I feel so rude that I haven’t introduced my foreign friends to you yet. These are two guys, one is from Canada and the other one is from America and they are both English teachers. We have been doing quite a couple of things together. Things like eating strange food, visiting interesting shops and using public toilets. Yes I had to use a public toilet a couple of times, but you will be relieved to know that it was all number ones. I have not squatted on one of those babies yet. The thought of some unknown guy dropping his pants right next to me, getting into position, this is an experience that will need to wait until I find that special friend who would like to share it with me. Me and these friends don’t have that relationship yet. I think they will both agree!!
The two friends are Jess, and Joel. Jess is from Canada. He is around 1,90m tall and weighs in at about 115-120kg (All depends on how much chicken popcorn we eat). Joel is from America. Joel on the other hand is a little shorter than your local Chinese and likes swearing. This is truly a scene when we all decide to go into the streets of Linfen together. You have people staring out their shops, constantly walking out of their shops and some almost making accidents to see this phenomenon. Joel decided that he wanted to buy himself a freestyle bmx, partly to do stunts, but I also think to make up for some of his shortcomings. He would look pretty big on a small bmx made for a 9year old.
Assisting us today in the purchase of this bike is another Chinese friend whose name is Carson. Carson is a great guy and he is officially in charge to help with everything that the foreign teachers need to purchase. From jocks, to water, to Wii’s to televisions, anything you can think off. He is also the man with the contacts and knows where to find the good deals. Today he finds himself in the position of the haggler. He is the only one that can say more than the local “Ni hao”. The other two boys aren’t too bad when it comes to speaking Chinese. They both have Chinese girlfriends and seem to learn a thing or two from them.
After running in and out of a couple of bike stores we eventually find what we are after. It is a big shop with a lot of variety. The shop owner’s son starts showing Joel around. Carson haggling at the best of his ability. The shop owner has turned into the local paparazzi and me and Jess duck and dive to stay out of the camera lens. We look like two convicts ready for trial, hoodies and all. After some bargaining and pointing Joel decides to take a bike for a test drive. Outside the shop, groups of people start gathering around to see this white man do some tricks. Did I mention that Joel hasn’t been on one of those bikes for about ten years? I decided to get the focus off me and made my way to the back of the group. After Joel tried his luck with no results, it was Jess who took on the challenge. “Man, am I glad there’s no attention on me”. I don't know who was more embarrassed, the two idiots on the bike, or me... for the two idiots on the bike??
Remind me not to go bike shopping with those two again!! The shop owner on the other hand was ecstatic about his clientele. He even took a couple of group photos with all us boys and his sons. This one will go on his wall saying, “The day we had a good laugh at those whities… and the shy one in the back”. You can call it shy… but I will call it smart!!
(Linfen, Shanxi Province, China)
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