Sunday, August 24 2008
I’ll spare the details of my flights. They are typical and long. The flight from Seattle to Beijing enters on the night of the 2008 Olympic closing ceremonies. Fortunately, this had little effect on our travels. Beijing airport is extremely spread out. The terminals are separated by a 10-20 minute bus ride. After some tricky interpretation and assistance from a help desk or two Marta, my travel partner, and I found the correct terminal and ticket counter. It is at this very moment that I learn my first China lesson; never be in a hurry and always feel free to push.
The ticket counters look much like those found in the States. Sitting behind the counter are disgruntled employees who spend their entire day sorting out everyone else’s problems or mistakes and absorbing the impatient attitudes. Above the counter are electronic signs flashing entirely too much information to comprehend in the brief moment it is presented. Unlike the States, there is not a single line. The set up is more like a McDonalds. Although there is clearly a specific number of registers, somehow multiple lines form and overlap and collide until there is a large mass of people pushing and shoving and ramming there fucking baggage cart into your ankles. Yeah, lady behind me, the reason your cart won’t move forward any more is because it’s hitting the back of my fucking ankles and yes I would like to move forward but there are five people in front of me and yes I wish they would move forward but I already tried the ramming technique and guess what…
It didn’t fucking work! Now that we have established that the line only moves forward when a transaction is completed we can discuss selecting the line, or in the case of Beijing, selecting the mass of sweaty people. Your best bet, like in the U.S., is to get behind the business women and lone travelers who will not be checking any bags today. Avoid, I repeat, AVOID families at all costs. They are handicapped. For the airline attendant it must be like putting together an entertainment stand from IKEA. It is a simple design. However, you are given the wrong tools, extra screws, and one side is just a little longer than the other. Also, avoid old people. This is a pretty general rule. Old people are slow, enough said. Oh, and this is very important! If you are behind someone in a matching Addidas warm-up suit, get out of line immediately. This is what is known as a line holder. They are sneaky. They are secretly holding a place in line for their entire athletic team who are hiding in the BK lounge. The line holder will fuck your day.
The pushing to nowhere continues at Gate C54. The flight from Beijing to Zhenzhou is at a satellite gate so we all have to cram into a bus and be driven out to the tarmac. The impatient travelers heard onto the bus pushing and shoving as much as possible. I feel like a cow lead to slaughter. We get to the plane and pour out of the bus and push and shove to get on the plane. It is so hectic. I don’t understand the rush. We have assigned seats and there is no reward for getting to your seat first. This event isn’t a cultural thing it’s a human thing. I don’t get it.
I have an aisle seat and across from me is an older American man. I strike up conversation and learn that he too is teaching English here in China. He works for Henan University, the same school but at a different location. He told me I would be very happy with my apartment and amenities. This is his fifth year teaching in China and he really enjoys it. It is not long into the flight that the passenger next to me utilized her barf bag. The flight is a little bumpy but not terrible. She must be easily sickened by motion. A few minutes later the young women kitty-corner behind me is puking, then the women in front of me and then the man in front of her. As the flight attendants collect our drink cups I noticed they had collected quite a few barf bags and I was only 5 rows back. I leaned over to the American and asked if he had ever observed so many people puking on flights. He tells me that it was not uncommon. Apparently Chinese people are very susceptible to motion sickness. I speculate that traveling by car, boat, or plane is new to many people in China. After all, I do believe I am a third generation car driver. Hmf.
4 comments:
I didn't realize there was so much puking! I suppose after that fantastic burger/shit sandwich it's no surprise... guess I missed that during my nap though.
(Thankfully.)
Great entries Mike.
Thanks.
Hey,I must be the first student doing the assignment here!^-^
Well,I laughed a lot for your humorous however ironic comments about your flight here.Completely understand your feeling.
As to all the shovings and pushings,I have to say it is rather common here in China.Since you are here,I guess you will have to get used to it,whether you like it or not.As we Chinese people all have to.
I have to say something more about this phenomenon.Maybe the reason why people behaves so unpolitely is that they have some kind of worry in mind------they are afraid their position will be taken by others------they are urged to take the better position.You see,there are so many people here,the competition is extremely severe in almost all fields.Either you take the opportunity or it will be taken.
So lots of people tends to strive for the best position and worries others will get ahead of him,no matter in their studies,jobs or small things like taking a bus or flight.
The another reason is it seems that Chinese people never actually learn the meaning of keeping a line.They are asked to stand in the line,so they do it ,but not volunteerly.So you can see there are always bad-shaped lines before the ticket couters or places like that.
However,we new generation ,I mean,people born in 1980s and even 1970s,generally have a better understanding of social order and pay more attention to other’s privacy.So ,you can see in front of the ATM machine located in the south gate of Henan University,there always is a well-shaped staight line.
As things are moving from good to nice,nice to better,I have the confidence that when we generation becomes the backbone of the society,China will see a beter-ordered society.
Welcome to CHINA, and welcome to KAIFENG! Got your first lesson, that's good.
I can say that you've got your lesson right. This is China and this is what Chinese people do.I really like your attitude toward what you have seen and experienced here. There are obviously many differences between China and the US, but you seem to accept your unique experience here and call it a FITST LESSON.
I've read what Hyaline wrote here and i agree with her on her explanation about shoving and pushing. We've got too many people. I have traveled by air in China for a couple of times and I think the service at the airport is much better than the trainstation. There're only a few people here in China travel by air, so as a Chinese I think the airport is in pretty good order compare to the trainstation. If you ever get a chance to travel by train, I mean by a normal train not a fancy train, you will experience something new, something that you'll never forget in your entire life. I'm not scaring you but I'm telling you that you've got the real feature of China and the Chinese people.
One more story to share with you here. It's about my first trip by air. For a lot of people on the plane, that was their first flight and everything on the plain is new to them even the snacks. I noticed many people kept their coffee cups because they've never seen this kind of cup before, and they exchange seats constantly with their parteners to experience a window seat.
Anyway, I really like your style and hope we can be good friends!
Today is the Teachers' Day in China.So hope you had had a great day!
As for the response,I have done the assignment on my
notebook.maybe the day after tomorrow you will see it.
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