Knees to Chest

Living in a city is much different than the suburban life I am accustomed to. I do miss the solitude and calmness of the suburbs, but I love city-life as well. You can walk almost anywhere and there are always things to do!

So, each morning that it isn't raining (or that I haven't shut off my alarm for the umpteenth time from exhaustion), I am able to walk to school. It's a nice way to start the day because it gives me the opportunity to wake up a little before needing to fully interact. For the most part, the walk is quiet.


Then,  you hit the main road to cross near the school. So, basically it's a small highway (small is a loosely used term) and luckily it is a bit divided. I remember standing on the side of the street thinking, ' oh, this isn't bad. we cross the street in America' and assumed the procedure would be the same. FALSE. Almost NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING, is done the same in China as it is in America, no matter how familiar it appears. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying one way is better than the other, just merely that I shouldn't make assumptions. Here's how I learned.

I stepped into the road to prepare to walk across the one side of the highway to the middle divider after noticing that there was a small gap in traffic. I only looked to the left since it was a one direction side of the road. WRONG. Within a split second I felt the side of a petty cab running into my elbow. Yep. I got hit by a petty cab, going the wrong direction, on a divided highway. Just a reminder: LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE CROSSING THE ROAD. and NEVER MAKE ASSUMPTIONS. Sidenote: I am fine and was barely hit, but still it was too close for my liking.



Here are some other things I've learned.
1. Knees to Chest: Seriously, you hustle. No loligagging across the road.
2.  No waiting until there isn't any traffic (you will be waiting for quite some time)
3. Scooters will weave around you, so it's ok to wander through them, just be respectful and don't just stroll.
4. Always look both ways
5. Cars are a little less forgiving, but might still weave around you.
6. Buses will kill you. Seriously, every time I go see them while crossing the road, I remind myself 'buses will kill you. you will die'.
7. Go. You can't be nervous or hesitant. Make a decision and own it. Indecisiveness causes accidents and people will die.
8. Have fun! I kinda love the thrill of weaving through traffic. There's a sort of freedom that comes with the territory, not to mention you feel like a total rebel. :) It sorta is like
I'm in a video game, like frogger, now just to make it to the other side