Only in China…

Some things that happen here are so crazy.  And all I can say is “Only in China”.  Here’s a few examples:

What’s in a name?  Most of the students here get an English name from their teachers when they are young.  There are lots of Peters and Johns (hence the bartenders at Fantasy Island).  And the girls have names like Sunny, Rainbow, and Rain (I assume their love of weather).  I have had the chance to name a few kids myself, and using people I know, I have named them Katie, Chris, Kerry, and Jeff so far.  The names of the Chinese have been basically common…but I have had some standouts.  First, there have been a few I don’t understand.  I’ll ask them to repeat it, but then just smile and nod because what else can I do.  Then there are the names that make me giggle, such as Jelly…for a boy, Obama, and Lincoln.  Finally, there are the names I just don’t understand what type of horrible teacher would ever think to name an innocent child.  There was Lucifer, one of the teachers at the school.  Mosquito, a girl that was actually kinda a pest, so the name was suiting.  And then my favorite…Hitler.  I mean, come on.  Poor kid.

 

 

The Famed American.  I have now come to terms with the fact people will stare at me.  I am pretty much the only American where I live, and it’s new to many of the people here.  The little kids point excitedly when they see me, and try to practice their English with an enthusiastic “Hello”.  The adults do it too.  The other day I was at the fruit market across the street from my apartment and a funny thing happened.  I have been to this market before and like it because they have always been so nice to me.  While shopping for bananas I noticed one of the employees, a young girl was trying to take a picture of me with her phone.  Then one of the other employees, and guy in his 20s asked if we could take a picture together.  No problem.  (Except it was Sunday and I still reserve my ritual of not showering on Sundays).  The girl took a couple of pictures and I thought that was the end of it.  As I was paying, she was still trying to take a picture, so I put my arm around her to tell her she could take one of the two of us.  She did…and then I heard a noise that I did not expect.  It was the screech of a teenaged girl after getting her picture taken with Justin Beiber.  I couldn’t believe she was so thrilled to take a picture with me.  Even people on the street were now watching us wondering who I was and why this picture had made this girls voice reach new highs.  I have to admit…I liked it.

The Dangers of Being a Chinese Child.  There are so many things that you see parents doing that makes you want to slap them.  The biggest things are the mopeds.  They are everywhere, zooming down the streets, in and out of traffic.  I have already seen some accidents.  I get a little angered that these adults are not even wearing helmets.  But what’s really frustrating is the fact their babies are just hanging on for dear life, helmetless as well.  Front, back, side, they just load up the kid and go on their way.  Very safe.

One day I was walking home from work, minding my business when a little girl came right up to me and tried to hand me a lottery ticket.  I think her parentals were playing KENO nearby.  After refusing her gift, she tried to give it to the next best thing.  A giant chicken tied up to someone’s motorcycle nearby.  Yep, a giant chicken just hanging out.  Not sure if it was a pet or dinner.

Good thing her parents got her, before she got to the Chicken!!

Do you remember that smoking baby from Youtube?  I am just waiting to see a baby light up here.