With a mere 19 days left in Beijing, I have developed a few new personal policies in regard to traffic:  Intersection Crossing. When the little green person lights up (which I initially thought indicated it was safe to cross the street), don't move.  When there appear to be no cars/bikes/motorbikes/motorcycles coming from the assumed direction, don't move.  The only time it is relatively slightly safe by any standard to cross the intersection is when the Chinese people around you scurry and dodge across- follow their path with close proximity.  Let no other previously accustomed logical explanations persuade you otherwise, or you will be finding yourself in quite a predicament whilst underneath a bus that is filled with at least 500 people.

 

Taxi riding.  Prada, Gucci and not-yet-released DVDs are not the only thing being sold on the black market in China these days.  Black taxis (driven by drivers without proper documentation as taxi licenses are expensive and hard to come by) are aplenty in Beijing, particularly on our campus.  My classmate and I befriended a female black taxi driver, XuJie, who drives us to all desired locations at a discounted rate.  I have reached the conclusion that when one rides in a taxi, you should either not look out the window at all, or simply close your eyes.  For as much of the taxi ride as possible.  Otherwise the speed at which the car is being driven, the inconsistent swerving of vehicles all around you, severe lack of turn signals (I thought Texas was bad), and brutal car accident scenes will cause you to see your life flash before your eyes atleast 8 times within a 15 minute cab ride.  Not that I even know how fast XuJie's car goes, as the spedometer is broken and flickers back and forth between 60 and 200 km per hour.  Although I have to say I'm now convinced that not knowing may be the better solution... Mom, I hope you're not having a heart attack reading this.