Foreigners Writing about Hangzhou

By Rick Shaw (from US)

Since coming to Hangzhou from the US two years ago, I pride myself in not just having adapted to my new home but also improving my character and becoming a better global citizen. Here we are in mid winter and I work in my office and classrooms in subzero temperatures without heating. I used to be so soft and wasted so much fuel oil, wearing a T shirt in centrally heated buildings leaving huge carbon footprints while the snow fell outside. Now I dress properly for winter, same clothes indoors and out and tough it out with the locals.

And to think how wasteful I was with my food, eating chicken and discarding the best parts, the feet and head, and fish without heads; and beef, but never the stomach or intestines. I never knew what I was missing.

Back in the States I used to drive my car everywhere, wasting precious gas and adding to air pollution. Now I take buses and share my journey with thousands of locals – on the same bus. The Hangzhou buses are a model of efficiency and safety. Pack them in. Standing room only. But pack them in nice and tight to prevent any falling over when the bus lurches or stops suddenly. Ingenious!

When I walked around the streets back home I was so complacent. I was like a zombie. Red light – cars stop. Green pedestrian light – cross the street. It was all so predictable. Now I am fully alert, dodging cars on the pedestrian crossing, and back on the sidewalk – look sharp! The e-bikes come at you silently from all directions. Really sharpens the reflexes. And at night – can't hear them, can't see them. You don't waste battery power on unnecessary devices like lights.

I think my acting skills have improved too. With my severely limited Chinese language I often resort to gesture and mime to get the message across. Going to the drug store for diarrhoea medication was a challenge but I rose to the occasion.