Advertisement
Published: April 28th 2008
Edit Blog Post
Concert at Peking University
A night of piano and violin music celebrating the works of Beethoven Yesterday started out like any ordinary day. The sun was shining, the smog had lifted and everything was turning green. I was on my way to the Dirt Market, one of my favorite locales in Beijing. On the weekends, hundreds of vendors arrive, spreading their wares out on blankets on the ground and within temporary stalls. Products range from hand-painted scrolls to porcelain vases to antique Chinese toys to jade jewelry. The variety of goods is astounding. The best part about the market for me is that it's basically still a local market, meaning I can be immersed in street life, instead of being engulfed by swarming hordes of tourists. Sadly, the market is slowly becoming a tourist hot spot. Enormous TV screens hang from the rafters of the makeshift canopy overhead, directing consumers where to go in both Chinese and English. But, for now, it's still pretty authentic.
I was crossing one of Beijing's enormous intersections about half a kilometer away from the Dirt Market when it happened. The pedestrians of Beijing are similar to Madisonians in that they are very shrewd, but stupid, jaywalkers. The major difference between jaywalking in Wisconsin and jaywalking in China is that here
in China, the cars will not stop, or even slow down. Another difference is that it's not enough to simply look left, right and left again; no, in China, the head must swivel exorcist-like in order to ascertain that no cars are within striking distance. They can come from anywhere- the correct lane, the opposite lane, the oncoming traffic lane, the grass, over the median, and even from the overpass. I was about to start across the street when I saw a taxi hurtling towards me out of the corner of my eye. I stopped short, but the older gentlemen next to me didn't see it coming. As if in slow motion, I shouted "Xiao Xin (look out!)" and grabbed his arm, yanking him back. The taxi didn't slow and blew past us. Already shaken, he blanched when he turned to look at me and saw I was a foreigner. He kept repeating "xiexie, xiexie (thank you)" as I helped him back to the sidewalk. A crowd gathered around us, and I could hear the news spreading ("the foreigner just saved that old man's life!"). I didn't know how to react (I'd never saved a life before) and so I
just said "mei guan xi. shi wo ying gai de (no problem. it's what anyone would have done) and continued across the intersection.
It was only after I'd made it safely across the street that I looked back at the crowd that had gathered. Several people waved at me with big smiles on their faces, and it became clear to me that some of the damage that had been done to Western reputations from government propaganda after the Tibet riots and Olympic torch protests had been repaired. It felt nice.
The Dirt Market always feels like a home away from home to me. I can sit for hours and just people watch. There are so many untold stories drifting around those booths. The majority of the vendors start setting up at 4:30 AM to prepare for the weekend market. They all know each other and joke around as the crowds jostle past each other to get a look at the goods up for sale. I like the older generation best. They know the story behind each one of their wares, and if the product is a fake historical piece (as many of them are inclined to be), they
do a terrific job telling a believable story for each piece.
As I was walking back to the subway station, an enormous billboard caught my eye. It was emblazoned with the image of Jackie Chan and the caption said "Say No To Piracy". I chuckled to myself as I browsed through the line of roadside pirated DVD stands. Despite the assurances of the Chinese government to crack down on piracy, it still runs rampant throughout China. Not that I'm complaining about buying a new American release for just over a dollar....
In China, you never know what to expect. I didn't expect to save someone's life. I didn't expect the recent development of being treated like a second-class citizen by some shop clerks because of the perceived Western prejudice against China after the torch protests and Western media attacks on the lack of human rights in Tibet. (Despite these isolated incidents, most Chinese people are still very warm and friendly towards me). It was in this realm of expect the unexpected that I made a cool 200 RMB in five minutes.
A former student of mine called me up the other day to ask if I was
Exotic Flower Arrangement
I received this on the first anniversary of Grandma Ruth's passing interested in reading an announcement for a new shopping mall. She put me in touch with one of the employees, who picked me up in his Mercedes Benz and drove me to the Zhongguancun business park close to my apartment. I was given a 150 word paragraph and instructed to read it like a movie announcer, all the while being recorded. After two takes, it was deemed a perfect recording, I was paid and sent on my way. This all transpired in just over five minutes.
What is the significance of this five-minute job? Starting next week, my stellar voice recording will be broadcast over the loudspeaker at the Shangpin shopping mall in Beijing, with the aim of attracting foreigners to come browse through the racks of discounted namebrand-esque clothing. (Think T.J. Maxx). By now, I've done it all-- modeled in an international fashion show in Tianjin (2004), been interviewed for Chinese TV (2005), and been the voice of a shopping mall in a Beijing shopping district. My parents must be so proud.
Living in China is very up and down at the moment. There is a lot of tension in the air with the Olympic protests and not knowing what to expect come August. I'll be flying home to the United States at the end of July, so I won't be experiencing all of the hoopla during the Beijing games. It's strange to think that I've spent nearly two years living, studying and working in China. I've certainly learned and experienced a lot, sometimes more than I've been prepared for. Despite recent events, it is my fervent wish that every American has the opportunity to experience a culture outside of our own. It will change you forever.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.073s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 10; qc: 31; dbt: 0.0414s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Barb Wilson
non-member comment
We are so proud!
A parent starts out believing that their training and influence will shape their child's life, but, the fact is, the child ends up shaping the parent's life more than the parent shapes the child. Who you are and what you have done have made Dad and me more than proud--you have shaped us in countless ways for the better. And not only Dad and I have benefited, but also complete strangers on street corners. You are literally a life-saver and a life-shaper! Love, Mom