We started moving over the weekend to our new place. Saturday we hired two men and a trunk to move a few bigger items and they were an interesting pair. One had a broken foot and both of them stank something horrible. Saturday afternoon while Pei Lin played soccer I worked on screwing the shelves back into one of the bookcases and unpacking one load of suitcases. When I went to pick him up after his game, he could hardly walk because he took a full force kick to his side.
Yesterday, we moved three car loads of stuff and starting making our new place a home. Pei Lin was in a lot of pain but helped carry stuff to and from the car and didn’t complain once. He commented now he knew what pain I must have felt with my back a few months ago. That only served to make me feel bad because he was working so hard…
We have a white box style bookcase that I had this idea to paint different colors using the leftover paint from our apartment. When I told Pei Lin what I wanted to do he seemed skeptical, but as soon he saw what looked “fun” he came out to the balcony and wanted to helped me paint. While not my typical idea of fun it was enjoyable doing something together, at least until I stepped into the paint lid and my back foot found out how easily paint lids can slide.
Over the next two days we have things being delivered and a few final things to be installed. Thankfully, Pei Lin’s sister is here, until Wednesday, so she can help let the workers in and out while we are at work.
Over the last few weeks I have quickly adapted to driving in the mayhem of Shenzhen’s traffic scene. I think the two best things so far are being able to listen to the music I like and controlling the a/c! Almost got knicked by a bus the other night but Pei Lin’s shout averted twisted metal. Am certain there will be many more close calls, but hoping my excellent driving skills and quick reaction times will continue to keep them just that, close calls.
When I started driving I was a little scared about parking. The same feelings/anxiety I experienced way back when I moved to Shenzhen when taking a taxi and not knowing where I was going started to surface. Most of my driving has been around areas that I know and feel comfortable with and so far haven’t had any bigger issues then parking farther away then necessary because I didn’t look harder for a parking garage. I did get ticked at our apartment complex because they wouldn’t allow me a monthly pass because we are moving so I had to pay every time entering and leaving. That really irritated me and one day when I parked on the street to run up and get something Pei Lin had a talk with them and I haven’t had to pay by they day since. Not sure what he said but they are saluting stronger and have the gate on its way up when I am approaching. Too bad that won’t last but a few more days. Anyway, the parking anxiety I had feared seemed unjustified and quickly disappeared.
Today, I drove downtown to 10,000 elephants city to have lunch with a friend and former coworker. After eating at a nice Thai restaurant, Jude wanted to see my car and I of course didn’t mind showing it to him! I was going to drop him off at his office and then head back to work. When we got down to the parking gate, I put my card in the machine and had my 5RMB ready to pay but the machine spit it back out. The guard walked over and when he saw me he dipped lower to see if I was alone. When he saw Jude he started talking really fast and indicated it was necessary to pay somewhere else. The guard plopped down a cone behind the car and Jude hopped out and ran somewhere to pay and came back with the validated card. At least there was a second lane and we were inside so there weren’t a lot of gawkers. Jude came back with a validated receipt and headed to work while I went back to my office. If I had been alone I wonder if the guard would have just let me go?? Thanks for the help Jude!
I may be able to get somewhere, I just won’t be able to get out!
No this is not a Clintonesq type of story about not inhaling or getting the munchies, rather it is about another sort of hash. I had never heard of a hash, hashers or the Hash House Harriers until I moved to Shenzhen. Even then during my first four years here, I didn’t really know what it/they were until I joined a local expat club/bar called The Snake Pit. Eventually, I came to find out that a hash was a run; hashers were the runners; and the hash house harriers was the generic name for the local unit.
Those that know me probably don’t think of me and running in the same sentence or better yet the same paragraph. I certainly didn’t, until I read this quote by Hasher Stray Dog, “Hashing is a state of mind- a friendship of kindred spirits joined together for the sole purpose of reliving their childhood or fraternity days, releasing the tensions of everyday life, and generally, acting a fool amongst others who will not judge you or measure you by anything more than your sense of humor.” I figured what better reason is there to run?? Being that is was the hottest day of the year, we left the running to 40 or so other fools and my first hash was actually a walk with 7 others. It wasn’t the most scenic walk I have been on, but I no longer wonder where those picking through trash cans do their sorting. I walked right through the middle of one soul’s collection of plastic bottles, bags, cardboard and who knows what else. The runners and walkers all wind up at the same meeting place and have what is called a down down. The smells and heat were soon forgotten while new friends were made amongst the foolishness and laughs.
For those that are curious about the history of hashing… Back in the 1930’s a group of British expats in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia started a hare & hounds running group. They named the group after their meeting place, the Selangor Club, aka the “Hash House.” Hashing is basically about meeting people, drinking lots of beer and staying fit while doing the other two and now there are 1834 clubs located in 178 different countries throughout the world. To find a club near you and experience your first hash click here.
It will be a few months before I am joining the runners but when I do you better watch out! Until then I will be training with the walkers and enjoying the only reason I get to drink beer!
During my first few years living in Shenzhen, I rarely took public transportation unless I was with some Chinese friends who wanted to take the bus. At the time, the main reason (excuse) for not utilizing the buses was my inability to speak or read Chinese. After living here for a few years I began to note the bus numbers and the routes they took and while still not being able to read Chinese would on occasion take the bus somewhere. Usually paying more in fare then I probably needed, because if I didn’t know the name of place I wanted to go I would say a location of somewhere past it. A few years ago, after I moved from the center of town to further out where many more foreigners live, I started taking the buses more often when I wanted to go downtown and had time to spare. There was a significant cost savings - the bus cost 8 versus 60 or more for a taxi. An added benefit and also major reason I didn’t mind taking the bus on that route was since it was the beginning of the route one was pretty much guaranteed a seat. Over the last couple of years I have moved an equal number of times, all in the same area. Now, taking the bus to Wal-Mart has became a regular routine as has taking the bus to/from the subway station.
The are only two benefits that I see of taking the bus, cost savings and doing my part to be “green” and contribute to reducing pollution. Must admit the money saved was my primary motivator.
On the other hand, there are many more negatives to taking the bus. It almost always takes longer to get somewhere when taking the bus because they obviously have to take a set route, which usually is on the main and busiest streets. People talking to one another, half the bus yelling on their mobile phones, the automated attendant announcing the next stop and the guy next to you using his mobile phone as a boombox provide a quaint quiet atmosphere where you can reflect on your day and contemplate how the 3 dollar savings will help you reach your savings goal and that trip to restore your sanity. The actual ride could be viewed as a positive by some, perhaps in their desire for a simulation of a F1 race or off-road Baja. Yes, off road Baja on the city streets is possible. I, however, have experienced an off road race and have no desire to share my F1 experience with 100 other people. You ain’t seen crowded until your standing on an already full bus and 10 more people crowd into every nook and cranny. And that happens, again and again, at the next five stations before some people start to get off. With that many people crammed into a confined space you get odors, lots of odors and not all of them of the flowery or the sprayed on kind.
It couldn’t have been the first time, or maybe it was, but last week I was lucky to board a bus through the middle door and was able to squeeze into a stance in the crowded aisle. Just as the door was closing this very tall Chinese guy squeezed in and took up a position next to me. He was dressed nice and looked like any other typical white collar worker. As the Jeff Gordon wannabe bus driver slammed on the gas, this tall guy grabbed the rail above me, which put his exposed underarm right at my nose level. I am at a loss of words on how to describe the stench other then to say it was eye watering and breathtaking, almost to the point of causing sickness. The next stop couldn’t come fast enough, when it did I pushed my way off and gulped fresh air for several minutes until hailing a taxi home.
Well everything is almost back to normal on our website after my Web Woes. Was a worthwhile learning curve though, lets just hope I can remember next time. Quiet around the house again tonight since Pei Lin is in Beijing for his company wide semi-annual retreat.
I had the intention of blogging the sequel to Taxi Rage but for some reason I lost the urge and am going to go watch TV for a bit…Guess you will have to check back in a day or two!
