やられました。父が地下鉄で財布を盗られました。スリです。盛りだくさんの観光に疲れが出ていたところに、大都市の混雑した地下鉄。仕方ありません。すぐに警察に行き、被害届を出しました。細かい事情を説明するのに、エリックの言語力がなかったら、一体どうなっていたことでしょうか。すっかり意気消沈した父を、それでも買い物に連れて行き、お目当ての紹興酒と月餅を買いました。
「でもね、中国人を恨んじゃダメだよ。どの大都市でも起こり得ることなんだから。」
本当に悔しいけれど、高い授業料と思うしかありません。
ところで、今回の旅行を通じて、私は中国に対する見方が少し変わりました。怒鳴るような話し方も、かなり強引な割り込みも、人の多いこの国で生きていくために必要なテクニックだと分かりました。北京に関して言えば、特にオリンピック以降、国際都市としての質の向上のために大変な努力していることを感じました。お世話になったガイドさんや警察官だけでなく、一般市民の素朴で親切な面を垣間見ることもできて、この国を少しだけ好きになりました。
写真：天安門広場
Trip to Beijing2-A Plan Meets Reality
It happened. My father’s wallet was stolen on the subway. It was a pickpocket. We were all tired with the eventful schedule when we were on the subway. There was not much we could have done. We went to a police station to make a report immediately when we realized the incident. What was my father going to do if without Eric’s language ability? After that, Eric and I still took my disappointed father for shopping and we got some Chinese rice wine and moon-cakes, which were on our shopping list.
“We should not be mad at Chinese people, though. It could happen in any big city.”
Yes, it was so regretful, but we paid the price for a lesson.
By the way, I have changed my view of China through this trip. Their yelling tone of talking and their pushing way of getting through are both required techniques to survive in this country with a large population. As for Beijing, I could tell how hard they have been working to improve their quality as an international city, especially since the Olympics. We had a chance to witness those regular citizens’ innocence and kindness, in addition to our helpful guide and police officers. I like China a bit better than before.
Picture: Tiananmen Square
