July 24, 2006
After our second week in China David declared that there are no rules in the country other than those we brought with us. People in China disobey posted rules with abandon. They smoke in front of no smoking signs, spit on relics (and everywhere else), photos are taken of "No photos" signs, pedestrians dodge between oncoming traffic despite the piercing whistles of crossing guards and parents encourage kids to shit in the streets despite the abundance of public toilets, not to mention the public health hazards involved. David's especially convinced that there are no rules with chopsticks and that however you use them to move food from the plate to your mouth is okay. But last night at dinner after impaling a fried dough stick as though he were spearing a fish, he was proved wrong.
"Whyyyyy?" cried YangYaPeng, our trainee waitress, half laughing, half dismayed. "You told me you could use them!"
And then for the first time since arriving in China, we were given forks and knives.
-Leah
