Right-of-way

Like everywhere else, one has to learn to quickly adapt or become redundant. Luckily for me, it is an inborn thing to want to ACT like the locals from the area I am in (whilst not necessarily accepting their values as mine).

So, this post is about right-of-way. In China, at least of what I've seen, this word/phrase is not commonly used/known, not least because the people here don't use English, but more because of their nature.

What I am talking about? Lest people start accusing me of broadly tarring everyone here with the same brush, I have to account for my stand.

1. On the road - in Shenzhen it is not as bad, but in Tianjin (where I was briefly for 2 days), the number of times I heard the car/bus/lorry/van/whatever vehicle horn was uncountable. Really, I kid you not. It almost seemed like the cacophony of noise was as continuous as air from an air-conditioner (a working one!), only that it jarred on my nerves. People here don't really allow others to cut into their lanes, and also, they have no sense of traffic rules. A two-way street quickly becomes one-way when one of the lanes become congested with traffic, and then a deadlock happens as a result because traffic on both sides are stuck with no possibility of either side advancing. And no one has the brains to reverse their cars apparently. It takes a policeman to come direct the people to MOVE IT! MOVE IT!

2. Rushing for lifts/trains/buses - While it is fair to clarify that the problem is not as acute for trains and buses because it is relatively less crowded than the lifts in particular I am talking about, the problem remains. One thing that stands out from what I recall, is that the DOOR OPEN button is rarely used in the lift situation. The person nearest the lift buttons would be furiously pressing on the DOOR CLOSE button instead, all whilst people are trying to come into the lift. LIKE WTF #$%^&?! And people here take it as a given! OMG bozos!! What were you guys thinking? Are we all like pigs to the slaughter, rushing into some sanctuary or something? Did you really have to press the Door Close button so many times as people are coming in? Will it get you any faster to your office? Stupid fugheads.

OK, I hope this piece entertained you a little. I'm still trying to figure out the enigma that is the Chinaman. Till then, there will be more of this shit coming up.