I think I forgot how to ride Chinese-style...

"Whoever said that riding a bike was just like riding a bike?"

Precariously white-knuckling my handle bars, I yelled these statements to my best friend, Steph, while we were riding to clinic for the first time in one week. I know, one week is not a long time. But, if anyone has ever played drive-simulating video games may have a clue as to what I'm referring to. For those who do not, allow me to break it down for you.

Riding a bike in China is madness...my first week here I thought that everyone was out to get me. I mean, me and my beautiful (albeit suspected "hot") bike and I have to contend with cars, city buses, motorbikes, scooters, and pedestrians just to get to clinic. Not to mention the fact that my full pedal, including the wrench-looking thing (ok, you got me...I'm obviously not a cyclist), has fallen off completely while on route twice.

However, there is a moral to this long-winded story. The moral is that whenever I "man man lai-it," Mandarin for "take it easy," I have a wonderful time on my bike. Cruising is the key. When I pause to look around me, I realize that the Chinese have perfected "flow." I'm not sure why this is surprising to me as I know that Chinese medicine seeks to smooth the flow of qi within the body to achieve optimal health. I just had no idea that "smooth flow" applied to most things here. I love this place!