To those of you that remember the blog stories from Guatemala may be disappointed because our China blogs are infrequent and not as humorous. Well not to disappoint you we will finish our time here with this last attempt to describe our time here.
A recent experience may serve to fill your expectations. We were invited to a supper meal from our hiring company on December 31. We received the invitation December 30; with a few adjustments of my class schedule our plan was set. Another teacher R and his wife would travel with us. Going there wasn't an adventure as we have used the fast (bullet) train several times. Arriving at the restaurant at the scheduled time and discovering that we were the only ones there, we waited. An hour later the second group arrived explaining heavy traffic and the others would arrive soon. The second hour passed with a few more teachers and finally the company. We were told that the kitchen closes at 9:00 PM and it is after 8:00 PM. The meal is called Hot Pot; the guests cook their own food in a boiling pot on your table. We have eaten this other times and the average time is 2 hours; the kitchen closed late in order to allow us time to finish. Late seems to be the theme for the weekend.
While in the city, we went for some foods that we can’t buy where we live, such as hamburger, mac and cheese in a box, cheese and other things.
R and his wife had another person to visit; then we would meet and finish shopping; they arrived late and did some quick shopping. From there to the bus that we got off of one stop too late and walked back to the subway; then on to the train. If you remember the earlier problem of late, well we missed the train. The ticket counter exchanged our ticket for a “later” train; 6 hours later and standing room only. Also this is a slow train. Sue and I just sat in the first empty seats; hoping no one would have a ticket for that exact seat. Not so lucky the first try but we both got one in our 2nd try. Not a comfortable seat, straight 90 degree back and no padding. Our train departed at 9:30 PM and an approximate travel time of 2 hours; this made us late for the last city to city bus at 7:30 PM. We could maybe get a taxi but there would be only a few available and at 11:30 PM the usual 100 RMB would be 300 RMB or more. Also we are aware that the train station is outside the businesses area by miles. So plan B; we would get off 1 stop before in a city that we were in only once 6 months before, hoping that the shorter / quicker train ride would get us to a taxi some minutes earlier and more available. We talked a man into helping us with the taxi; he tried but was also late so, he walked fast, we with 30 pounds of groceries and more cautious about tripping on the uneven steps and sidewalks; allow an added thought.
The sidewalks here are not designed for walking, instead may have a parked car, street vendor, and dog tie up area, motorcycles, e-bikes parked or ridden, taxi wait area, and stopping to talk area.
Combined with the other obstacles as telephone pole and pole support wires, bus stop platform, utility access box, street signs, advertising, construction materials, trash deposit area, sitting for restaurants, side walk sales, bathroom zone for any child 4 or younger, musicians hoping for a contribution, uneven, broken, or missing bricks, inflatable (advertisements, decoration, or arches); mobile office for police, children playing, retired sitters, card and chess players, the card players will usually have several kibitzers but the chess players will have 6 to 12 watchers, red carpet approach to a store, delivery truck, mail carrier, and a car because the road is crowded, back to our adventure lost him in the crowd. This is good; the crowd that is because this meant that taxis would expect several riders so there would be several taxis, so we thought. However, if we were the tail end of the crowd, we would be last to get a taxi, we assumed the supply would be exhausted before the demand. We found our guide and he handed us off to another man that we were sitting near. He advised us to pass up on the first group of taxis because they would agree to a low price until halfway home and then raise the price and you have to pay it. I admit that I was a bit apprehensive of passing several taxis. About half way through the park, our helper said wait here for him. This of course added to the possibility of even bigger problems. I assumed all of the taxis that we just passed are now busy and this man just happened to know a “friend” that could “help” us. Combined that we are unfamiliar with this city and our first guide / helper must leave so follow this other person. As my new quote goes …we could be in trouble and “a lot of bit”. My fears have been proven wrong; he returned, talked with a taxi on the far side of the park and insured that the driver knew where to go and even got us a reduced rate. We have not experienced any situation that we were in that mandated fear. In fact, we have made great friends from complete strangers. 2 ladies from our trip to The Great Wall and now Alex. Also note when he left us stranded in the park; he actually went to a corner store and bought us a gift. We are so glad that we have this opportunity to experience kindness above and beyond.
Not that everything is life is a contest. Sometimes it is natural and it just happens that way. Well Sue and I have a contest among ourselves that some may be surprised to hear about.
It is who has the best accident; as of today Sue is ahead having been hit by a car and I was only hit by an E-Bike twice. I am thinking that if I am lucky enough to have a 3rd E-Bike accident that should be equal to being hit by a car. Naturally being hit by a bus or semi truck (they have 22 wheels); this could count as 3 car accidents or 9 plus E-Bike accidents. We are considering the quantity of tires as a guide for our point system but obviously a person lucky enough to be hit by an 22 wheeler would have such a lead that the 2nd place person could be tempted to cheat.
Another draw back to the tire count point system is the 3 wheeled vehicles; they vary from 3 wheeled bikes to 3 wheeled dump trucks loaded with approximately 5 years of sand, bricks 10 levels high and 30 to 40 one hundred pound bags of cement giving it an overwhelming advantage if it and a car where to want the same spot.
All things considered I would not want to be the driver of the bike I saw under the tire of a fire truck and it had only 6 tires.
OK enough about tire count maybe we should consider points for reaction of the accident, such as kicking the man’s tool pouch into the street, how much whining you can do, the volume of conversation between the 2; of course neither knows what the other is saying, the size of the crowd within a minute or 2 and of course you would get bonus points for policemen there to help by picking up things spilled from the basket.
We just found out that typically the driver that was right, obviously no one is ever wrong, should receive money from the other; we don’t know what would be a fair amount but this could easily be converted to points.
As the points stand now; Sue has the most for accident and I have the most for reaction but the contest isn’t over yet. Each is hoping for more points so they can have undisputed bragging rights. See I told you not everything should be a contest.
A side note: Both of us are OK; no injuries just a couple of bruises and bent bike parts.
We will certainly be glad to be back in Wisconsin.
