Worth Mentioning . . .

I'm in Beijing coffee shop planning my day, with earbuds in.  And Nas is spitting, “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)”.  

Man, that was me and Chanel's song! :-)  We used to recite every line in her green Honda Prelude.  What a great memory.  It makes me so happy that I can bring everyone along with me (in spirit) on this trip.

I carry my maps everyday.  They are written in Chinese and English.  Very helpful.

It's 100 degrees this week in Beijing (not joking), but I am drinking hot tea because I have a sore throat and keep sneezing. But this music has me pumped!

As I’m bobbing my head (so hard my neck may snap), I think it's worth mentioning some observations that really stand out on my China journey:

1)  No napkins. Anywhere. Restaurants will sometimes charge if you ask. 

2)  You will eat everything with chopsticks.  If you need utensils, a spoon is the king. (not the fork)

3) Chinese love street food. Every stick is about $.50.

These scorpions were alive and wiggling around.  If you purchased one, then they would be grilled. I've also seen grilled beetles.

I think these are sea urchins and eels waiting to be grilled.

Chinese LOVE fried food.  Fried crab.

Fried shrimp and friend potatoes.   And in the back, raw starfish waiting to be grilled.

4) China is not a religious country, so banks and the post office are open on Sundays.

I went to exchange USD for YUN on a Sunday, 5PM.

5) People will cut you in line.  Doesn't matter if you've been waiting half hour.  Grandma’s, young women, middle-aged men - whoever - will jump in front of you when it is your turn, and act like they don't see or hear you groaning. 

6) People push and shove and crowd in so close, you can feel them breathing on you. There is no social code for personal space. 

If you bump someone and say, "Excuse me" they will look at you strangely.  No one apologizes for that in a cramped city.

7) People clear their throats and spit, and rocket snot.  In public.  No one uses tissue.

8) If you do something to a woman or her children in public that she dislikes, she will CURSE YOU OUT. If other nearby women agree, they will join in on the shaming.

9) In 99% of toilets are in the ground.  And there is no toilet paper.  You have to bring your own.

10) Also in bathrooms, no soap to wash your hands. :-/  (Personal hand sanitizer is a must!)

11) The marked price of merchandise is never the price. Negotiate.  Even in the mall.

12) Chinese women love Coach purses.  You're doin' it, if you're rocking a Coach bag.

13)  The movies only serve kettle corn (no butter).

14) Many married couples don't wear their wedding rings.  Only on important holidays, or for their anniversaries.  

15) No tap water.  Bottled water only.  The hotels will give you 2 free bottles a day.  And a kettle for tea.

16) You will walk a lot in China.   

On average, I walk 7 miles a day.  But still haven't lost one pound. Too many noodles and rice, I suppose.   

17) Pharmacies stay open 24hours, but they don't speak English.  You have to make funny body gestures about what's wrong. 

I'm getting a head cold in Beijing.  Walked to the pharmacy at 11:30PM (right next to my hotel - LOTS of people still out.  Felt safe.  This town doesn't sleep).  Me and hubby Skyped, and Googled the medicines to figure out exactly what it was before I took it.  

18)  Lastly, and most importantly, bring bug spray.  You will get bit by mosquitos.  I have 20 bites right now. 

~SS