Maybe Life is Easier for Foreigners Here,
or, How Your Narrator Avoided PLA-Style Military Training
in Shanghai

I didn't quite acknowledge her statement "life can be easier for foreigners in Shanghai" while I was interviewing her. Then my phone card ran out of money and had I ran out of my office building at 8pm to the phone store. The man was about to close shop and had run out of the card I had just bought half an hour earlier. He asked if I could come back tomorrow and I blurted out, "No, I've got to call her back tonight. She's in Italy. The other card you sold me get through to Italy."

He hopped on his bike and rode off into the night. A few minutes later, he brought a new card that he'd bought from a friend. Of course, the card was overpriced, but he saved my ass. And I got to sit in the street in his little folding chair and think about the course of the interview while he peddled.

I had to agree with her that life perhaps was easier here. Ignoring, of course, the fact that I was being ripped off by the phone card vendor.

Military Training

I didn't think there was any avoiding the hardship that was in store for me this morning. See: "Leaving for Anhui"

As long as I'm not personally involved in planning a Chinese project, I'm happier knowing as little as possible about leaders' plans. This Roots & Shoots Anhui poverty alleviation trip was no different.

When the project coordinator told us we would be doing military training to build team spirit, I calmly agreed.

Then the PLA officer found out that a foreigner would be taking part in the training. I was already in cammoflage pants and ready to sweat when they brought me that bad news.

"They won't let foreigners train in the Chinese army. It's too sensitive."

"You're joking."

"No, really."

"But what about the other foreigners?" (A Singaporean and Australia, both Asian)

"You're too obvious. You'll be found out."

"Couldn't I just put a paper bag over my head?"

"Um, no."

Your narrator, smiling, says, "I'm sad. If you need me, I'll be at an internet bar. Have fun today!"