July 21, 2008 6:32 AM
What I've Learned (So Far)
It's been almost three weeks since I landed in Beijing. And with a side trip to Hong Kong tomorrow -- all part of the fabulous
Road to Deportation here at The
Rocky's Summer Olympics blog -- I first wanted to pass along a few thoughts on
all that I've learned so far.
When in doubt, point.
The drivers won't hit you. It's the bikers you should fear.
>>If
you're on the second level of a double decker bus at rush hour, chances
are that you won't be getting off anytime soon.
No matter what the vendor may say, Hugo Boss does not sell shoes in alleys or subway stations.
Patience is good. Persistence is better. Insistence never works.
A
subway ride costs 2 yuan (about $.29), but exact change is not
accepted. Only 5 and 10 yuan bills are accepted. And all change
is issued in 1 yuan coins. None of this makes any sense to me.
Personal space does not exist.
Housekeepers speak housekeeping English. Vendors speak vending English. Taxi cab drivers speak no English.
Rice goes with everything.
If you eat enough kung pao, it will backfire on you. Eventually.
Words all Chinese people know: hello, no, bye bye, very good price, okay, Houston Rockets.
Four words I thank God for: "Yes, I speak English."
<<No matter how many signs they have asking otherwise, people will still feed the bears at the zoo.
This city has no garbagemen. However, they do employ an army of hobos who recycle plastic bottles.
If you spend enough time looking at it, any Chinese character kind of looks like the Detroit Tigers' logo.
Even Pizza Hut's ads pull from the martial arts.
If
you tell a taxi driver to take you to the subway, there is an
off-chance that he will take you to an ancient bell tower instead.
Just because there's a picture of it on the menu doesn't mean it's not donkey meat.
Posted by Dan Oshinsky at 6:32 AM
| Comments (3)
It's been almost three weeks since I landed in Beijing. And with a side trip to Hong Kong tomorrow -- all part of the fabulous Road to Deportation here at The Rocky's Summer Olympics blog -- I first wanted to pass along a few thoughts on all that I've learned so far.
July 24, 2008
5:55 AM
Barbara Berman writes:
Daniel, love it. Just heard about your blog. I promise to read them all. What an experience!
Sending love...The Berman's
October 21, 2009
9:17 AM
macafee writes:
I'm always amazed how you can so easily write your message
October 31, 2009
10:26 AM
facebok writes:
Your blog is very interesting. And how do you feel about social networks?