The People

As I close the chapter of travels in the eastern provinces I need to share a couple of stories. I deliberately held off telling the first until I had a second to tell.

 The first happened on our initial day in Shanghai. Our plan was to visit famous Yu Garden. It was a beautiful day and we took the subway. Emerging from the station we were just getting our bearings when two sweet and intellegent looking, twenty-something girls came up to us and asked in pretty good English if one of us would take their picture. Of course we obliged and this was followed with some chit chat about each of us…where from etc. etc. We learned that they were going to a nearby Tea House for a special tea-serving performance. Would we like to join them and see the garden later?

It seemed like a fine plan so off we went, gabbing with them all the way. Upon arrival at the teahouse we were ushered into a simple room and the ‘performance’soon began. A young man in traditional ?Chinese garb took us through the various steps and as the girls translated had us sample various tea offerings. One of the young women had a particularly good command of English as well as the formalities, history and culture of the tea service. After about 40 minutes the service came to a conclusion and we were asked if we wanted to buy any tea. The price seemed very steep. We just offered to pay for the tea service for all four of us. Well! We thought the girls had said prior to going in that the price would be 45 yuan each ($9). However we were informed it was 1400 yuan ($280)! Credit cards were accepted. 😱Oh good. 

With no language skills to allow us to complain to the establishment and the girls thanking us profusely for our generosity and sharing half their purchased tea (good joke) we were too embarrassed and confused to act other than to extract ourselves from the situation. 

The girls took us back to where we had met them and our day continued somewhat dampened. Our hotel called police later and two policemen came and wrote down the particulars but in the end they said their precinct did not cover the area of the crime. They were very sorry?!

 That night we got on the internet and the scam was all over the place reported verbatum over and over again! Somehow I missed that chapter in my research!

It was a interesting situation to wonder about. We assume now the girls worked for the ‘Tea House’. Looking back the establishment’s sign looked like it might have been a temporary banner. Would love to know how these girls think. This scam culture.

Still loved Shanghai. It is truly a city of international stature.

My other story is short and sweet (truly): We were taking the train south along the coast from Ningbo to Xiamen. We were talking about our recent places visited I think. All of a sudden two oranges appear between the two seats in front of us. A young man sitting in front gestures for us to take them. When he gets off the train before us, he smiles and says ‘Have a good trip. Good luck’. So sweet. And this is how I have found the Chinese generally. 

Here is a sweetie for you: