Andy, We Hardly Knew Ye

After my friend Lars spent a year in Australia he returned with a liking for country music and a new appreciation for the ol U.S.A. I’ve been absent less than a month, yet already I’m experiencing similar feelings (sans the country music).

China really is a foreign land. Big discovery, I know. I knew that, I know that, but still the local way of things grates at my sensibilities. For instance, there is the traffic. Anyone who has been here before, or knows a bit about the country, knows that to drive in China is madness. They have a total disregard for traffic laws here, and absolutely will not slow down, no matter what lies ahead— be it pedestrians or a city bus, everything is expected to make way. I’ve been in five cabs since my arrival, and all of them have either driven the wrong way down a one-way street, or deliberately taken roundabouts the wrong direction. I cannot believe I haven’t seen an accident— or should I say crash? I doubt the driving deserves the word “accident.”

I learned today that Andy is leaving us inside the week. He is going to drive a truck in his family business. I asked him why, and he said he likes the life he leads now, but that he can’t say no to his family. His older brother, who drove the vehicle until now, recently married, and apparently his wife cannot abide Yantai. Thus, they are moving away, his brother can no longer pilot the truck, and Andy is obliged to take his position. I asked if they couldn't simply hire someone who isn’t Andy. He said, yes, it was possible, but that it would cost his family a good deal of money. I didn't voice it, but I thought, “this would never happen in America.” It feels unfair that Andy has to give up the work he’s found himself, the work he enjoys, and go drive a truck full time, alone, on his parent’s account— as opposed to practicing English and exercising all day with us. Perhaps this does happen in America and I have been too privileged to experience it, and perhaps Andy’s parents are in dire straights and actually can’t afford somebody else. Perhaps, but it still sucks for Andy and it still sucks for us.

On a totally different topic, training went quite well today. I practiced my form a lot. Also, I’ve decided to try working around those troublesome push-ups with free weight exercises and hindu-push-ups, which are lower impact. The master wasn't here today, so I didn't get a chance to discuss it with him, but I intend to at the first opportunity.

This is a morning post, outside the guard is shouting at the dogs, “zho! zho!”