China =/= me Pt. 2

Obviously I am really bored by making 3 blog posts in day.

Anyways, I was invited to dinner over at a relative's place, in the countryside. What made this interesting was the fact that this is the cool season for Southern China, and being a Canuck, it was really comfortable. Typically I'd sweat my ass off when it's hot and sunny, and I generally don't like the heat and like a vampire, I shun the sun. Granted, if I need colour, I do tan, when I feel like it.

Anyways, I'm walking around in a short-sleeved polo shirt, and everybody here is in long sleeves, and jackets, all looking at me funny. Granted, it could be the fact that I am pretty white, compared to most asian, and I can pass for someone from the north of China (ie: Beijing), but I stand out with the short sleeves, oddly.

So, I am whiter, and can stand for a bit of their "chilly", overcast weather, thus I stuck out like a sore thumb.

Another thing hits me is the cultural differences when it comes to garbage. I remember as a kid back in the 80's, we'd chuck our garbage on the street, and let things be. Then we stopped doing that, because it wasn't good for the city's image, bylaws were enforced on littering. Here in SE China... non-existent. Done with my can of soda (ugh I hate that word) throw it away in an empty field. Felt weird doing that for the first time in almost 20+ years. Then again, pollution here is bad. So bad that everytime I clean my nose, there is black stuff coming out.

Anyways, other than the pollution and such, it's a nice sleepy town here in Sun Wan, just a 30 minute drive from Zhong Shan, which is north west of Hong Kong. Just don't ask me what direction that town is in. Anyways, there is a large gambling racket in the middle of town, ran by said relative's relative. Oddly, he's the only guy taller than me in the whole town. Anyways, small gambling parlours dot the town here and there, as it's the only thing to do on a sleepy Sunday. Dogs, chickens, and geese roam the streets, along side motorcycles, bicycles, and people walking.

Would I retire there... definitely not... I'd rather be in the city.

Anyways, as I have said in one of my previous blog comment... "oh fuck" culture shock