Things That Are Different

Well, week two is in the books and it was less eventful than week one.  At least from the writing a blog that will make you laugh at my misfortune standpoint.

I did manage to catch my first cold in forever, which I'm 100% not surprised happened given the change in climate and the high volume of strangers I'm in ridiculously close contact with on a daily basis.  I've been exceptionally careful of touching my face and you'll be glad to know I quit biting my nails because my hands NEVER FEEL CLEAN. 

Despite catching a cold, the week was another productive one work-wise.  I'm also learning the area more and have my directional bearings, which makes me happy because I like to know where I am in the world.  This weekend I'll be exploring a lot so I should have some fun stories for my next update.  I also asked a coworker if she wanted to hang out this weekend and she does (yay!) so I am excited to do something with a local.

Some of my sarcasm in this post may come off as judgmental, and it's really not, it's just sarcasm.  Despite being amazed at some of the behavior, I've found it easy to adapt to.  For example, if you need to go somewhere, just go.  If you wait and let someone go in front of you, you'll get stuck or stand there forever.  So, without further adieu, I thought I'd focus this post on "things that are different", some of which will tie in nicely with why it is no shock I got sick and some others that are just different/interesting/funny/weird.  

SO MANY PEOPLE - There are so many fucking people here it is amazing.  I remember the first time I went out in New York City as an adult.  I was in awe of how many people were out and about at midnight.  This is just like that, except here, you're forced to be absurdly close with strangers for undetermined amounts of time on a DAILY basis.  Elevators are packed like sardines, as are subways.  Everybody needs to get somewhere and the more the merrier seems to be the way to do it.  What's extra fun in this society of so many people is that coughing, sneezing and nose picking don't appear to be things that you do discreetly or with the intent to shield others from your germs.  I've been coughed on in a crowded subway, sneezed on in an elevator and this very morning, I watched a grown man pick his nose and inspect every single booger he pulled out of it.  And then he grabbed the pole in the subway with the same hand.

COURTESY - Actually it is lack there-of.  I don't want to classify everyone as rude, because I truly don't believe they are.  Most people I have been in contact with have been incredibly kind and the ones who are able (because they speak English), helpful.  I believe that courtesy is a learned behavior, if you grow up seeing your father hold the door for your mother, you're more likely to do so.  If you grow up seeing your parents bum rush the elevator to get in before anyone else gets out even though the elevator is packed with 90 people when it should only hold 30, you will probably do that, too.  This happens everywhere.  Getting in and out of the elevator, getting on and off the subway, going up the escalators, waiting in lines - you just go for it.  Godspeed.

WALKING & DRIVING - Again, so many people.  I've come to classify this as a truly every man for him/herself society.  Kind of like survival of the fittest.  It seems when people are out walking, their sole focus is where they are going or what they are doing, no mind of anyone around them.  I've been run into, stopped because someone decided to just stop walking and look at their phone, almost run over by a bus and multiple cars.  Oh, pedestrians do NOT have the right of way, and don't think that just because the walk light is green that a car cannot turn left or right as you are crossing the street.  They can.  And will.

DOORS - My office has so many doors.  Just to get to the bathroom I have to go through three doors, all of which have to be clicked to open or I have to use my badge.  See why my hands never feel clean?  I feel like I'm just crawling with germs on a regular basis.  Everywhere I go, there are doors to be clicked open, badges to be scanned, buttons to be pushed, turnstiles to rotate through, handles to hold, etc.  There isn't enough anti-bacterial in the world to get me through these 3 months.  And I don't even like or use anti-bacterial, but right now I feel like I should bathe in it.

LOUD TALKING - Loud noises!!  When they're speaking Mandarin loudly, it often times sounds like they're yelling at each other, which often times makes me laugh.  What gets me the most is the loud talking in the office, when it is clearly personal conversations.  I just don't think anyone cares.  The background noise at times when other people are on work calls has got to be astonishing.  My guess is they're all used to it.  I find people have loud personal conversations everywhere though.  Elevators, etc.  I guess you make the most of your time?  Me?  I prefer to listen to a Miranda Lambert song on repeat.

PREGOS EVERYWHERE - So Shenzhen is a really young city.  30 years ago it was nothing more than a fishing village, and now it is home to 15 million people, many of whom are transplants from other provinces and cities.  Reading the history and hearing stories from people who grew up here is amazing.  The growth that has taken place over the last 30 years is unbelievable, and there is still construction going on at a rapid rate.  Back to my first statement about this being a young city, there are pregnant chicks everywhere.  EVERYWHERE.  I'm not talking "omg, there are 3 ladies in my building who are prego."  I'm talking I see at least 10-20 pregnant chicks a day and none of them are repeats (except the girl I sit next to).  It's kind of neat to see such a young population.  Everywhere I go it seems like we are all the same age.  Kind of like college, but instead of a party, we're all going to work.

SLEEPING - This is a fun one.  Apparently when you're tired, you sleep.  To date, I've seen people sleeping in the following places: The subway station, the subway, the hotel lobby bar, Starbucks, and at work.  Just a little nap.

BREAD AND CHEESECAKE - These two things are everywhere.  And I don't mean on a menu.  I mean entire stores dedicated to them.  There is a store called Bread, it's a chain, I've seen about 5 of them so far.  There's also an entire store in the mall that just sells cheesecake.  And there's a small booth in the subway station that sells it, and a place next to the froyo place that sells it. I asked a coworker today what is up with the cheesecake and he said they like the way it smells, so they opened up stores and the girls like to eat it.  What pisses me off is 99% of these girls are skinny. 

Last but not least, is the favorite thing about Asia in general…the lost in translation t-shirts, signs, posters.  I've seen a top that said "Be Kate Moss Now"  (um, ok?), "Pleasure before Business" (I like her style) and my favorite...Last night I passed a sweet looking woman, who had great hair, a pretty face, great body, and nice white pants.  This is what her t-shirt said:

Be Weird

Become a Witch

Stay Crazy

Don't Give a Fuck

I mean, not bad advice if you really think about it.  Oh, and I think there's a boom boom room massage parlor across from my hotel.  Cheers, y'all!

Oh PS.  Follow me on Instagram for pics... @thehillbillyhippie