Here in Shanghai riding the subway system, the Metro, presents few real problems. It has an extensive network of routes, most of which have been built since we were last here (with students) in 2004--about the same time period during which those responsible for subways systems in places like New York have slowly concluded that it's possible older American systems are falling apart. That's pretty amazing.
It's also inexpensive (at least for our pocketbooks), usually about 50 cents a ride or less (U.S. money), perhaps 2-3 Chinese Yuan. And it's evidently quite reliable, with trains coming every 3-4 minutes, at least those we've been riding. Lots of people here like it, and ride it, and it's hard to imagine how so many millions of people would get around the city every day without it. It's even nice and cool on the trains, nice in a place that's sometimes full of humid, monsoon weather.
Yet, there are a few things we do find curious. One is the signage, including some directions, some warnings, and other messages. They can be puzzling at first, until we conside the context in which they are posted--the subway. Yet even then we remain curious--the windows don't open in the train cars, and the train won't start moving (evidently) unless the doors are all safely closed. So it's seems that little "popping out" would be possible. Yet there's little harm to our minor confusions; we assume that such messages make perfect sense to those who can read the original Chinese.
But a more interesting question awaits. What's the "etiquette" of offering one's seat to someone who's standing--perhaps even insisting they take the seat you've abandoned?
This has often happened to us on the Metro. We're standing, apparently able to stand, and someone else, always someone Chinese (not a surprise; we're usually the only non-Chinese we see on the Metro), points to a vacant seat, or even stands up and pointedly calls us to take it.
And interestingly, the "us" is often me (Bruce).
I'm not sure that's because I look older, perhaps more unsteady, more vulnerable, or what (could be!). Barbara does look, and is, younger by almost five years, but she also has a more energetic and lively way of moving--all those years dancing. I wonder, too, if being male carries some status that conventional western patriarchal etiquette wouldn't predict. Or being a foreigner, a visitor, and I've become the "victim" of local hospitality (yet which I often welcome!). I should add that sometimes local folks have even re-arranged themselves a bit so that a seat opens up next to the newly-seated me for Barbara, and then there are often smiles all around. It's possible we make a cute (but old) couple, and small gestures of consideration (and romance) have been in play.
All this could be part of the truth. We do see local Chinese people being offered a seat, but usually in more obvious circumstances--a mother with a small baby, or a woman very pregnant, or an older woman with a cane. I think I need the services of students from the social research classes at St. Olaf, who could more systematically keep track of what the patterns really are: who offers, who's offered, who accepts, the gender patterns involved, and so on--this is hard to figure out based on our own anecdotal experience.
Or we can just be grateful, once again, for "the kindness of strangers," which has more than once, in more than one country, come to our aid. And for which we are grateful each time!
Let's close with a few views of those local people, doing everyday things!
Parks are important, and well-used, by some local folks. This one has room for four basketball games at a time, almost always played by men in the 20-35 range when I've stopped by to watch (this is right near Barbara's studio).
This particular one square block park also has a soft-surface walking path around the perimeter of about a quarter mile, and there are often older folks walking the path, or in the early morning doing some stretches. There are always lots of people walking--often to work, to shop, to visit, and so forth--in the photo below walking on a pedestrian overpass to avoid heavy traffic.
In the photo below, in the Yuyuan Gardens and park, in Nanshi (the Old Town), you can see people of various ages and abilities (some parks have paved paths which make wheelchair access more possible), and of course parks are a free place to take little kids, handy for those who do not have large apartments or may not be able to afford destinations that would be costly (like the just-opened Shanghai Disney world). Parks are also nice for Barbara and me--always some nice people-watching, including groups playing "go" or card games (guys), or playing musical instruments.
With that, we sign off for the moment, but will try to do another posting soon.
Barbara and Bruce!
It's also inexpensive (at least for our pocketbooks), usually about 50 cents a ride or less (U.S. money), perhaps 2-3 Chinese Yuan. And it's evidently quite reliable, with trains coming every 3-4 minutes, at least those we've been riding. Lots of people here like it, and ride it, and it's hard to imagine how so many millions of people would get around the city every day without it. It's even nice and cool on the trains, nice in a place that's sometimes full of humid, monsoon weather.
This has often happened to us on the Metro. We're standing, apparently able to stand, and someone else, always someone Chinese (not a surprise; we're usually the only non-Chinese we see on the Metro), points to a vacant seat, or even stands up and pointedly calls us to take it.
And interestingly, the "us" is often me (Bruce).
I'm not sure that's because I look older, perhaps more unsteady, more vulnerable, or what (could be!). Barbara does look, and is, younger by almost five years, but she also has a more energetic and lively way of moving--all those years dancing. I wonder, too, if being male carries some status that conventional western patriarchal etiquette wouldn't predict. Or being a foreigner, a visitor, and I've become the "victim" of local hospitality (yet which I often welcome!). I should add that sometimes local folks have even re-arranged themselves a bit so that a seat opens up next to the newly-seated me for Barbara, and then there are often smiles all around. It's possible we make a cute (but old) couple, and small gestures of consideration (and romance) have been in play.
All this could be part of the truth. We do see local Chinese people being offered a seat, but usually in more obvious circumstances--a mother with a small baby, or a woman very pregnant, or an older woman with a cane. I think I need the services of students from the social research classes at St. Olaf, who could more systematically keep track of what the patterns really are: who offers, who's offered, who accepts, the gender patterns involved, and so on--this is hard to figure out based on our own anecdotal experience.
Or we can just be grateful, once again, for "the kindness of strangers," which has more than once, in more than one country, come to our aid. And for which we are grateful each time!
Let's close with a few views of those local people, doing everyday things!
Parks are important, and well-used, by some local folks. This one has room for four basketball games at a time, almost always played by men in the 20-35 range when I've stopped by to watch (this is right near Barbara's studio).
This particular one square block park also has a soft-surface walking path around the perimeter of about a quarter mile, and there are often older folks walking the path, or in the early morning doing some stretches. There are always lots of people walking--often to work, to shop, to visit, and so forth--in the photo below walking on a pedestrian overpass to avoid heavy traffic.
In the photo below, in the Yuyuan Gardens and park, in Nanshi (the Old Town), you can see people of various ages and abilities (some parks have paved paths which make wheelchair access more possible), and of course parks are a free place to take little kids, handy for those who do not have large apartments or may not be able to afford destinations that would be costly (like the just-opened Shanghai Disney world). Parks are also nice for Barbara and me--always some nice people-watching, including groups playing "go" or card games (guys), or playing musical instruments.
Barbara and Bruce!
No comments:
Post a Comment