"怕魚"

There is a term in Chinese culture known as “pa yu” which literally translated means “afraid rain.” Simply put, the Chinese hate to get wet. Even when only sprinkling, people can be seen attempting to cover their heads with such things as newspapers and plastic bags. I really wish I could post the picture of the old woman who was wearing a plastic bag around her head that reminded me of a plastic football helmet with no facemask. Buella? :) Ahh football season! Go Cougars and go Colts!

I woke up on Wednesday morning to the sound of rain on my bedroom window. It was so peaceful. The rain gradually picked up, so we decided to take the bus to school instead of our normal 15 minute walk. I don’t think it made much of a difference. We got soaked! Do the roads drain in China?! The bus came quickly, and we were grateful for the temporary relief from the rain. The bus ride was ridiculous. Can we please get some order! The roads were so crowded (more people drive when it rains rather than walk or ride their bike) that our bus didn’t move forward for a good 10 minutes. Why? There was a line of cars in front of us in our lane, heading in the opposite direction! It reminded me of the bumper cars at Kings Island. It seems as though road lanes are treated more as a suggestion than a regulation in China.

We finally got dropped off at the road in front of our school. Unfortunately, the road had disappeared and was replaced by a small pond. Once again, does anything drain in China?! My roommate Jimmy just walked right through the pond. I didn’t want to do that. I looked around, looking for any other way to get across the road, and I saw some Chinese businessmen (wearing suits and carrying briefcases) beginning to climb the fence to our left. They reminded me of the Chinese actor from Ocean’s Eleven. My other roommate, Nate, and I looked at each other and saw yet another cultural experience in front of us. We followed them, and followed the fence and trees all the way to the front of our school. We were met by some of our classmates in front of the school. Class was canceled. What?! Why?! Was the teacher sick? Did he send an email I didn’t receive? The swine flu again? No, no, and no. The explanation? “Pa yu.” It should’ve been so obvious. It was raining. Our class was cancelled because it was raining! What?! Are you kidding me?! However, ridiculous as it may seem (and is); I will have to say that this is one part of the Chinese culture that I think America can benefit from. :)

We decided to stay at the school and study a little bit before heading home for the morning and early afternoon. When we started back home, the rain had stopped, but the pond in front of our school was still there. I am not going to say it again. To the fence? We started talking to this old man just outside the school, and he told us to wait a second. He pointed toward the road. We saw this old man riding a bike with a wooden carriage straight through the pond. For just under 15 cents American, we could enjoy a wet-free carriage ride across the pond. It reminded me of the headless horseman hay ride on Halloween, except more wet, more Chinese, and with a head…and without any hay. A stretch? Maybe. It’s my blog, right? Work with me. :) Anyway, we braved the artificial pond and made it to dry ground. 15 cents well spent!

We walked home wet but smiling. How could we not? It was raining, and we were in China. “Pa yu.”