this and that

Here are some gender-related customs and/ or belief systems:

- in the West, we say lady first. In the East, they say man first, teacher first, elder first. (and if there is room- ladies)

- men look better as they get older, women look worse. so women need to take care how they age

- the woman's role is to be a wife. regardless of education and background. so, don't waste your time. (as told to one of my friends by a professor during a class lecture)

- girls who believe in reincarnation will refuse to get their ears pierced because that would disqualify them for being a boy in their next life

I think there are a lot of other belief systems I could include here, but instead, I just want to retell you all exactly what I heard expressed to me. This way, I can limit my own feelings about gender in this society. 

teacher told me so

Just so that you don't think I'm some crazy foreigner who ethnocentrically judges the socialist country to be wrongly inefficient for the purpose of job creation, I wanted to share that my teacher (who is local) agrees with me.

In class we learned the word for "elevator operator." Now, don't think bellhop at a swanky hotel. There is a elevator operator in my friend's apartment complex that is, to put it gently, a rundown building that would be condemned in America. It's also ridiculous because the elevators are so small you can barely fit 8 people in there. With the elevator operator, her chair, phone, and space heater- you knock out the possibility of at least 2 people (or 1 western-sized person).

I straight out asked her why elevator operators even exist, and she blatantly said, "They need a job." And laughed. yup. laughed. I'm so on with this one.

One (job) for all, and all for one (job)

There are no parking meters here. No electronic ticket or id card scanners. Few and far between are the vending machines. Rare the metal detectors. 

Instead, I give my money to an old women who sits outside on the street. A man checks my ticket or card. Every corner has a magazine stand also stocked with beverages and snacks. Young men and women check passenger bags before boarding the subway.

Inefficient? Job creation. People need jobs. Rather than modernize, the economy needs to retain as many low-skilled jobs as possible. 

Because as a centrally planned economy, the government is directly responsible to ensure that everyone has a job. So, old women sweep the street and 3 young people will sell, rip, and check your ticket for every tourist attraction. 

A really big weird rock

Here is a fun picture. This rock randomly juts out of the mountain. 

Stop and smell the roses.

Overnight, this city blossomed. A particularly funny habit of people here is this: to stop and take pictures with the blooming trees. Look at how happy she is! Aw, spring in the city is great. And funny.  

Now, men, be aware that this botanical affection applies to both genders. I almost ran into a car while riding my bike because I did a double take on some grown (and rather tough lookin) men using their camera phones to capture trees on the side of the road. What a paradox. I hope this revelation frees you to enjoy spring wherever you are. 

On a serious note, I have learned something from this culture. I have learned the value of enjoying rest and treasuring the simple things in life. There is no shame in taking 5 minutes out of the craziness of the day to enjoy the spring flowers.