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Friday, May 16, 2003
Lee: On leave
By Kelvin Lee
BY THE time you are reading this, I will be on a hiatus of sorts. Life in Beijing has become a tad too overwhelming for me. With the possibility of Sars and the general rudeness and agitation of the people, the city and its denizens have become too much for me.
Why are the Beijingers so agitated?
Simple. Sars.
The threat of Sars and the real possibility of almost anyone catching it have put incalculable pressure on every Beijing citizen. People are short-tempered and prone to flare-ups. On any given day one can observe at least two or three different arguments occurring over the most trivial of things.
Once I saw an argument between a pedestrian and a traffic aide. The gist of the argument was that the pedestrian found the traffic aide too rude when he told her not to spit on the ground. The argument attracted a crowd, which listened as the combatants shouted and insulted each other's mother. They were blocking traffic as well. Go figure.
And speaking of spitting, Sars has changed the city so much that there is a large fine imposed on spitting now. The fine was once only 5 RMB (P30), the government has pushed it up to 50 RMB (P300) last I checked. An increase of 100 percent.
Beijing has become a relic of its former self. Once a vibrant, exciting city full of events and happenings, Beijing currently looks and acts like a ghost town. No people. No foreigners, no nightlife, no events, nothing. All everyone does is stay home and watch TV. That and maybe argue with each other every chance they get.
So goodbye for now, Beijing. I spent a long time in your sweet embrace but perhaps it is time for a change, a time to leave the stern gray matron known as Beijing and move on to greener, more lively pastures. To a better place.
Where people walk around freely without fear of catching an unknown disease. Where people don't fight and argue with each other. Where politeness is the norm and not rudeness. Where life is normal.
I need to go to a place that is not Beijing.
Time to go on leave.
*****
For the record: I have received some emails from people who think I graduated from the Ateneo de Davao University. To make it clear, I have a long and valued relationship with the Ateneo, as a grade school student, an undergraduate and a teacher.
I graduated from the Ateneo de Davao grade school, and later on took up a management course in the Ateneo de Manila University. After graduation I worked as a teacher for the Ateneo de Manila for about a year.
I hope this clears up any confusion about my past and my connection to the Atenean Institutions.
(Visit the writer's website at www.babbleon5.blogspot.com or email him at babbleon@atenista.net)
(May 16, 2003 issue)
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