Before I get started, I have to have a moment to reflect on some bigger issues in the world at the moment. First off is the date. Can you believe it has been 9 years since that horrible day. I remember it as if it were yesterday. I was in residency and Steve happened to be in D.C. at the time, it was monumentally frightening. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those who lost in in this tragedy, which is essentially the entire American people. Let me also, put out a request for prayers to those who are currently affected by the four mile fire in Boulder. I can only helplessly watch from my computer as homes and wildlife go up in flames so close to where we still call home.
So, I wanted to touch on a basic task that we take for granted every day. It has now been 7 weeks since I have been behind wheel of a motor vehicle. Don't all hoot and holler at once. Seriously, getting from A to B is a critical necessity that we all take for granted. As you may or may not know, we have a car and driver that gets us around. I know you are thinking, "Wow" but it is not as glamorous as you think. It is not as if I am sitting inside a limo with strawberries and champagne being let out at the red carpet. We have a standard issue Buick minivan. Yes, didn't you know that the Buick is the most popular car in China? Our driver only speaks Mandarin, so everyday is a bit like charades. He starts to get to know the places we like to go, so I can just say Fangdian Lu (Lu means road) and he takes me to a popular expat shopping/dining area on that street. He seems to be quite entertained by my children, which is good, because they are not calm and quiet, and so far, I haven't seen a hint of frustration or eye rolling. Which I hope means that we are not annoying or irritating. It is no easy task carting us around. Especially when I am retrieving puking kids from school.
There is a good reason they won't let us drive. Driving is pretty different here. I think of it as a musical concert where there is a constant flow of movement. In and out up and down, all streaming together. One car squeezes a little too close, and you move enough just to let him by. Meanwhile, the motorized bicycles and scooters squeeze in-between like toothpaste. Drivers are always looking for an opportunity to get ahead. In traffic, why waste those empty on coming lanes. No sense in wasting good space just drive on the wrong side of the road for a while. The amazing thing is there is no road rage, you may get an occasional honk for communication, but the people are not laying on there horns aggressively attacking other drivers. It is as if it is a given that all are trying to get somewhere quickly and if you are in that much of a hurry, ok move ahead. We have been in numerous close encounters and my driver never flinches. It is like, O.K. this lady wants to back out into me, I will let her know I am here, then get out of her way.
There are some cool differences. Their left hand turn lanes extend into the intersection, saying it is ok to wait out here until you can turn. Also, the lights give you a warning before they turn green, so you will be ready to go. The yellow light starts to blink along with your red light before the green light comes on tell you to get ready to move. Similarly the yellow light starts to flicker when the green is on to tell you that the yellow light is coming soon. I think it is brilliant actually. It definitely seem to keep things moving.
The worst thing about not being able to drive, is having to depend on someone else to be there at a moments notice. I can't just run to the corner store, without having to call my driver to come get me. And let me tell you, these drivers work hard. They are available 12-14 hours a day. Waiting to take me on my next shopping excursion , or for Steve a dinner meeting. I don't know, everyone says "they want to work." I am not sure I can ever get over that reference, "they." As if they are different from you or belong to some other group.
I felt terrible this week. It was back to school night and I had arranged for the kids to hang out with a neighbor and their Ayi , and I was going to drive. Of course, something got lost in translation, so when I called my driver, he was already at home. He had to leave his home (probably in the middle of dinner) and come pick up Emmy and I and a friend and take us to school for 2 hours. I am certain my driver could not have been happy about this, but he never lets it show.
The other controversy is, where do I sit? With two adults and 3 kids, someone has to sit in the front seat. Is this acceptable? Well, I don't care if it is or not. I sit in the front, all the time. This way, I get to learn where I am going. I do get stares at times, but I don't care, it is more practical, besides, I am the "trailing spouse." When Steve rides to work he is always in the second row, the appropriate place for the client to sit. Now for the first time in our lives together, I always know where we are and where we are going. Plus, if we are traveling as a family, he is closer to the kiddos. Whoooo hooo for me.
From a practical standpoint, I use tour books and taxi cards to communicate where I would like to go. In Shanghai, there is a phone number, called Guanxi. You call it and it will text the directions to you in Chinese. I haven't tried it yet, but heard it works great. So, we are getting around alright. The sites on the road are something to see: Whole families on a scooter, with no helmets, people riding side saddle on a bench behind the seat while the front person pedals. The motorized bikes are different. They are a functional bicycle that also has an electric motor to jet you around. Boy, I would have loved one of those when I was a kid. I hope to post pictures so you can see what I mean.
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