Traffic

I usually get really irritated by the lack of courtesy from other drivers. When two vehicles come face to face, instead of moving out of the way for the other, they will just lay on their horns for a solid ten minutes. Do not get in front of a bus because they will run you over. They won't slow down, they'll just honk their horns, and you'd better get out of their way, or you are dead. Literally. It reminds me of Africa and the buses that we called "matatas". Red lights, who cares? People in your way? Who cares? Just plow through. Lots of people will park their cars in the middle of the road, and get out, not caring that they have stopped traffic. One time I was coming home and the whole road was blocked because two cars decided to stop and talk to each other. All the other cars and scooters were laying on their horns, but these two cars didn't seem to care less. When I finally squeezed around them, I looked to see if it had been an accident, because I couldn't believe they would incontinence everyone else, just for a chat. But there was no sign of an accident. Just a lack of consideration for others. Yesterday I was coming through 'suicide alley', and half of the road was blocked off for construction. Usually suicide alley is used by scooters and bicycles, but today there was a car stuck in the middle causing a huge clog. Everybody was really mad, and normally I would've been too. But instead I just laughed. I often don't have tons of patience, but that's why I think living over here has been good for me. To face frustrating circumstances and learn to be more patient from it. Yesterday I realized how impatience can get you all boiled up, but that doesn't make anybody happy. So I chose to laugh it off. Now I know it's not easy to chuckle at the annoying things in life, but if we could, life would be so much more enjoyable. Many people say that your attitude is your choice. But it is one so challenging because that would mean taking control of your emotions. That is something we can't do alone. Sometimes we need to face some really big challenges to help change our attitudes. Right now part of me cant wait to go home, where things are more simple, but I am so glad I have come to china this year to face challenges and find out more about myself. Sorry if any of this is hard to read. I am writing this while my kids are taking Chinese math class, but I'm still in the classroom, so it's a little distracting. I hope everyone back home is doing well. Please know that even though I am terrible with correspondence, you are all loved and missed very much!