Voice of Will: Going to Zhengzhou

2004-10-11 - 12:41 p.m.
So yesterday I had a nice adventure. I travelled to zhengzhou (jungjoe) with a student by ourselves. We took the school bus into zhengzhou with the chinese teachers who were going home, and then we went and did a few errands I needed to do. This included getting another baseball glove.

Now as I have stated earlier someone took my sons baseball glove. So I had asked my students to keep a look out for a baseball glove. I should have known it wouldn't be easy, especially after I had gone looking in xinzheng (shin jung) with absolutely no luck, and lots of chinese snickers as I tried to pantomine playing catch...

Well in a city of 4 million there is exactly 1 store that has any baseball equipment. They had 1, count em 1 baseball glove (very hard stiff leather, need some saddle soap...finding that will be an adventure too), and about 6 bats, and 2 balls. Baseball doesn't seem to be too popular here...

So we finished our errands, and we had to get the 30 miles home. City bus I said. My companion blanched. No no no. The school should have a bus returning any minute. (this for an hour). I did not understand why my student was not wanting to take the city bus back. Now I know.

So we get to the bus terminal at about 5 pm. We get on the bus at 520. the bus leaves at 530. WE have seats (as I found out later, no cushions). So now imagine a bus driving the backroads, slowing down for every group of people to "troll" for more fairs.

Now I have told you about driving in china. Now I'm going to tell you about driving at china at NIGHT.
So the roads are about level with some bad dirt roads. Pot holes that swallow cars, funny road grades, and of course no shocks on the vehicles. Now that is the road. Think about roads in America/Europe where you live. Now take away the street lights one at at time until the road is completely dark.

Now imagine the worst pollution of any major city and double it so you cannot see more than about 100 feet in front of you during the day. Now put 10foot tall bamboo shoots growing on both sides of the road, or put in dilapidated buildings with single 40 watt light bulbs hanging from the ceiling. (imagine the perfect horror setting, and this makes that look warm and fuzzy)
do you feel the setting?

Oh and I left out two things, the oncoming traffic may not have lights, they may have running lights, they may have only one headlight, or nothing at all. And the traffic you are passing on the right consists of tractors, mopeds, bicycles, and other cars also with all, some, or no lights. Now imagine your bus driver barreling down the road talking on a cell phone he keeps dropping.

Do this for 2 hours on the 30 mile trip back.... are you feeling car sick yet?


Will