First impressions of China – Observations volume 2.

1. Men bearing their stomachs – when it’s hot (all the time here) men of all ages and sizes pull their t-shirts up to their nipples, rest it there, and walk around with their stomachs out.  Anywhere, anytime. 
2. Lack of queuing – It’s not so much that there’s a lack of ability to queue, it’s just that the queue is usually determined by who can push in front the first – a kind of Darwinistic survival of the fittest principle
3. Never wear white whilst eating – Many of the dishes have a lot of soup/ suace and when you’re eating noodles with chopsticks, most of it seems to go on your top
4. The Chinese are a lot more scared of you than you are of them – scared is the wrong word, but a white guy in China piques people’s interest and curiosity, although a child did start running away from me screaming when she saw me the other day
5. Video games – are everywhere, and there are shops with battery farms of pc video games terminals where people of all ages pay to play
6. Chinese people are a lot taller than expected – I am taller than most Chinese people, but there are a lot of Chinese people who are significantly taller than me.  Does not make me feel good about myself!
7. Dry heat – a combination of the dry heat, lack of moisture in the atmosphere, pollution and the sand blowing in from the Gobi desert makes for an annoying cough, which apparently goes away after a week or two.  (Fingers crossed!)
8. Money – the Chinese (individually) are very careful with their money.  They always make you pay on time and will never forget any money you owe them. 
9. Electric bicycles – they are f***ing annoying and everywhere.  They don’t make a sound, creep up behind you and nearly knock you over.  Having said that, I still want one!
10. Beijing is a very cool city – cosmopolitan and diverse, it has a lot to offer and I’m really enjoying it!