After surviving 12 hour flight and scanning my fingerprints I joined a long line waiting to talk to Immigration. Every single officer was wearing a perfectly pressed uniform. They were studying passports with a very serious look on their faces. Finally it was my turn. An Immigration Officer analysed all the letters in my passport and dates printed on my Visa, took an unattractive picture, yet again scanned my fingerprints and done. They finally let me in.
I joined another line to leave Shanghai International Airport. Honestly it wasn’t even a line. It was a huge group of people, stepping on each other and pushing through, blocking the way with their suitcases and strollers. It took another hour to get out but finally I made it. ‘I survived’ I thought sitting comfortably in my cab on the way to the hotel.
I’ve been working with Asians for a while now so I know that due to cultural differences you shouldn’t hurry them up nor should you forget to thank them. You have to treat them respectfully and be very patient. And patience is one thing that is not in my nature.
I was totally clapped after the journey and my next day was starting at 5AM so I ordered myself a breakfast for the next morning from Room Service. I marked that I want an American Breakfast, wrote ‘5AM’ and went to sleep. As you can guess I didn’t get my breakfast. Calling front desk didn’t help, because lady on duty with her poor English told me to wait fifteen minutes. At 5:30 AM I went downstairs and told the front desk that I’ll wait for my breakfast in the restaurant. Three ladies nodded their heads and smiled politely. Probably didn’t understand a thing I said. Great. This is how I’ll die then.
I had to leave the hotel at 6AM so around 5:40AM I asked yet again about my breakfast. A very polite lady answered, that it was already delivered to my room. My blood boiled but even though I tried to be nice and asked to bring the stupid food downstairs since I’m already here. Finally after few more minutes I got my breakfast: a cold toast, even colder egg and something that looked like a round loaf of bread… Afterwards I understood that this was an Chinese version of an American Bagel!
I had a long day ahead of me and no idea when I will have my next meal so I cleaned my plate in three minutes. I’m a huge tea person so I went to the coffee machine for some more hot water. Usually big, hotel type coffee machines also have a “hot water’ option and that’s what I was looking for when a polite waitress approached ready to help.
‘Coffee?’ she asked enthusiastically.
‘No, not coffee. Hot water. To make a tea’ - I replied, but halfway through I noticed, that she doesn’t understand.
‘I need water. Hot. For tea’ I said again very slowly?
‘Coffee?’ she said with and even bigger smile.
God help me, I prayed and tried again to explain what I need. I even showed her my empty teacup with a tea bag inside repeating ‘hot water’.
Finally. I saw the some kind of understanding in her eyes. She took my teacup and got me some water from the samovar placed in the corner.
‘Thank you, thank you!’ I said, taking the cup from her… Cup full of cold water…
‘Hot water’ she said again proudly pointing to the teacup.
God Almighty… It was only Tuesday. How will I make it till Friday?
I have no idea how but I made it. Eating loads of rice and broccoli. Sometimes I even found some chicken or fish!
Brak komentarzy:
Prześlij komentarz