Me, me, me

Despite the few people who do have respect for others, I find that many or dare I say, most, Chinese people seem to have little respect for those around them. I mean this in terms of personal space and waiting in lines. Two days ago I went to the Tianjin History Museum. I'm standing about a foot from a glass encasement looking at a paining and a 60 something Chinese woman walks up beside me and scooches right in front of me! I was the only one there and she had to place herself right in front of me.

Another instance, well many instances actually, when I'm at the grocery store, shopping mall, etc., a Chinese person will walk fast to get around me then cut in front of me and stop to look around. This just drives me insane! The worst is when I"m waiting in line to buy something at the supermarket and the person behind me keeps inching closer and closer. So close that their cart or basket is pushing into my back. No, I was wrong. Worse still is when you're next to get on the bus and some old lady walks up beside you, sticks her arm in front of you and pushes onto the bus. errrr If its a younger person I'll fight for my place but I have enough decency to not be abusive with an old person. All I can say though, is that old folks in China are feisty.

Other than these things that drive me up a wall, their lack of respect for personal space can be sometimes funny. Again, at the grocery store, it never fails that people will walk up beside me and look into my basket to check out what I'm buying. I guess they're just interested to see what American's buy to eat. Sometimes the more daring curious person will actually pick something up from my basket and examine it.

I have my days when all the staring and random "hello's!" get to me. But I've been here in China long enough to block it out most of the time. And I just have to shrug it off when someone cuts in front of me, pushes, or examines the contents of my shopping cart.