I know we are already well into the new year and you haven´t heard from us, yet. But no worries everyting is fine here in the middle kingdom. Just our internet was playing some jokes with us. This combined with a nasty jet lag and a bad stomac delayed the first posting for 2012.
However, before going ahead telling you more about Shanghai, I must share with you an experience I had during my stay at home. It is almost scary: I´m seem to become Chinese! or at least I seem to have adopted some Chinese behaviour which I found a little disturbing when noticed.
Want to know what I´m talking about? Here we go:
One of the major differences between Shanghai and Europe is definately the driving style. I LOVE driving every time when I´m back because for a change it is me who has control over a steering wheel and not some crazy maniac who you never know if he got up with the right foot on the day.
I didn´t find myself driving very „Shanghai“style. Actually the opposite was the case – I was just cruising in no hurry with my little rented Polo to be able to enjoy the beautiful green countryside and the space everwhere... (we call those kind of people "Sundaydrivers" in Germany.. a very popular species of people, ususally already grey haired).
BUT – if there was anyone in front of me not moving when the lights on a traffic light changed I forgot all about my grey hair and was the first one to press my horn extensively. Talking to my friend Silvia today I learnt that this is quite normal behaviour for anyone who has lived in Shanghai for some time. Even though none of us is driving ourselfes - we just learn from the taxi drivers.
BUT – if there was anyone in front of me not moving when the lights on a traffic light changed I forgot all about my grey hair and was the first one to press my horn extensively. Talking to my friend Silvia today I learnt that this is quite normal behaviour for anyone who has lived in Shanghai for some time. Even though none of us is driving ourselfes - we just learn from the taxi drivers.
I remember one particular scene in Frankfurt where I had to stop for a group of people who were demonstrating and crossing the road. After they had passed someone sneaked up from behind on me with his car. He overtook me from the left and immediately afterwards undercut me in front to take a right turn. (The ususal Shanghai manovering..) Thanks to my relaxed cruise mode I didn´t crash in to him, just shouted something like „mf**!!!?..and just before I was able to press the horn a much louder horn came up from the left: A police car who had seen everything took over for me. I could not help but wondering how efficient Germany is.
The next thing about driving and worth mentioning is wearing seatbelts. This is something that does not excist in China – and yes, Paul is working for a car safety company who develops seatbelts and -whohoo!! – Airbags.
None of which are ever beeing used here. Pauls driver is actually a great example! Driving for a company who works on increasing safety in cars, he has managed to get hold of a seat belt buckle from production - just to click it into his seatbelt pocket. This way he gets away with not wearing a belt and the electronic system is not going crazy with warning lights and bells!!
Anyway, it is scary how quick you get used to not wearing a seatbelt (also because you can´t as they are put away behind horrible cotton covers on the back seats of taxis). In Germany I noticed how used to it I have become when during several occasions I sat in the car – belt up – but completly forgot about it and than -“urrghh“ was pulled back by it when I tried to leave the car. Ask my sister. She had a very good laugh about that!
Another thing we don´t do in China – and that is simply because it is just not common practise – is giving tips. This is something which takes a bit of adjusting to when you arrive here at first, but you get very quickly used to that every cab driver here will insist of giving you the right change. The same goes for restaurants (except for the very facy ones which are too expansive in the first place).
So back in Frankfurt I´m sitting with my friend in this asian style restaurant. When the bill arrived I didn´t think one second. I unconsciously paid the waiter and next thing I noticed is my friend staring at me pretty amazed and asking me „are you not leaving a tip?, the guy was just standing there waiting for you to say something..“.. Oh my god!!.. how emberassing!! No I really had not noticed and had taken back every single penny I was owed. Latest than I noticed that I had learnt a little more in Shanghai than Mandarin.
Well, there is another whole year in front of us. Do I need to worry about what comes next?
Will I start burping and spittig in public? Or will I start wearing leopard printed pants and glasses frames with not actual glasses in whilst taking my pink dressed dog for a walk?????
Well, we can only wait and see and I share it with you after my next trip to Europe.
Hopefully you won´t be my witness when it happens :-)
Zaijane!
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