Taxi drivers, no survivors....

Usually when the family goes out about the town we choose to either walk or travel by taxi. Buses in our city are incredibly crowded...I mean, you can't even fathom what I mean by crowded. The way people board a bus in this country, you'd think the Beatles were on board or something. It's chaos, pure and simple, lots of pushing and shoving, angling for breathing space- not the place for a baby girl, especially a foreign baby that everyone wants to poke, pinch, touch, cough, and love on. Too many people! So, we normally take the taxi, which affords a more comfortable ride, albeit a much more dangerous one. I am constantly reminded in whose hand my life dwells ever time I step into a taxi in China. American road rules do not apply over here. Drivers are constantly fighting for every inch of the road, whether it's in the bike lane, or into oncoming traffic makes no difference. Navigating a street in China is now easy deal either, considering that from every conceivable direction you have to dodge bicycles, motorcycles, mopeds, teenagers, children, dogs, chickens, yaks, old people, buses, private cars, and of course, other taxis. Jenny usually gets carsick when we take a taxi, and we almost always have to yell at our driver repeatedly to slow down and be careful, to which they casually reply "Mei Guanxi" which means, "it doesn't matter" or the equivalent of "no big deal."

Now, I have never (PTL) been in an accident in China. But, if I ever am, that's probably going to be all she wrote, because another unusual custom of automobile travel is the strict taboo regarding seatbelts. You see, if you step into a cab, or into a personal car, and the first thing you do is click your safety belt, you are communicating one clear thing to the driver of the vehicle: You don't trust them. You don't think they are a good driver. Essentially, you're insulting the person that is about to take your life in their hands. Not always the most comfortable situation. Now, rest assured, whenever I ride in the front seat, I click my belt, no matter how much the driver fusses. That is, assuming that there is a belt, and that it is still able to be used. In the backseat, this is impossible, for although there are places to click a belt, the belts are hidden behind a seat cover and impossible to access. Thankfully, in all taxis there is a metal gate between you and the driver. So, if there ever was an accident, and you were in the backseat, the worst thing that could happen would be that you would be thrown up against the gate. If you're in the front seat you and the driver would most likely be sent flying out a window, which is why dear friends, I click it, ever time, no matter how much I get fussed at. I just try to explain that in my country, this is our custom, and leave it at that.

One interesting thing I heard from my grammar teacher related to driving in China, is that in China you don't turn left, you only turn right. I inquired a little further about this, and explained that I regularly see drivers turning left and right. "No," I was corrected, "we only turn right, it's very dangerous to turn left in China. Maybe in other countries you turn left." Now, I don't disagree that it is incredibly dangerous to turn in any direction in China- heck, it's dangerous to get into a car! But, I somehow thing I lost something in translation regarding all this left business. Maybe she meant they drive on the right side of the street. Anyway, words to the wise if you ever come for a visit- wear your seatbelt and don't turn left!