My commute to and from work is pretty predictable. Leaving my apartment complex (actually called a “commune”), I walk out onto a busy road. There’s always a tangle of bikes, scooters, motorized tricycles, cars, buses, and trucks all trying to play chicken with each other – weaving back and forth, honking, weaving some more. Getting closer into the village, vendors line the streets selling vegetables and fresh meat. I walk briskly, not even realizing how much I’ve come to enjoy the predictableness of being in a place that is still foreign in many ways but has also become familiar.
But walking home last night, something very UN-predictable happened.
Just as I passed our village’s middle school, I saw a camel standing in the middle of the road. A CAMEL. I stopped dead in my tracks, mouth hanging open. Everybody else was just walking by, not even noticing that a CAMEL was in the middle of our tiny rural Chinese village. A CAMEL.
But then I heard a child calling out, “Mama! Mama! Look Mama!”
Finally, another person was stopping to gawk along with me!
“Look Mama!” he shouted. “A foreigner! Look at her – a FOREIGNER!”
Forget the camel, the kid was staring at ME.
I love this post!!! To think, YOU are more interesting than a camel! I mean, of course you are, but you know what I mean : )
Hahahaha! I needed that
Here’s the real question: did anyone else see the camel besides you?
This is great! I can just picture you on your walk.
Thanks for sharing.
Love ya
I want a camel.
Great blog, a camel and a girl from Montana. Glad you got the picture.