I am a creature of habit and routine. In China I only have a few set things on my schedule each week. Wednesdays are my gym/pool days. I have a summer membership at the hotel in town and I think I am only one of 2 people that actually have this membership. The hotel houses my own personal gym and pool on Wednesdays from 11-3. Last week I was disappointed to find out (after showing up in my work-out garb) that the facilities were closed for repair. This week there were other people there. I have been spoiled, and I really have no problem with people using the pool or the gym, but it was the one place in China that I could go and not be the object of curiosity. Chinese people don’t work out and they don’t like getting tan so I was safe. Children stared at me for half of my workout…am I really that more interesting than playing in the pool? After they left a couple men came into the gym to cool off and have a smoke (yes SMOKE). I started listing in my head some of the interesting generalizations I have figured out about Chinese people.
1) they are thin and healthy despite the lack of exercise, the amount of oil in their cooking and their smoking habits
2) men wear Speedo style swimwear while women practically wear coveralls (shorts and a high back high front top)
3) they are all LOUD! Not only did I enjoy breathing in smoke during my workout, but I could hear conversations over my iPod and through the closed door
Now…I totally love the Chinese people they are very nice and there are so many things that I love about living here, for instance the NSync Christmas album that played at the hotel restaurant where I ate lunch.
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