Things I am not fond of in China

Taxis and doors

You would think here in a city of 22 million people it would be a piece of cake to catch a cab. That is just not the case. I have yet to get one without calling the company first. Instead, you go outside and have to walk to a busy street (not all streets are busy) then stand by all of the taxis that are parked on the road having conversations with each other or napping or smoking cigarettes... doing anything but working... then put your arm out every time a cab drives by then get pissed when the empty ones just ignore you and drive on. Then you stand on the street and talk to the taxi drivers about how you think they should drive you home. Then you call the company and they say to wait 10 minutes for a driver to call you. Then you wait the 10 minutes and no one calls so you call back. And after 45 minutes of being pissed off and hating your life a taxi finally comes to pick you up. Once you get in they don't know where to take you so you have to call someone to give the person directions. Then you weave through the lanes being sure to never stay in the lines. You get flung around the car until you finally arrive at your destination where you can get the hell out of that death trap.

Doors seems like an odd thing to dislike but here in China everything is a task. In order to open a door you have to press a button that is located somewhere on a wall. You have to wait for the beep to open the door which some times takes what feels like forever. Once you open the door you have the pull it to exit or push it to enter. The door never shuts on its own so you constantly have doormen yelling at the dumb American for leaving the door open and letting out all of the crappy AC.

Oh, China...

It's my mom's birthday so I learned a new phrase! Note-

Mandarin lesson:
Shēngrì kuàilè 祝你生日快樂 (Happy birthday) Pronounced- Shung er qwy luh