July 16, 2003

Random Observations

Traffic lights in California change faster than those in New York. In California, after the cross-traffic light turns red, yours snaps immediately to green; in New York, it lingers on red for a couple of seconds in solidarity with its perpendicular brother. In Prague, lights click slower or faster, depending on their color, for the benefit of blind people. Prague, however, has plenty of other strange things, like the the beggars who ask for money kneeling face to the ground, palms of their hands joined in an alms cup over their heads. They stay still for hours at a time.

Random observation after traveling in Europe: every large train station in Italy, Germany and France has luggage carts. The station in Amsterdam doesn't. Apparently, the junkies stole them all.

Posted by Alex at July 16, 2003 12:21 AM
Comments

I never understood the beggars I used to see in the Czech Republic who spent hours in positions of pain. I presumed it must date back to some medieval pious way of thinking, but it went way over my head. In fact, I was left with the thought that if I gave money to someone doing this, then it might encourage them to continue employing a tactic that would ultimately cripple them. Bizarrely, that now sounds like I'm arguing that I was doing them a favour by not giving them any change. Did I miss the point about the "kneeling beggars"?

Posted by: David (TEFL Smiler) at July 17, 2003 10:49 AM

Some traffic lights are controlled by timers, others (like in our town) by 'weigh scales' under the pavement, so if you want quick light changes, drive a rock truck, if it's a leisurely you want, ride a unicycle. Now you know why I never ride a unicycle - when I do I'm inevitably late for work.

Posted by: Roberta at July 17, 2003 02:54 PM

Do you drive a rock truck to work then?

Posted by: Alex at July 17, 2003 04:37 PM

We have the same beggars in Vienna. It looks very uncomfortable, and humiliating.

Posted by: Mig at July 18, 2003 11:35 AM

And train stations in the UK do not have litter bins (=garbage cans) because the IRA might hide a bomb in them. Result? Train stations - and all of London for that matter - are incredibly filthy.

Stu Savory (Germany)
PS: If train stations are where the train stops,
what are work stations?? :)

Posted by: Stu Savory at July 20, 2003 05:28 AM

Most impressive beggar I saw was in Kaili, China: an 8 year old child writing an epic something-or-other in chinese script in chalk on a large piece of cardboard. The one person who was with me who briefly knew one or another chinese character told me that the child was writing some story about his family. " And that character means, father.. and that one means..big fire..."

understandably the most impressive part consists in watching any sort of human being deal with that script, especially a homeless 8 year old. Was tempted to give the child a good 100 kwai note, but my companion ushered me swiftly onwards. Didnīt understand her worry until a few days later where a horde of poor children chased me and my brother down 3 city blocks, intoning some odd words, tugging on our clothes and holding out their hands.

Posted by: Alice A G A at August 15, 2003 08:18 AM