Only in China

After spending over 7 months in China, I have basically adjusted to Chinese standards and customs.  Besides adapting to Chinese culture, I have also become very comfortable here.  While I used to worry about crime or sanitation, I now feel a little strange going to a clean restaurant.  I have no problem eating on the street or walking down an alley late at night.  Also, I now feel comfortable complaining at restaurants, and expect people to treat me the same as everyone else (or a little better).  To put it simply, I feel at home here. 

While this sounds great and like an example of cultural tolerance, it is not always a good thing.  I’ll give you an example.  Last week I planned to meet my friend for dinner in the city at 7:00.  She gave me the restaurant’s phone number, so I called and asked for the specific address.  Unfortunately, the man who answered the phone was Indian and spoke very poor Chinese.  As a result, I took the subway in the wrong direction, and found myself 20 minutes away right before 7:00. 

It was rush hour and I couldn’t hail a cab.  A man on a motorcycle came up to me as I was waiting for a cab.  He told me that I would be waiting for a long time until I finally got cab, and I should ride with him.  I explained to the man that motorcycles are not especially safe, and Shanghai traffic is dangerous enough in a car.  The man kept on pushing until I told him that he doesn’t even have a helmet for me.  Out of nowhere, the man pulled out an extra helmet.  So, I did what any rational person would do in Shanghai, ride on a foreign man’s motorcycle across town. 

The ride lasted a total of 20 minutes, and we passed several groups of foreign tourists along the way.  I couldn’t stop thinking about how shocked they would be if they found out the guy on the motorcycle was a Laowai or foreigner. 

Its interesting what China does to someone.  When I first arrived, I had to force myself to be more relaxed and not worry so much.  Who could have known that I would be comfortably riding around with strangers on a motorcycle.