Human Slingshots
By The Time We Got There, It Was Dinner At Tiffany’s*.
There is a phenomenon of giving directions in China that I still don’t understand: people will only give you directions to the next block. For example, “Go straight ‘til the next intersection, then turn left.” Now, you as a Westerner might think that means that after you turn left, you’ll be there. Oh no, my friend. This is just the beginning. If you don’t see what you’re looking for after you turn left, you ask someone else, and get the next set of directions. You will keep doing this, block after block, until you arrive at your destination. This happened to V. and I when we were in Chengdu for training. I needed to get to Tiffany & Co.* to get some jewelry cleaned, and he came with me. I didn’t know where Tiffany was exactly, but I figured it was downtown near the other big shops. Turns out it was in a new shopping plaza built a little zig-zaggy ways away from where we were. It took four sets of directions to get us there. Yup, that’s about right. Also, be aware: you will alw...
Comments
And I'm seriously coveting that pickup plowing in the background (one of my Uncles had a blue and white Ford growing up that still defines "pickup" to me.)
I didn't even notice that pickup snowplow until you pointed it out. I think it belongs to the complex. They do a good job of quickly clearing snow. We had a lot of it last weekend, that's for sure.