The Little Things

There are a few little things that annoy me about living in China:

1. Almost everywhere I go almost everyone wants to touch Bean. I spend a good portion of the time at the grocery store just slapping people's hands away. I'm still learning how to say my child has TB in Mandarin (one sure way to make the person turn tail and run).

2. People drive their mopeds, motorcycles and electric bikes on the sidewalk. These drivers will not stop for anything (except a larger vehicle). Adam has been clipped a few times by them.

3. Forget personal space--it does not exist here. If you or your shopping cart is slightly blocking the aisle that you are standing in people here will not politely ask you to move. They will ram you with their cart or push past you. When waiting to get off of the subway if you are not pressed up against the person in front of you someone will try to squeeze them self into the space you have left.

4. Most everything that you buy here is pirated. If you want to buy the real thing you have to pay three times as much as what it costs in the States.

...and there are things that amaze me about China:

1. China is a family oriented culture. There have been a few times that I have been adventurous enough to ride the subway with Bean alone. Each time that I do I will have complete strangers offer to help me (the subway is not a stroller friendly place).

2. The transit system is very easy to maneuver. Station names are printed in both Mandarin and English and are announced in both languages.

3. Corner veggie/fruit stands. You can access fresh produce almost any where and for the fraction of the price of what they cost in the stores.

4. Everything is pirated. I can get DVDs for less than a dollar right after they are released to the theaters, books for a fraction of the price, and purses that are pretty close to the real thing.