More Lessons Learned

With every new day comes a new lesson to add to the list.  Here are some: 

• You will get ripped off if you're not Chinese. Cold, hard fact. Get used to it because it will likely happen more than once. (In Beijing, it happens even if you are Chinese. Ask Mike if he likes Beijing cab drivers.) 
• You will get stared at if you're not Chinese. Get used to this too. (I tend to just stare back; or smile; or say, "Ni hao!") 
• It's totally normal for motorcyclists to ride (fast) on (crowded) sidewalks. 
• I mentioned the lack of a pedestrian's right-of-way, but I've also learned that hitting a Westerner results in a higher fine than hitting a fellow countryman. Go figure.

And with lessons learned comes the start of a Shanghai Survival Guide:

• Try to make eye contact with drivers. Once they see that you're a Westerner, they may slow down (or swerve around you). 
• Have no fear. (This one's for you, dad.) No fear when crossing an intersection, walking down the street, or leaving the comfort of your apartment to venture out into the world beyond it. 
• Be open-minded, try new things, and don't ask too many questions, as in: How did the restaurant prepare my meal so quickly? What kind of meat or fish am I eating? Where did this piece of meat or fish come from? Has this produce been rinsed properly? At a certain point, if you want to eat, you just have to go with it and not think too much about it. I've fared well with this approach so far -- and have had some wonderful meals and tasted all kinds of new things. 
• Be accepting. Smile at the differences. See the beauty in the experience.  

Lessons Learned (so far)

We're well into our second month here and I'm starting to compile a list of lessons learned living in Shanghai (reminds me of my working days and having to create a "Lessons Learned" PowerPoint after every event; funny, I don't miss those that much).  

• First and foremost, pedestrians do NOT have the right-of-way. I learned this quickly. And you will too if you come to visit. Walk with confidence and give dirty looks when necessary.  
• And speaking of traffic, honking is commonplace. Instead of "watch out", here it means, "FYI, I'm coming through," or "FYI, I'm behind you," or "FYI, I'm turning left." You get the idea.  
• "Excuse me" doesn't exist; touching and bumping into strangers is perfectly acceptable. 
• You don't really let passengers get off your subway train if you want to get on it.  
• Locals hack up loogies and spit them out. When you hear that lovely sound (and you will hear it), steer clear. (By the way, picking your nose in public is no biggie either.)  
• Carry tissues. Restaurants don't always provide napkins (and if they do, some charge for them!).  
• Any Western anything (groceries, meals, clothes, shoes) is at least three times as expensive as its local counterpart. 
• Yes, the pollution is that bad.  

This is a preliminary list as I'm sure there are more lessons to be learned.