Worry More About Crossing the Street in China than the Burglars!
In a Country of 1.3 Billion people, who just 13 years ago saw the majority riding bicycles, one would think the Pedestrian would be a protected class of commuter. To cross a street or walk on a sidewalk in China, to the contrary, can turn into a test of nerves, will, and courage normally observed on military battlefields.
The Pedestrian is never safe until he reaches his intended destination securely behind a protected barrier, such as, a wall or door. To the uninitiated, a prerequisite before traveling is a mandatory 40 hour course of instruction of twenty hour lectures and twenty hour hands on practical application in a simulation chamber at the controls of a "Frogger" video game.
One must develop the instinctive skills to leap frog, even while in a so-called safe cross-walk, across a street with the vigilance and skills of an NFL Football running back dodging one honking vehicle after another without the assistance of any blockers.
This vigilance must be maintained even while walking on the sidewalk because mopeds and even cars will drive precariously close to your rear-end until such time you sense imminent danger and move to an even safer spot on the sidewalk (usually closer to a building). When you are walking--cars will seem to appear out of thin air with an azimuth aimed in your direction. While attempting to cross a street be ever mindful of right turning cars in your direction because they will not STOP for you. The farther you walk into the crosswalk the more the cars will try to turn in front of and behind you effectively sandwiching you into a space that will require your gait to be greatly diminished.
You will only feel safe from this right turning traffic when you've crossed over into the opposite traffic which will actually be stopped for an opposing red light. However, the danger resumes once you are about 75% percent across the street because now the right turning traffic in front of you will continue to impede your progress until they've completed their turn and this can be any where from five to eight turning cars--it will seem like the cars will never end--but they will, HONEST!
Don't be too overwhelmed because you will quickly develop a sixth sense that will raise the tiny little hairs on the back of your now sweaty little neck, while dilating your pupils, with a concomitant rush of adrenaline that will speed up your heart, placing you in a survival state of fight or flight. You now can purchase a T-Shirt that reads, "I Survived Walking in China" to the bemusement of your friends.
After you've returned to America, where Pedestrians do have the right of way, you will cherish those cross-walks and waiting cars--not right away--but in a week or so when you've stood down from Def-Con 1 and returned all body functions back to normal.
The Pedestrian is never safe until he reaches his intended destination securely behind a protected barrier, such as, a wall or door. To the uninitiated, a prerequisite before traveling is a mandatory 40 hour course of instruction of twenty hour lectures and twenty hour hands on practical application in a simulation chamber at the controls of a "Frogger" video game.
One must develop the instinctive skills to leap frog, even while in a so-called safe cross-walk, across a street with the vigilance and skills of an NFL Football running back dodging one honking vehicle after another without the assistance of any blockers.
This vigilance must be maintained even while walking on the sidewalk because mopeds and even cars will drive precariously close to your rear-end until such time you sense imminent danger and move to an even safer spot on the sidewalk (usually closer to a building). When you are walking--cars will seem to appear out of thin air with an azimuth aimed in your direction. While attempting to cross a street be ever mindful of right turning cars in your direction because they will not STOP for you. The farther you walk into the crosswalk the more the cars will try to turn in front of and behind you effectively sandwiching you into a space that will require your gait to be greatly diminished.
You will only feel safe from this right turning traffic when you've crossed over into the opposite traffic which will actually be stopped for an opposing red light. However, the danger resumes once you are about 75% percent across the street because now the right turning traffic in front of you will continue to impede your progress until they've completed their turn and this can be any where from five to eight turning cars--it will seem like the cars will never end--but they will, HONEST!
Don't be too overwhelmed because you will quickly develop a sixth sense that will raise the tiny little hairs on the back of your now sweaty little neck, while dilating your pupils, with a concomitant rush of adrenaline that will speed up your heart, placing you in a survival state of fight or flight. You now can purchase a T-Shirt that reads, "I Survived Walking in China" to the bemusement of your friends.
After you've returned to America, where Pedestrians do have the right of way, you will cherish those cross-walks and waiting cars--not right away--but in a week or so when you've stood down from Def-Con 1 and returned all body functions back to normal.
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