It's the little things that make me smile: Part 二

---

In honor of Thanksgiving, I've compliled another top ten list of the little things people here have done or do regularly that just make me smile.
And now it's time for another turkey coma to set in. Enjoy!


1. I was on the subway the other night coming home from a party around 1030pm. I didnt' get a seat, but that really doesn't bother me unless I'm really tired or carrying more than my purse or bookbag.
After a few stops, some sitters got off, and the girl next to me grabbed a spot. It didn't bother me--she's in heels and I'm smarter than that. She kept trying to take some of the pile of bags from her still-standing boyfriend, but he wouldn't let her. Another stop later, the elderly man sitting next to her got off. I looked at her boyfriend, expecting him to take it. He did have a pile of bags and I assumed he would want to sit next to her. Many men here dive for seats when they open up, or they try to get their girlfriends into them as quickly as possible.

He offered it to me.

I have never had anyone offer me a seat instead of taking it in the US. I most likely won't in China again, either, especially on public transportation. (In non-transporation situations, I have been offered a seat by people I know, but I think it's mostly because I'm western and female, not just female.)
I'm not saying I need to sit on the train or that I should be offered seats, but it was really nice.


2. Here it is not uncommon to see a guy carrying a purse. He will be carrying his own stuff, a huge girly handbag, and the woman will be happily walking beside him, hands empty. In the US it's next to impossible to get a guy to hold your handbag while you use the restroom or if you need 2 hands to do something. Here, it's almost like a status symbol. If you are carrying a handbag, you're apparently manly enough to not only have a pretty lady in your company, most likely be in a relationship with her, but she also trusts you enough with her valuables.


3. Women in China wear heels everywhere. They wear short ones, tall ones, simple ones, outrageous ones, ones that would break my ankles. And they wear them with everything: pants, short, long skirts, shorter skirts, mini skirts (that would be considered slutty in the US--yet we were told to dress modestly since Chinese women do... hmmm). They don't just teeter in them, either. They strut in them, stroll in the, run in them, hike in them (I'm serious). I had one coordinator explain it as such: Chinese women love their heels; They would swim in them if they could.
To this day, when I see a woman in a pair that are insanely tall or ornate, I picture her diving into a pool.


4. Every day around 3pm there's a break at school for the students to do these exercises. They sit there and rub/massage their faces. I think it's supposed to relax them after studying so hard. Only about 1/3 kids does them, at the most.
During class one day, I was waiting for the soothing counting to be over so I could begin. I was watching the students. I'm intrigued by all this rubbing.
One student in the far back of the room wasn't doing his exercises. Which doesn't bother me in the slightest. Being that is is November, it's "cold" here and students are wearing their school uniform track suits. Then he put his jacket over his head like a tent! I had to see what would happen next. It wasn't quite like he was hiding or doing something he shouldn't. It just looked silly. After a few moments, he lifted it up, saw me looking at him with a perplexed look on my face, and gave me the biggest cheesy grin. Then he quickly pulled the jacket back over his face.


5. One night, I heard an erhu being played on the street corner. The player performed for a few hours, the sound resonating through the night air. It sounds almost voice-like, like someone singing (in Chinese). It's these small things that remind me I'm in China and no where else.

To understand why this is so significant, you need to realize that Nanshan (the district I live in) is quite wealthy, and the area I'm in is like the Edina or Scottsdale of Shenzhen. This is not a neighborhood with street musicians! We're just beginning to get back our street food and cart vendors, which I think give the neighborhood some character. Much nicer character than a western, high-end shopping mall. China character.
To find out what an erhu is, check out the lovely Wikepedia. It's a stringed instrument, which I'm rather partial to. There's even a link at the bottom to hear a sample. Just my way of sharing a bit of China with you!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erhu


6. On my way to class, I saw 2 monks, dressed in beautiful red robes, trying to use a payphone. I guess, since monks have no possessions, they are probably 2 of the only people in Shenzhen without cell phones!


7. Whistle while you work. Whistle while you work. Doesn't matter if you're the man fixing my toilet, the lady mopping the floor, or my bus driver... whistle while you work.


8. The potato lady. There's a 2 room shop next to the Walmart by my class. It's so small you almost miss it. The front room is as big as my single bed, and is where she does the potato making. The back is where she rests, or for all I know, lives. (Some street food vendors do sleep on their carts.) For a whopping Y3, I can get appx a plateful of steaming hot potatoes. They are fried, seasoned, and if you want, she adds spicy peppers. You eat them with a wooden spear that's about 4 inches long out of a plastic to-go container.


9. Seeing my students and fellow faculty in heavy winter clothes. Some of my students are wearig mulitple shirts, all are wearing pants and sweatshirts. Teachers are wearing big fluffy vests and turtle necks. Now, I have to admit, I too am bit chilly. To go from 85-90 and sunny with humidity every day to 65, partly cloudy, and much less humidity is drastic. Especially for this change to occur in one week. And the air is kind of damp, so the chill can set right into your bones. And none of the buildings are heated. But really, multiple pairs of pants or 3 shirts? I even saw one lady on the subway wearing a coat that made me think a blizzard was coming because it was so puffy and zipped to cover half her face. In her defense, the AC was jacked up (yeah, that's necessary) and I think she had a cold.


10. When my handyman comes to fix something (eg. my toilet) he alwasy stops to take off his shoes before he enters. He bends over and slowly loosens the laces and slips them off. Then, he, in his socks, puts on my flip flops (you know, the ones I wore to the bar on Halloween) because he thinks they are my guest house shoes and are cleaner than his shoes.
And then when he's done being a miracle worker, he trades my flip flops for his shoes, kneels down and neatly reties them. Then he smiles, tries to tell me what the problem was, and leaves.
Such a nice man!


It really is the little things that make the difference. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

---

Comments

[Jo]

Happy Thanksgiving my wonderful friend! Your blog is always a special part of my day...and your little things list was particularly sweet today. You make my world a better place just by being in it! I have many things to be thankful for, and your friendship is one of them. Many hugs and much love, Jo