. It was just a bunch of summer clothes and shoes that we will not need for a while, which is a good thing considering that it will not get to its' final destination for about 2 or 3 months, but I'm digressing. It just seems that the time has flown by.
Don't get me wrong, it's not like we are not getting ready to leave or anything. We're spending our last days saying goodbye to friends, packing, and finishing up classes with the students. Melody has one more day of classes and then we have about 5 days before we leave. But where did all the time go?
It has been quite an interesting time here in China.
About two weeks after we arrived, we had our first engagement with the students outside of the classroom. We went to see the Great Wall of China with them which was absolutely fantastic. After hiking up to the Wall we went to Paul's Steak and Eggs, the best American Diner in Beijing. It was the first time that most of the student had actually eaten an American dinner. They didn't know how to use a fork or knife, or how to eat a hamburger. I thought "Wow! How deprived these kids are!"
Well last night Melody and I had a great experience. Rachel, one of our students, had a birthday yesterday and we were invited to her birthday party. It was like coming full circle from that day in June. We sat in the girl's apartment and had dinner with all the students one last time.
The Aiees prepared all the food and it was fabulous! From rice, to steamed bread, to the chinese version of chicken wings, to tofu and greens, to potatoes and eggplant and green peppers, it was just amazing. And to sit there and just listen to these students laughing and eating (smack, smack, smack) and having a good time, especially after hearing what their lives have been like growing up as orphans here, was absolutely up-lifting. I wish I had half of the strength and determination that they have.
Towards the end of the night, as a gift to the birthday girl (who turned 19), we did an impromptu talent show. We sat in a circle around the room and each of us did, or sang something for the her. Melody sang "You Raise Me Up", I did a "talk show", others sang songs as well and a couple of people did some funny "stunts" for her. It was really amazing. Rachel was so appreciative and was genuinely blessed.
The best part for me was after the dinner when they brought out her cake and sang "Happy Birthday". Yes! I loved the cake, but that was not it. The candles were lit and the lights turned off. We sang to her and then, to make her birthday wish, she stood there and bowed her head and quietly prayed. It was such a reverent and moving experience. I just stood there and almost couldn't believe what I was seeing. Not one of these students have had easy lives. They have lived through some very disturbing and horrible situations and yet here this girl was praying to God, her heavenly Father, on her birthday, in front of everyone, and doing this in China. I must admit that when I came to grips with what was happening I almost had tears in my eyes. It is a moment and memory I will never forget. I think it was then that I realized that they are not really deprived at all. Oppressed and orphaned, yes, but I am more deprived than they are. These students do not have very much, but they have more than me because they do not take anything, especially their God, for granted. I realized that I take do God for granted. Although this decision to move be back home has been hard, at least I have a home where there are family and friends who love me. But these students can't just pick up and go home to a place where they have a mother and father and brothers and sisters who love them. They have had to fight and scrape for everything that they have. And yet here this girl was taking time during her party to show her appreciation to God and to honor him by acknowledging his presence. How many times have I deprived myself of God's blessings by simply not acknowledging him when I should have.
When I first started to write this blog I thought it would be great to just write about the funny, light- hearted moments that I have encountered here. And their have had a few, that's for sure. However, I have to admit that the time I have spent here in China has been more than just a few odd and hilarious situations. I have been touched by the people here, especially by the ABC (A Bridge For Children) students. My heart has been moved and I am coming home a changed man. I leave here a different person than when I first arrived at Beijing International Airport and whatever happens next I must say that David, Elizabeth, Jennifer, Peter, Rachel, Sam, as well as Tom (who had to leave the program for physical reasons) and Suzy (who left in the summer) will always have a large and special portion of my heart. I came here to help them learn English, but they have taught me so much more and I am forever in their debt and will never forget them.
And now for some lighter thoughts.
How much is too much? That is the question. I think the USA has answered this question correctly. If you walk onto a bus somewhere you will find a sign that tells the maximum seating capacity. Subways, elevators, even amusement rides have passenger, weight and/or height restrictions.
China, however, is a different story. Watching people get off or on the DTA (Subway) or the bus is like watching clowns climb in or out of clown car. On the way to the party last night I stood in the DTA with Melody and some of our friends, looked around and realized that there had to close 120 people just in our car alone. Considering that the train has about 11 or 12 cars, well that's just a LOT of people. And they have figured out how to use the space in between the cars. You can actually walk from one end of the train to the other while inside and not have to open any doors to go from one car to the next. And from stop to stop, when the car is full, they just keep piling in, pushing and shoving their way in so that they do not have to wait for the next train. When riding the DTA you literally find yourself plastered to the people around you. Yes , it's true that, while it is a good way to out get around in Beijing, you really do get up close and personal with people riding the rail on the DTA. ( Every time I say DTA I just think about the song "Charlie on the MTA" and thank God that I can return thanks to my DTA card.)
As some of you know, Melody and I have been going to a church here in Beijing. It is actually a very nice church and we have met some nice people there. One of our friends is named John. He and wife and children have been here for a few years and he is a teacher at one of the universities in Beijing. He came over to our apartment the other day to go pick up some stuff that he bought from us and we started to talk about Melody's and my experience here. he was very encouraging, but he also had some other things to say. Melody and I have found out that many of the foreigners or expats here are connected to an "agency". As you know, Melody and I are not connected to any agency at all. He said that he admired us and thought we were very brave, but if we ever decided to come back to China again we should be connected with some type of supportive organization. His exact words were, "Hey man! You and Melody are very brave, but hey man! John Wayne is dead man! He's dead man! He ain't coming back man! You need to have a community to support you. John Wayne is dead man!". Wise words from a good friend.
Well that is all for now. Maybe I'll write one more time before we leave.
Bye for now.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
What a place
Well, as most you know, Melody and I are moving back to the USA sooner than we both expected. It was not an easy decision to make, but, despite that, we feel we have made the right one. And yes, at least part of the reason is that we miss our family and friends back home as well as the familiar surroundings of life in the USA. But, please understand that when we leave here we will miss this place also.
Beijing, with all its cars, buses, bikes, and people, really is quite a place. It is the place in which one can feel out of place and not out of place at the same time. You see, I have come to the understanding that if you feel out of place and everyone around you feels out of place, you are actually not out of place because everyone around you is just as out of place as you are. (Say that five times fast) Being out of place basically means that you feel abnormal or different from those around you. But, if you are out of place and those around you are out of place then, in a very weird and strange way, this can cause you to feel comfortable in your "out of placeness" because you are just like everyone else, so to speak. Please note this is my interpretation of life here and may not be the opinion Melody or the opinion of anyone else for that matter.
What I'm trying to say is that many of the people in Beijing are really not from Beijing; the city or the municipality. ( just like me) According to Chinadaily.com the population of Beijing in 1978 was 8.76 million people. By 1990 it had risen to 13.82 million people. That's an increase of just over 5 million people in 12 years, a substantial amount of growth to be sure. According to unescap.org, the population rose to 13.82 million by the year 2000; an increase of about 3 million from 1990. Please understand that we are talking about the municipality of Beijing not just the city. According to trueknowledge.com the estimate for 2010 is about 18.7 million for the urban core or the actual city of Beijing, but for the municipality of Beijing the total population could be as much as 30 million. That is an increase of about 12 million in a ten year period. (A municipality or province is kind of like our states)
The reason I'm saying all this is that although some of the increase might possibly be due to the natural increase of the population on the earth as a whole, most of it must be due to an influx of people from other places. Some come from the country or rural areas and some from other countries like the USA.(again, just like me) So that being the case, it's safe to say that many of the people that are here now have originated from some where else. (and all the people said "just like me"). So even though it's not home and I feel out of place here, I'm still comfortable here because most people that are here now not from here.( And again, just like me)
But the time has come for to leave Beijing and return to the country that we love; The USA.
At this point I must confess that there are some things that I will not miss. The smog is one. Some days here you can hardly see across the street, let alone two to three blocks away. Most days the air can even have a smell of pollution and even if it is supposed to be sunny outside it's cloudy. This can very depressing to say the least.
Also, I won't miss the congestion. As I hinted in the above section, Beijing is a very populated place; there are people everywhere. Riding a bike through the streets can be quite an adventure and give one the feeling of being a stunt driver or a competitor in the X-Games.
One more thing I won't miss is the isolation.Very few people here speak English well enough to be able to actually carry on a conversation. So, even with all these people here, no one can understand me and and I can't understand them.
All that being said, I can also say that there are some things that I will miss very much. One thing is that I will miss hearing Chinese. I know that sounds crazy due to the above statement, but its true. I not sure why I feel this way, but maybe it's because it's something I don't understand and I want to. It's like a a million piece jigsaw puzzle or an NCIS mystery that I want and need to solve. (Thank God for the Internet or I would just die missing that show)
I will also miss,believe it or not, riding my bike in Beijing traffic. I have to say that it is really fun to try and out run a bus, or car, or another bike. There's also a kind of freedom in being able to dodge between cars and buses, although I don't think I'll be trying to do that back home.
I also have to say that the people and the culture are truly remarkable. As I watch all the people as they walk or ride the streets and hutongs I am amazed by their pride in their country and themselves and their ability to deal with all the changes that are happening around them. It is also just incredible to see how the people embrace the present without losing all of the past.
Lastly, I could not complete this blog with mentioning the food. It is fantastic. I have never tasted a more flavorful cuisine than what we have both had here in China. Everything from Beijing Duck to Hot Pot, to Jiaozi or Biaozi and yes even the Chicken Feet and Donkey meat is unbelievable. I may never go to an American Chinese Buffet again. (The take-outs are still in play) Also, I must say that Korean BBQ is is fabulous here. (See my facebook page and photos)
All in all, it has been an interesting time living here and I will cherish it always. I will not forget the people I have met and also the lessons I have learned. ( I'll save those for another entry)
All in all, Beijing is quite a place and one I will never forget.
Beijing, with all its cars, buses, bikes, and people, really is quite a place. It is the place in which one can feel out of place and not out of place at the same time. You see, I have come to the understanding that if you feel out of place and everyone around you feels out of place, you are actually not out of place because everyone around you is just as out of place as you are. (Say that five times fast) Being out of place basically means that you feel abnormal or different from those around you. But, if you are out of place and those around you are out of place then, in a very weird and strange way, this can cause you to feel comfortable in your "out of placeness" because you are just like everyone else, so to speak. Please note this is my interpretation of life here and may not be the opinion Melody or the opinion of anyone else for that matter.
What I'm trying to say is that many of the people in Beijing are really not from Beijing; the city or the municipality. ( just like me) According to Chinadaily.com the population of Beijing in 1978 was 8.76 million people. By 1990 it had risen to 13.82 million people. That's an increase of just over 5 million people in 12 years, a substantial amount of growth to be sure. According to unescap.org, the population rose to 13.82 million by the year 2000; an increase of about 3 million from 1990. Please understand that we are talking about the municipality of Beijing not just the city. According to trueknowledge.com the estimate for 2010 is about 18.7 million for the urban core or the actual city of Beijing, but for the municipality of Beijing the total population could be as much as 30 million. That is an increase of about 12 million in a ten year period. (A municipality or province is kind of like our states)
The reason I'm saying all this is that although some of the increase might possibly be due to the natural increase of the population on the earth as a whole, most of it must be due to an influx of people from other places. Some come from the country or rural areas and some from other countries like the USA.(again, just like me) So that being the case, it's safe to say that many of the people that are here now have originated from some where else. (and all the people said "just like me"). So even though it's not home and I feel out of place here, I'm still comfortable here because most people that are here now not from here.( And again, just like me)
But the time has come for to leave Beijing and return to the country that we love; The USA.
At this point I must confess that there are some things that I will not miss. The smog is one. Some days here you can hardly see across the street, let alone two to three blocks away. Most days the air can even have a smell of pollution and even if it is supposed to be sunny outside it's cloudy. This can very depressing to say the least.
Also, I won't miss the congestion. As I hinted in the above section, Beijing is a very populated place; there are people everywhere. Riding a bike through the streets can be quite an adventure and give one the feeling of being a stunt driver or a competitor in the X-Games.
One more thing I won't miss is the isolation.Very few people here speak English well enough to be able to actually carry on a conversation. So, even with all these people here, no one can understand me and and I can't understand them.
All that being said, I can also say that there are some things that I will miss very much. One thing is that I will miss hearing Chinese. I know that sounds crazy due to the above statement, but its true. I not sure why I feel this way, but maybe it's because it's something I don't understand and I want to. It's like a a million piece jigsaw puzzle or an NCIS mystery that I want and need to solve. (Thank God for the Internet or I would just die missing that show)
I will also miss,believe it or not, riding my bike in Beijing traffic. I have to say that it is really fun to try and out run a bus, or car, or another bike. There's also a kind of freedom in being able to dodge between cars and buses, although I don't think I'll be trying to do that back home.
I also have to say that the people and the culture are truly remarkable. As I watch all the people as they walk or ride the streets and hutongs I am amazed by their pride in their country and themselves and their ability to deal with all the changes that are happening around them. It is also just incredible to see how the people embrace the present without losing all of the past.
Lastly, I could not complete this blog with mentioning the food. It is fantastic. I have never tasted a more flavorful cuisine than what we have both had here in China. Everything from Beijing Duck to Hot Pot, to Jiaozi or Biaozi and yes even the Chicken Feet and Donkey meat is unbelievable. I may never go to an American Chinese Buffet again. (The take-outs are still in play) Also, I must say that Korean BBQ is is fabulous here. (See my facebook page and photos)
All in all, it has been an interesting time living here and I will cherish it always. I will not forget the people I have met and also the lessons I have learned. ( I'll save those for another entry)
All in all, Beijing is quite a place and one I will never forget.
Monday, October 4, 2010
If The Shoe Fits ...
My feet are big. There is no doubt. They’re not as big as some but they are bigger than most. This I know and have come to deal with. But I guess they are actually “bigger” in China than at home in the USA.
In the US I can go to any shoe store and find a pair of shoes that fit and are the look that I want. Please don’t get me wrong. I’m not a person who needs a different pair of shoes for every day of the month or year; I don’t need to have a special pair of shoes for each suit that I own. (Although I do because I only have one suit.) I just want a pair that feels comfortable and looks decent.
In China it’s a different story. I have been to several stores looking for a pair of shoes. I have tried looking for sneakers, hiking shoes, dress shoes, you name it, and I have not been able to find anything in my size. I had many sales people say they could help me, then they would look at my feet and smile from ear to ear and wave their hands in front of them saying (in Chinese) “oh so sorry your feet are huge! We can’t help you!”
Well, after talking with a few friends about my dilemma, both Melody and I were told to try out the “Zoo Market.”
In Beijing there are these markets that you can go to and buy everything your heart desires. There’s the Silk Market, the Pearl Market, and several others where you can find anything you want, but you have to look hard and be prepared to “bargain”. At these places usually the price they tell you is not the price you should pay. You can negotiate and really get a good deal.
So off the Zoo Market we went. It’s located just outside the Beijing Zoo, hence the name. It is seven floors of absolute chaos, hence the name. It is a feeding frenzy. Most of the floors consist of just rows and rows and rows of small booths that are packed with jewelry, purses, shoes, jackets, suits, jeans, etc…So in we went.
We went up to the 4th floor to find some shoes for me and maybe some clothes for Melody. We found the shoe area first and that’s when the fun began. Several people told me that they could help me until they saw the size of my feet. “Oh so sorry your feet are so big!! I can’t help you!!” Then I found a person who said that she could help me … supposedly. I pointed to a pair of hiking shoes on one of her shelves and she said yes she has them in my size. I said “Great” and asked her for the price. She told me 260 yuan. (approx. 39.00 US) I told her that I wanted to look some more and started to walk away. She chased me down and immediately lowered the price to 200 yuan. (approx. 28.50 US) I then told her 180 yuan and she said “OK.” (approx. 25.50 US) She then asked for the money. I told her “No. I want to see the shoes first.” She smiled and said “OK.” She then went to find the shoes that I requested.
At this time I think I need to tell you that I had already told her the size of my shoe. In the USA my shoe size is a 13, but in China it’s a 48. When she came back she had a 44. I told her it’s the wrong size and that I need a 48. She says “OK” and takes off to find the right size. Now understand that while she was gone I was sitting in her little cubicle waiting for her to return. People were stopping by and looking at the shoes, picking them up and so on. Well imagine their shock when they turned around to look for the owner of the business and found me sitting there looking back at them. It was pretty comical. They would look at me and I would look at them. They would then get this weird, funny look an their face as they began to process the fact I was not the owner, I was American, I could not understand them, and I had big feet. They would look at me, look at my feet, look back at me, look around and then put the shoes that they wanted to buy back on the shelf and simply walk away looking very puzzled or, even better, just simply laughing.
When she came back she had another pair of shoes that I did not want and they were size 46. I tried them on just to humor her and of course they did not fit. By this time it seems that a crowd was starting to gather. First they were mostly the salespeople for the other shoe places around where we were, then customers started watching. It seems that they were starting to take an interest in me and my feet. Hey! It’s not everyday that Chinese people get to see a size 48 foot in China.
Well after trying the second pair of shoes, the sales lady informed me that she could not find the shoes that I wanted in the size I needed. I then pointed to a pair of brown flat Nikes and she said that she did have a pair in my size and went to find them. She came back with another lady who was holding a pair shoes in a box. They were the brown Nikes, but they were size 47 again. I tried them on just to humor the two ladies and … you guessed it, they did not fit.
The original lady needed to take care of some other customers and told me to wait and she would help me some more. (It seems I was becoming quite the entertainment by this time.) I told the second lady that I need size 48 not 47. I wrote it down and showed her. She said “OK” and left and then came back again with a pair of brown Nikes size 47. She took one shoe out and pulled and stretched it, loosened it up a little and then gestured for me to try it on. Now I knew that this was same pair that I just tried on, but now I realized that this was getting pretty funny so I played along and tried it away. It didn’t fit. I started to laugh and Melody, who was sitting beside me for most of the entire event, was laughing also. The lady, however, was thinking that it did fit because I was able to get it on. I told her “No! It doesn’t fit and now my toes are all bunched up and my foot hurts!” The lady just looked at us and I really don’t think she knew what we were laughing at, but I could see that she just couldn’t believe that the shoes just did not fit. She stood looking at me and then went away and came back and grabbed the same pair of shoes yet again, took the same shoe I just tried on and practically ripped the thing apart trying to stretch it out and then put it on the floor and gestured for me to try it on again. Now Melody and I were both laughing again and I said “OK” and it still didn’t fit. The second woman, utterly confused and befuddled, then just walked away.
The first woman was then able to help me again. She looked around her little space, desperate to find something that would fit. She reached up and pulled down a pair of the most hideous sneakers I have ever laid eyes on. They were glossy white and black with a shiny hot pink stripe up the back and also a hot pink Nike swoosh on the side. Now Melody and I were laughing all the more. The lady asked me to try them on, I slid my foot into the shoe and it actually fit!! I just looked at the shoe with absolute amazement and Melody was practically falling off the stool she been sitting on. She then decided that she needed to take a picture.
Needless to say I did not buy them.
After we fully recovered, Melody and I decided that the lady could not help me and we left. As we were leaving another woman grabs Melody’s arm and guided us over to her booth where she told us that she would help us and went away to find me a pair of shoes. After about a minute we decided that we would look somewhere else and almost ran out as fast as we could.
Well soon after we went up to the sixth floor and found an entire floor filled to capacity with shoes, thousands of pairs of shoes. And, after a little looking, we were shown a shelf of shoes that were in my size.
I am now the proud owner of a wonderfully comfortable pair of brown walking shoes which love. My feet are happy.
Oh yeah. The price for the good shoes was about 235 Yuan. (About 33.00 US)
For just a little more than that, Melody got a dress, 2 pairs of shoes, a bracelet, some earrings and I don’t know what else.
To summarize,
Went to Zoo Market.
Tried on several pair of shoes that were the wrong size.
Tried one pair that was the right size but would not be caught dead in them anywhere, at any time, for any reason.
Finally, after nearly breaking all my toes, laughing hysterically, being comedic relief for not just Melody but most everyone else there, was able to find a pair of shoes that I like and are comfortable.
So in the end, Melody got some cool stuff and I got some comfortable shoes and a story for my blog.
ONLY IN CHINA!!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Something Happened On The Way Home From The U Center
Their are two things that you can be sure of in Beijing. Traffic and shopping malls. The shopping malls are pretty cool and so is the traffic. (at least I think it is, but Melody doesn't) The malls have almost everything you could want or need and the traffic .... well it's just cool! It's really cool if your on a bike. I mean I can get on my bike and ride from home to work and beat the bus and I love it. About the only thing you can't beat is the taxis. Those guys are awesome ..... and absolutely crazy! We had a driver the other day that was the best one we've had since we've been here. It was raining so we couldn't ride the bikes and the traffic was backed way up because no one else could ride their bikes either. He drove down the bike lane, made a right turn drove the bike again got to the place where we needed to make a left but the intersection was all jammed up with ... well ... traffic. He slowly pushed, wiggled and maneuvered his way across the intersection then did a 180 degree turn to the right and started to go back across the other way. He then did a 90 degree turn to the left and ended up on another bike lane going the wrong way. Lets just say I was sitting in front and was loving every minute of it, Melody was in the back not saying a word and he got us to work in record time. Oh Yeah!!!
Well today Melody and I spent the day riding the subway, doing a little shopping, and seeing parts Beijing that we hadn't seen yet. When all was said and done we stopped at the U Center in Wudaokuo right near where we work because we were a little tired and needed something to keep us going. This was about four o'clock and today was a work day. When we came out of the U Center it was about 6:30pm and rush hour. The intersection out in front of the mall (U Center) was jammed up with .... you guessed it ... traffic. We had all our stuff from the shopping and it was pretty heavy so we needed to get a taxi. At this point I learned that its really easy to get a taxi in the middle of a traffic jam. There were at least three of them stuck in the traffic jam just waiting for us to jump in it doesn't matter if they want to take you or not because ... well ... where are they going to go.
So I found a taxi and we jumped in. Then I realized something else. Where were we going to go? We wanted to go home and knew how to get there, but we were still in the middle of a traffic jam. We spoke to taxi driver and told him where we wanted to go and he just looked at us. I think he knew where we wanted to go, but ... we were in the middle of a traffic jam. Where were we going to go?
So we sat there. After a while the traffic would move a little and then we just sat. After a little while longer we had moved up enough into the intersection so that we could see the middle of it. And what to my wondering eyes would appear, but a one lonely cop standing in the middle using all the leadership he could muster to direct the traffic with all the fiber of his being . And he looked good doing it. He was waving his arms, yelling at people when they needed it, he was the man with the badge and he was doing his job well. Just not well enough.
Nobody was paying the slightest attention to him. He would hold his hand up and tell people to stop and they stopped. But, when he turned around to wave others on, the ones whom he told to stop just maneuvered around him and then .... well .... Where were they going to go? They were stuck in the middle of a traffic jam. It was utter hysterical.
The good thing is the taxi driver was a good guy and he really tried to get us home as soon as he could.
Well, the last thing I need to say is Happy birthday Ayden. Grammy and I miss you so much it hurts lots.
We hope you had a great birthday party and that you love your presents. I hope you thanked everyone for all the goods things you got. We love you Buddy boy!! Be good!
Well today Melody and I spent the day riding the subway, doing a little shopping, and seeing parts Beijing that we hadn't seen yet. When all was said and done we stopped at the U Center in Wudaokuo right near where we work because we were a little tired and needed something to keep us going. This was about four o'clock and today was a work day. When we came out of the U Center it was about 6:30pm and rush hour. The intersection out in front of the mall (U Center) was jammed up with .... you guessed it ... traffic. We had all our stuff from the shopping and it was pretty heavy so we needed to get a taxi. At this point I learned that its really easy to get a taxi in the middle of a traffic jam. There were at least three of them stuck in the traffic jam just waiting for us to jump in it doesn't matter if they want to take you or not because ... well ... where are they going to go.
So I found a taxi and we jumped in. Then I realized something else. Where were we going to go? We wanted to go home and knew how to get there, but we were still in the middle of a traffic jam. We spoke to taxi driver and told him where we wanted to go and he just looked at us. I think he knew where we wanted to go, but ... we were in the middle of a traffic jam. Where were we going to go?
So we sat there. After a while the traffic would move a little and then we just sat. After a little while longer we had moved up enough into the intersection so that we could see the middle of it. And what to my wondering eyes would appear, but a one lonely cop standing in the middle using all the leadership he could muster to direct the traffic with all the fiber of his being . And he looked good doing it. He was waving his arms, yelling at people when they needed it, he was the man with the badge and he was doing his job well. Just not well enough.
Nobody was paying the slightest attention to him. He would hold his hand up and tell people to stop and they stopped. But, when he turned around to wave others on, the ones whom he told to stop just maneuvered around him and then .... well .... Where were they going to go? They were stuck in the middle of a traffic jam. It was utter hysterical.
The good thing is the taxi driver was a good guy and he really tried to get us home as soon as he could.
Well, the last thing I need to say is Happy birthday Ayden. Grammy and I miss you so much it hurts lots.
We hope you had a great birthday party and that you love your presents. I hope you thanked everyone for all the goods things you got. We love you Buddy boy!! Be good!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Lost In Translation .... At Wal-Mart
Beijing is eastern. Beijing is western. It's old. It's new. It's past. It's present. It has old street vendors, fruit carts, bicycles, hutongs (alleyways), temples and small out of the way shops and restaurants. It's new high-rises, railroads and subways, buses and cabs, large expressways, malls and other superstores.
Yes, it's true, Wal-Mart has made it to Beijing, China.
The Wal-Mart here has a very strange feel to it. After all it's a Wal-Mart in the middle of Beijing, China. When you get off the subway there is a sign that tells you which way to go to get to the Wal-Mart. There's the big traditional Wal-Mart sign on the store itself and the same old carts with the Wal-Mart logo. However, its the inside that really is weird. It's not American, or Chinese, or European, or anything. It's kind of all these wrap up in one. There are American products, Chinese products, European products, etc... Well, wait minute. Maybe, in that regard, it really is American. But the layout is definitely not what one would expect for a Wal-Mart. It's actually 3 floors. Groceries are on the bottom floor, clothes and health and beauty products, household items, cleaners, etc... are on the 2nd floor and electronics are on the 3rd floor. Everything is not spread out like in the U.S.. It's more compact. The isles are not as wide and every time I've been in there, they're restocking shelves so everything is in the already cramped isles. Add to this the mass of people that come through the doors every day (in many cases pushing and shoving) and you begin to get a picture of what I'm talking about.
Yesterday I decided to go to Wal-Mart. We needed some things so I got on my bike, fought the traffic, and within about 45mins I was off my bike and heading into the store.
Before I go any further I guess I should mention a little about the traffic here. Any kind of traffic sign or light, whether it is on the road, on a sign post or just simply hanging from the sky, is merely a suggestion. Drivers see the stop light and say to themselves,
"Let's see. I know the light is telling me to stop, BBUUTTT ..... If I cut across these 10 lanes of traffic, nearly sideswiping 30 or 40 cars and 2 buses in the process, run over these 10 pedestrians and 50 bicyclists, and smash through the 50 billion fruit cart vendors over there .... I won't have to stop! Sounds like a plan!!"
This seems all pretty fun while riding in a taxi, but not when your one of the pedestrians or bicyclists that is going to get run over.
Well let's just say that I was nearly run off the road by a guy who was getting a little frustrated by the traffic jam he was in. In order get around the traffic he pulled into the bike lane that I was in. At first this was not a problem because he was in front of me. As I was going around on the passenger side, however, the guy started to pull even more into the bike lane where I was riding. He was basically cutting me off. I know I could have stopped and moved my bike up onto the sidewalk and I most likely would have if had had the time to think about it. But, I didn't. I just raised my left hand and pounded on his passenger window. This scared the crap out of the guy. (well, that and the fact that I yelled at him) I then just rode off in the direction that I needed to go. The guy, on the other hand, drove by me and just swerved into me a little bit, I think just to save some face.
I told you that so that you would understand my mind set when I got to Wal-Mart.
I walked in and it was packed and they were stocking shelves. I first went to the health and beauty department and tried to find Melody's kind of shampoo. You have no idea what it's like looking for something like this when everything is in Chinese. The best you can do is make an educated guess based on the bottle and the color of the lettering (or characters as the case may be). Melody thinks I got the right thing. (kuddo's for me) After that I had to go through the household items and go around to the escalator to go down to the grocery store part. This is where my stress level started to go through the roof!!
I got off the escalator was immediately assaulted by all the noise. All the employees working in the vegetable and fruit sections, as well meat butchers, were all yelling and screaming out the specials of the day. (I think. They were screaming something and it wasn't the same thing. ) In the dairy section it was like one big infomercial!! Employees with headsets and microphones with little amps and speakers all broadcasting very loudly trying to get customers to try out the new yogurt, or cheese, or whatever other product they wanted. I guess it was kind of like pavilion at the NYS fair.
So, to summarize,
Almost run off the road.
Lots of noise,
People everywhere,
Lots more noise,
Lots more people everywhere.
As I was standing in the middle of Wal-Mart, in Beijing, China I came to a startling conclusion. I could see and hear everyone but did not understand them and they could hear and see me, but didn't understand me either. I could not communicate with them and they could not communicate with me. At that moment in time, I was alone, an island unto myself. I was frustrated and angry and sad all at the same time. It's just like the movie "Lost in Translation". I'm in a city of 17.5 million people and 95% of them I can't talk to.
Well, needless to say, I quickly got what I came for, went back up the escalator to the check out area, paid for my stuff and practically ran out of the store ..... and then I started to breathe again. I got home as quick as I could and after going to the little store here in our apartment complex to get some ice cream, I spent some time at home just being quiet. (or just talking with Melody for a while. I can understand her and she can understand me. I also had some ice cream. It cures all things. Trust me!!)
Don't get me wrong. This place has a lot of good things to offer. The people really are good and kind. Beijing is a place of culture and history and beauty and art. And the people here are very proud of their heritage. I guess I'm just not over the culture shock yet.
I not sure when or if I will ever will be.
Yes, it's true, Wal-Mart has made it to Beijing, China.
The Wal-Mart here has a very strange feel to it. After all it's a Wal-Mart in the middle of Beijing, China. When you get off the subway there is a sign that tells you which way to go to get to the Wal-Mart. There's the big traditional Wal-Mart sign on the store itself and the same old carts with the Wal-Mart logo. However, its the inside that really is weird. It's not American, or Chinese, or European, or anything. It's kind of all these wrap up in one. There are American products, Chinese products, European products, etc... Well, wait minute. Maybe, in that regard, it really is American. But the layout is definitely not what one would expect for a Wal-Mart. It's actually 3 floors. Groceries are on the bottom floor, clothes and health and beauty products, household items, cleaners, etc... are on the 2nd floor and electronics are on the 3rd floor. Everything is not spread out like in the U.S.. It's more compact. The isles are not as wide and every time I've been in there, they're restocking shelves so everything is in the already cramped isles. Add to this the mass of people that come through the doors every day (in many cases pushing and shoving) and you begin to get a picture of what I'm talking about.
Yesterday I decided to go to Wal-Mart. We needed some things so I got on my bike, fought the traffic, and within about 45mins I was off my bike and heading into the store.
Before I go any further I guess I should mention a little about the traffic here. Any kind of traffic sign or light, whether it is on the road, on a sign post or just simply hanging from the sky, is merely a suggestion. Drivers see the stop light and say to themselves,
"Let's see. I know the light is telling me to stop, BBUUTTT ..... If I cut across these 10 lanes of traffic, nearly sideswiping 30 or 40 cars and 2 buses in the process, run over these 10 pedestrians and 50 bicyclists, and smash through the 50 billion fruit cart vendors over there .... I won't have to stop! Sounds like a plan!!"
This seems all pretty fun while riding in a taxi, but not when your one of the pedestrians or bicyclists that is going to get run over.
Well let's just say that I was nearly run off the road by a guy who was getting a little frustrated by the traffic jam he was in. In order get around the traffic he pulled into the bike lane that I was in. At first this was not a problem because he was in front of me. As I was going around on the passenger side, however, the guy started to pull even more into the bike lane where I was riding. He was basically cutting me off. I know I could have stopped and moved my bike up onto the sidewalk and I most likely would have if had had the time to think about it. But, I didn't. I just raised my left hand and pounded on his passenger window. This scared the crap out of the guy. (well, that and the fact that I yelled at him) I then just rode off in the direction that I needed to go. The guy, on the other hand, drove by me and just swerved into me a little bit, I think just to save some face.
I told you that so that you would understand my mind set when I got to Wal-Mart.
I walked in and it was packed and they were stocking shelves. I first went to the health and beauty department and tried to find Melody's kind of shampoo. You have no idea what it's like looking for something like this when everything is in Chinese. The best you can do is make an educated guess based on the bottle and the color of the lettering (or characters as the case may be). Melody thinks I got the right thing. (kuddo's for me) After that I had to go through the household items and go around to the escalator to go down to the grocery store part. This is where my stress level started to go through the roof!!
I got off the escalator was immediately assaulted by all the noise. All the employees working in the vegetable and fruit sections, as well meat butchers, were all yelling and screaming out the specials of the day. (I think. They were screaming something and it wasn't the same thing. ) In the dairy section it was like one big infomercial!! Employees with headsets and microphones with little amps and speakers all broadcasting very loudly trying to get customers to try out the new yogurt, or cheese, or whatever other product they wanted. I guess it was kind of like pavilion at the NYS fair.
So, to summarize,
Almost run off the road.
Lots of noise,
People everywhere,
Lots more noise,
Lots more people everywhere.
As I was standing in the middle of Wal-Mart, in Beijing, China I came to a startling conclusion. I could see and hear everyone but did not understand them and they could hear and see me, but didn't understand me either. I could not communicate with them and they could not communicate with me. At that moment in time, I was alone, an island unto myself. I was frustrated and angry and sad all at the same time. It's just like the movie "Lost in Translation". I'm in a city of 17.5 million people and 95% of them I can't talk to.
Well, needless to say, I quickly got what I came for, went back up the escalator to the check out area, paid for my stuff and practically ran out of the store ..... and then I started to breathe again. I got home as quick as I could and after going to the little store here in our apartment complex to get some ice cream, I spent some time at home just being quiet. (or just talking with Melody for a while. I can understand her and she can understand me. I also had some ice cream. It cures all things. Trust me!!)
Don't get me wrong. This place has a lot of good things to offer. The people really are good and kind. Beijing is a place of culture and history and beauty and art. And the people here are very proud of their heritage. I guess I'm just not over the culture shock yet.
I not sure when or if I will ever will be.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
What Year Is It?
There is one question that I simply do not have a simple answer for. I have actually found that when I'm asked this question I just seem to open my mouth and nothing comes out. So now I will try to answer it. Oh yeah. The question is
"So, What it like in Beijing?"
Well if you have some time I'll try to tell you.
My grandmother was born in 1900 and passed away in 1986. She had quite a large family and lived a full life. As I've read, and heard stories about her, I have realized that she was alive during a time when change was the norm in the U.S.A.. If you think about it, when she was born, the automobile was just invented, indoor plumbing was a luxury, the electric washing machine was not invented yet , the telephone was only 23 years old and was not an everyday household item, and most people had not heard of the word "movie." When she past away, phones were everywhere, airplanes were common, horse and buggies were a thing of the past, a washing machine was found in almost every home, and Imax movies were becoming the big thing to see.
Since her death the cell phone has become common and normal, "land lines" are becoming a thing of the past, the PC has gone from a very large piece of equipment that was great for doing term papers to this thing that weighs maybe 3lbs that you can "surf the net" with. Actually the lap top is even becoming obsolete. With the 3g and 4g phones out there. you can call your friend, listen to whatever music you want and surf the net. It's just amazing!
All this and much more has happened in just 110 years.
Now how about we take all of the last 110 years and squeeze them into about ten years.
In my last blog I mentioned about all the first time drivers in China. Well those first time drivers are also first time cell phone users, computer users, washing machine users, indoor plumbing users, as well as anything else that was invented over the last century. Beijing, as well as China, is the land of "first-timers". The interesting thing is that with all of the modern things and ideas that are seen and heard in Beijing, the culture and people just can't seem to keep up. Here you will see places of wealth and prosperity, high rises and huge office buildings, mega malls and large supermarkets. Yet you will also see old style street vendors selling everything from fruit, to clothes, to cell phones, to meat on a stick, to pets chipmunks. You will see people dressed in nice clothes walking by vendors with horse-drawn wagons on streets filled with litter because the "street sweeper" (actual person with a pedal-powered cart and a big broom) hasn't come down that way yet to clean it up. In some cases you will see automobile stores opening up on dirt roads. You can walk down the street and see places of luxury and people hacking and spitting and even urinating.
Many of the buildings here are not always as good as they seem. In our apartment I had to go around and fix all of the drains so that sewer gas would not keep leaking into the place where we eat and sleep. These are just a few things that I have noticed. I haven't even mentioned the pollution from the cement factories and coal mines around here that cause all the pollution.
I guess that I could say that Beijing is kind of caught in this time warp thing. There are many things here that are 2010 and many things that are 1910. So Beijing is like a mixture of old, new, and the everything in between.
Well I hope that this anwsers the question to some degree of satisfaction.
"So, What it like in Beijing?"
Well if you have some time I'll try to tell you.
My grandmother was born in 1900 and passed away in 1986. She had quite a large family and lived a full life. As I've read, and heard stories about her, I have realized that she was alive during a time when change was the norm in the U.S.A.. If you think about it, when she was born, the automobile was just invented, indoor plumbing was a luxury, the electric washing machine was not invented yet , the telephone was only 23 years old and was not an everyday household item, and most people had not heard of the word "movie." When she past away, phones were everywhere, airplanes were common, horse and buggies were a thing of the past, a washing machine was found in almost every home, and Imax movies were becoming the big thing to see.
Since her death the cell phone has become common and normal, "land lines" are becoming a thing of the past, the PC has gone from a very large piece of equipment that was great for doing term papers to this thing that weighs maybe 3lbs that you can "surf the net" with. Actually the lap top is even becoming obsolete. With the 3g and 4g phones out there. you can call your friend, listen to whatever music you want and surf the net. It's just amazing!
All this and much more has happened in just 110 years.
Now how about we take all of the last 110 years and squeeze them into about ten years.
In my last blog I mentioned about all the first time drivers in China. Well those first time drivers are also first time cell phone users, computer users, washing machine users, indoor plumbing users, as well as anything else that was invented over the last century. Beijing, as well as China, is the land of "first-timers". The interesting thing is that with all of the modern things and ideas that are seen and heard in Beijing, the culture and people just can't seem to keep up. Here you will see places of wealth and prosperity, high rises and huge office buildings, mega malls and large supermarkets. Yet you will also see old style street vendors selling everything from fruit, to clothes, to cell phones, to meat on a stick, to pets chipmunks. You will see people dressed in nice clothes walking by vendors with horse-drawn wagons on streets filled with litter because the "street sweeper" (actual person with a pedal-powered cart and a big broom) hasn't come down that way yet to clean it up. In some cases you will see automobile stores opening up on dirt roads. You can walk down the street and see places of luxury and people hacking and spitting and even urinating.
Many of the buildings here are not always as good as they seem. In our apartment I had to go around and fix all of the drains so that sewer gas would not keep leaking into the place where we eat and sleep. These are just a few things that I have noticed. I haven't even mentioned the pollution from the cement factories and coal mines around here that cause all the pollution.
I guess that I could say that Beijing is kind of caught in this time warp thing. There are many things here that are 2010 and many things that are 1910. So Beijing is like a mixture of old, new, and the everything in between.
Well I hope that this anwsers the question to some degree of satisfaction.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Why All The Traffic!!!
I recently put on my fb page something about the major traffic jam that's reported here in China just south of Beijing. Some people have asked me how this sort of thing could happen. Well, I think that is a very good question. First of all, China's economy is booming. Construction is going on everywhere in Beijing and Shanghi as well as many other cities around the country. Factories and other types of industry are either starting up or growing and expanding. This means that employees are needed both to build the new facilities and also to man them when they open. Many of the people come from the countryside to the city to find work and a new life for themselves and their family. (much like the US during the Industrial Revolution.)
In order to keep the economy rolling the Government has been working to build a better infrastructure (ie roads, highways, bridges, etc...) to provide a better way for the people to get to their new jobs and to give businesses better means of receiving raw materials and shipping goods to market.
Sounds simple right? Well not so much.
You see, in the US if their is going to be any road construction done on any highway or road, usually their is a survey done to measure the amount of traffic that flows through that area at a given time. This way, the Contractor and local authorities can come up with a plan to help divert traffic if needed. This usually works very well because in the US traffic flow is generally the same from year to year. In China, however, it is a little different.
Remember all those people moving in from the country to the city for a better way of life. Well, they move to the city on a bicycle. (or something similar.) After they get to the city and start their new jobs, they realize that they now can afford things that they might not have been able to before. Some may buy a scooter to get around the city, others buy a car. In China this past month almost 1 million cars were sold. Add this to the 1 millioin cars sold during each of the first 2 or 3 months of the year and the over 5 hundred thousand vehicles sold in each of the remainder months and maybe you can begin to see the problem. But if you can't, allow me to enlighten you.
Much of the population in China are "first timers." They are first time internet surfers, computer users, cell phone users, mp3 player users, CD player users, washing machine users, indoor plumbing users and, yes, DRIVERS. So most of the car buyers this year are first time drivers/buyers. Granted, not all the buyers are first timers, but it's safe to say that most of them are.
Therefore, that means that there are most likely close to 1 million more cars on the road today in China than there were last month. And Most likely close to 7 million more cars on the road today than at the beginning of the year. Couple this with the fact that much of the construction is happening around the major cities in China and most of the car buying is happening in the major cities in China. Well, now do you get the picture?
Now add to this the fact that these are NEW drivers and also, the road ways here are not currently designed to handle this amount of traffic (hence the construction) and well now you should understand the problem.
On the lighter side of this issue you can figure that for every available parking space in China, there are at least three drivers trying to use it. About a month and a half ago I observed a funny scene. I was riding my bike by the Post Office near Wudaoko (Subdistrict of Haidien) where Melody and I work, when I saw three vehicles jockeying for the right position to grab this one parking space and they seemed to be at a stand still. If one moved the other two would counter move. This went on for quite some time, however, I'm not sure how long because I had to get to work. (I watched for about 4or5 minutes.) The funny thing is the space was not vacant. There was still a car parked in it!! Add to this the fact that this was all happening in the middle of the designated BIKE LANE and ..... Well that's Beijing for ya!
Well , I hope I have educated, and enlightened you.
In order to keep the economy rolling the Government has been working to build a better infrastructure (ie roads, highways, bridges, etc...) to provide a better way for the people to get to their new jobs and to give businesses better means of receiving raw materials and shipping goods to market.
Sounds simple right? Well not so much.
You see, in the US if their is going to be any road construction done on any highway or road, usually their is a survey done to measure the amount of traffic that flows through that area at a given time. This way, the Contractor and local authorities can come up with a plan to help divert traffic if needed. This usually works very well because in the US traffic flow is generally the same from year to year. In China, however, it is a little different.
Remember all those people moving in from the country to the city for a better way of life. Well, they move to the city on a bicycle. (or something similar.) After they get to the city and start their new jobs, they realize that they now can afford things that they might not have been able to before. Some may buy a scooter to get around the city, others buy a car. In China this past month almost 1 million cars were sold. Add this to the 1 millioin cars sold during each of the first 2 or 3 months of the year and the over 5 hundred thousand vehicles sold in each of the remainder months and maybe you can begin to see the problem. But if you can't, allow me to enlighten you.
Much of the population in China are "first timers." They are first time internet surfers, computer users, cell phone users, mp3 player users, CD player users, washing machine users, indoor plumbing users and, yes, DRIVERS. So most of the car buyers this year are first time drivers/buyers. Granted, not all the buyers are first timers, but it's safe to say that most of them are.
Therefore, that means that there are most likely close to 1 million more cars on the road today in China than there were last month. And Most likely close to 7 million more cars on the road today than at the beginning of the year. Couple this with the fact that much of the construction is happening around the major cities in China and most of the car buying is happening in the major cities in China. Well, now do you get the picture?
Now add to this the fact that these are NEW drivers and also, the road ways here are not currently designed to handle this amount of traffic (hence the construction) and well now you should understand the problem.
On the lighter side of this issue you can figure that for every available parking space in China, there are at least three drivers trying to use it. About a month and a half ago I observed a funny scene. I was riding my bike by the Post Office near Wudaoko (Subdistrict of Haidien) where Melody and I work, when I saw three vehicles jockeying for the right position to grab this one parking space and they seemed to be at a stand still. If one moved the other two would counter move. This went on for quite some time, however, I'm not sure how long because I had to get to work. (I watched for about 4or5 minutes.) The funny thing is the space was not vacant. There was still a car parked in it!! Add to this the fact that this was all happening in the middle of the designated BIKE LANE and ..... Well that's Beijing for ya!
Well , I hope I have educated, and enlightened you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)