Monday has come and gone and my body ruled the doings for today. I slept till around 3pm in the afternoon. For some reason I am exhausted. It may be the weather, as today it was so grey; hazy; misty; overcast; cloudy; hell it was so polluted today that as the healthiest human on this part of the world...based on the fact that I have not hacked; coughed; or sneezed since arriving on mainland China, I have finally succumbed to the POLLUTION!. I finally got out of bed and decided my favorite part of visiting China is just observing the people. Their are so many different faces of China. I know that it sounds weird to go on about just observing people but it can and is fascinating to just sit on the Bund (pedestrian walk by the river) and just people watch. I am always fascinated when i get the strange stare as people walk by. This is from a glance of possible embarrassment, to a full on stare as they look at me even over their shoulder until they disappear in the crowd. The children are the most curious. They look over their parents shoulders like I am some alien from another land....which of course I am. The teenagers are more uninhibited and after staring, smiling and giggling with their friends; actually come over and in their best English..We take you picture with me? Always accommodating, I always put on my best smile; throw up my peace sign, or thumbs up or the newest China theme photo is to extend your pointer finger with your thumbs up under your chin. No I do not know what it means but my newest roommate is a sweet little Chinese girl who is in Shanghai for of all things the Avril Levine concert. When you wonder where all your American Super Stars who have lost their shine in the US well they are all doing quite famously in SE Asia. I can't tell you how often i have seen George Clooney advertisements for jewelry and such on big billboard advertisements.
I actually have had quite an assortment of roommate at the Blue Mountain YHA on Shanxi Rd (S). The hostel is located off the main road, about 3 short blocks and one intersection that really is inconsequential as no one walking, riding a bike, a scooter, or driving a car does it mean that anyone will pause, stop of even think twice about minding the law if it really is applicable to them no matter what the color of the the street light. The lights are really long sometimes up to 45-55 seconds with a timer that barely allows enough time to cross these very long intersections. I tried to cross within the allotted time but found that I was only able to cross halfway in the time allotted. I did a video of one of the intersections and it was amazing the massive 5 sided each way with multiple crossroads all dumping into one lane. I laugh now as I am one of the worst practitioners of death by street crossing. I really like the thrill of stepping off the curb and knowing that no matter what direction I am going there will be honking of horns as the drivers of every vehicle rather they are obeying the lights or not will continue thru the intersection. The mass of humanity continues to cross the street even when the police are on the corner blowing their whistles frantically attempting to show their authority that no one not even the locals are paying attention to. All part of the China experience.
My roommates have been very diverse since being in mainland China. The first night it was 2 Chinese guys and me. One spoke very broken English and was chatty as i think they really do like to practice their English. The other was young 20's and spoke really fast Chinese. He was always talking (Chinese) as the English speaker interpreted, he wanted to know what we were talking about. The second night I had another Chinese (English speaker) in the lower bunk. I am staying in a 6-share dorm (3 sets of bunk beds) This guy was about to finish his final year at University and was unsure of what his career would be. He is been training in all aspects of electrical engineering and computer IT (information technology) and will graduate with a pretty impressive degree but no clear direction. I have really had a blast talking to the younger set on their goals and aspirations. I find it interesting that at my station in life I am now the most mature...OK the most senior (age wise)...in the mainland China hostel. In Hongthru their spiel to have about 2 very attentive individuals hang on every word while the rest seem bored or wondering where they are?!?e. Why do these people leave home in the first place?
My next night it was me, a guy from Dallas of all places, he works at DFW. He only stayed a night, but funny story, he say me on the street and came up behind me tapped my on the shoulder and I automatically said out loud as I do to the hawkers, not interested...He was so annoyed that he grabbed me by the shoulder which kinda scared me, until he said Scott it's your hostel roommate. I almost busted out laughing as I realized my fauxpau. We had such a giggle and spent about the next hour walking up and down the main street. Fortunately no one will bother you if you aren't walking alone, white, male and looking like a tourist.
My next night all the guys checked out and i was one of 5 girls. There were 2 Chinese girls that don't speak English but I was asked to have a picture with them. Even if I didn't talk to them directly they are thrilled to have a picture with me as one of their hostel roommates. I have one girl who is a teacher of English and speaks fluently in English, Chinese and French. We had a great conversation about her being 27 and due to the family orientation her being considered old and not married. I told her I have the same stigma only a little different being still single at my age. Won't get into that but hey, live and let live.
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