Keeping pace with China's crazy drivers

weisenheimer (Germany)

I drove more than 40,000km on Chinese roads and I am from Western Europe. It took me a while to adapt to this 'system'. So far, luckily, I have not had any accidents. When I experience weird or dangerous situations in Europe I get very upset and tell my family, friends and colleagues and remember my life (I guess this happens maybe once or twice per year). Here in China the unexpected happens almost daily. Therefore, I had to come up with my own - arrogant - system to survive: I treat all other people involved in traffic in China as deaf and blind idiots (sorry, no personal affront!). This means I have to be on a stressful permanent high alert. Everybody can harm my safety at any second. Basically we should be on high alert no matter where we are in the world, but here in China it is essential.

How to make friends with foreigners	Cultural taboos in China	Some "bad" habits I've picked up in China

The original piece: http://bbs.chinadaily.com.cn/blog-1065966-9559.html

[ChinaDaily online forum offers people from all over the world and all walks of life the opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings. Join us now! BBS:bbs.chinadaily.com.cn Blog:blog.chinadaily.com.cn]