In addition to sleeping, squatting is a FAV pastime. At the bus stop, outside businesses, on the side of the street, on fountains, walls and various other places to perch. You usually see someone squatting while eating, smoking, waiting for the bus or fixing something. And its usually men. Although, I have seen women squatting in stilettos. Seems awkward to me. Or shall I say seemed awkward to me until I got used to squatting over all the hole in the floor toilets or squatter toilets as they are appropriately named. 
Now I think its quite comfortable to squat in heels. Not to mention I forced myself to do it as a stretch exercise in the mornings because I refuse to be outdone by these 80 year olds squatting all over the street. Its still weird though because it seems like the perfect way to get your bowels going. haha!
Speaking of bowels. Kids typically don’t wear diapers. Apparently they are great for decorating the local supermarket shelves. I mean why spend money on those when you can just fold your kid up in your arms, his/her back against your chest, and their legs pressed or folded up while their little bottoms hang toward the street. Ready, set, pee! You can even lift them over trash cans at the bus stop, let them poop next to their favorite tree (Guess kids and dogs have their favorite spots), or perhaps they’re old enough to employ the squatting position by themselves. In that case, parents please allow your children to stop abruptly in front of me and start flowing while I’m walking along the bridge; aiming their urine between the wooden planks of the bridge. Thanks for missing my shoes. How considerate! If I had a picture I swear I would I have posted it. But it was a little difficult to try to snap a shot with the parents looking. On a positive note, I learned that mommy’s have a whistling technique that they use to teach babies to pee on que. I think kids are trained a lot faster than babies in the states. Unfortunately I cant say “potty” trained. Perhaps “tree, bush, sidewalk or trash can” trained is more fitting. Oh look…not only do babies and toddlers piss all over the street. Check out this gentleman below.
Thanks sir for being discreet.
Moving right along to the next lovely Chinese habit. Imagine the process of clearing your throat. But you have to remove something either at the very back of your throat or deep down in your gut somewhere. So you proceed to make that sound that’s a cross between gargling, hissing and clearing your throat. That’s what you hear, all day everyday in China. People sound like their getting mucus out before they spit, like ole wild wild west boys who chew tobacco or like your grandpa who grosses people out but is too old to give shhh. Well in China, its very common for women and men alike. The worst feeling is when you are walking down the street and you hear the sound, and you know someone behind you is about to spit. Keep in mind its super crowded here so you never know how close they are to you. And so you turn around to give them a dirty or threatening look cause you think maybe that’ll deter them. WRONG! Its a part of their culture. They have absolutely no idea why you are looking at them. Aaandd they give you the blank look, that they are so skilled at making, while proceeding to spit again as you are looking at them. Its almost as if someone starred you down for using a knife and fork; something that is so natural to you and you have no clue why they are looking at you crazy. So you continue using your knife and fork as if nothings wrong. That’s exactly how the situation unfolds in relation to their spitting. If you Google spitting, there’s always a blog or chat that pops up regarding Chinese people. Its a serious problem; so much that the Chinese Government tried to eradicate the spitting habit in Beijing for the 2008 Olympics because they realized how offensive it is to us Westerners. Needless to say, it didn’t work. Walking down the street you should always look down to avoid globs of spit. I don’t think its something Ill ever get used to.
Last but not least, Chinese people love to drink but are not the best at holding their liquor. I always see men holding other men up on the side of the street who are just pissy drunk. On the weekends you’re likely to find globs of vomit on the street from people who had a little too much to drink. Once I was waiting on a cab and one finally pulled up. But the girl who got out, immediately bent over and let loose in front of everyone. And of course it bothered no one else besides me. DISGUSTING!!! You literally have to walk down the street like someone with the lowest self esteem on earth, hunched over, inspecting the ground to avoid all bodily fluids that Chinese like to emit.
Walking, walking, walking, dodge the urine, walking, walking, walking, whoops don’t step in the spit, walking, walking, walking, watch out for the vomit! Its like playin’ freakin hopscotch with the sidewalk squares. SMH……
