Things are so easy in the United States. It is 10 am and I am already on my third and last load of laundry. The amount of clothes I am washing would be at least 6 loads of laundry in the typical tiny Chinese washing machine - a full day to do plus 2 days to dry. (Longer for some people who do not even have a clothes washer) I am about to hop in my car and drive down to Harris Teeter grocery store 5 miles away (8 km) and I am fairly sure I will be back in 40 minutes.
In Xiasha it was usually a 3 hour chore and you can only bring home what you can hand carry. To get to WuMei you would have to walk to the bus, taxi or van stop, which was about a ¾ mile away from the apartment. If you were lucky you could catch a taxi and not have to wait for a van or bus to get you close to the store. There is one thing I miss from my China grocery store trips… the massage place that was right down the block from WuMei. Every chance I got I would add an extra hour to my shopping trip to get either a foot or back massage.
Would China’s inconveniences and inefficiencies keep me from going back? No, but it definitely reminds me not to take everything for granted. So the next time you load up your washing machine or trunk of your car - appreciate what we have here.
Picture is of Nicole & Zac's house in Wells Vermont. Renovation still taking place.
