Chinese Daniel

OK –

Now for a new feature from Shanghai.  This will be short, but fun.  Monique and I continue to notice that there are a bunch of Chinese alter-egos of people we know and love in the US. Today we highlight “Chinese Daniel”.  Through the months, we will try to introduce you to other Chinese alter-egos.

We live in a little neighborhood where there are stand-alone homes with yards. Although far from common (most people live in apartments and condo’s) they are certainly not unheard of. The homes are called “villas” (Much more impressive sounding than they really are) and the walled off neighborhoods are alternately called “compounds” or “districts”. Our neighborhood is composed primarily of Chinese families – we are only one of a very few foreign families - and is walled off and has serious looking security guards in uniform and a border-guard-type lift gate at the entry, etc.  We are located a fair distance from the retail areas where we can shop, etc.  Although we did this on purpose, we didn’t fully comprehend the inconveniences that would result if we did not have our own form of transportation. Calling a taxi out to our home to pick us up adds about 20 minutes of waiting time on the front end of any trip, with at least a US $4.00 charge one-way. One of the services offered to set our compound apart is a twice a day shuttle bus that runs out to a couple of the local shopping locations and to the subway lines. It costs 2 kuai (or about 30 cents). As you can imagine, this provides a nice alternative to the more costly and less convenient China-sized taxis.  The shuttle will pick you up at an agreed spot in the market parking lot at an agreed time, whereas the Taxis (if you can find them) have to be hailed from the busy street corners after you have lugged all your stuff from the now-distant store.  The home owners and the Ayi’s (house mama’s) all love the shuttle.

“Chinese Daniel” is the name Monique has given to the Shuttle Bus driver. She calls him Chinese Daniel because in many ways he reminds her of our son Daniel. In the attached photo, you “may” be able to see a slight resemblance. The real similarity is in his quick and happy smile, his friendly and helpful demeanor, his angular and lean body build, and even in his walking and running style. (As a private reference to immediate family members who went on a cruise with us some years back, no – we have not seen Chinese Daniel in his speedo and sneakers stretching on the promenade deck, but we suspect the similarities may actually continue even in THAT realm – YIKES!!!.)  Chinese Daniel is sooo quick to jump out of the bus and grab boxes and bags to help you load them, and he is friendly and polite. Even though he knows Monique does not speak Chinese, he speaks to her in normal friendly tones, as though she DOES understand – just as US Daniel would. Monique appreciates this because most of the days all she hears are Chinese who only speak louder and faster when they are trying to get their point across. (How many of you have said in increasingly loud tones “DO . . . YOU . . . UNDERSTAND . . . ENGLISH???”)  It’s OK, we all do it.  Grin.

Anyway, Monique loves Chinese Daniel, and we love US Daniel. Maybe someday they will meet.  Then again, maybe we should keep them away from one another . . . . .  The universe might explode.

Love to all.

Jay

PS – In the photo, Chinese Daniel is characteristically hamming it up by flashing the universal “make the peace sign while your photo is being taken” pose. We had interrupted his “between bus runs” energetic game of ping pong in the clubhouse to grab this photo, but he was happy to do it. If you can’t tell, he was proud that we’d want to take his photo to share with family and friends.  Here’s to you, Chinese Daniel!!!