Friday, October 31, 2008
I've been in Beijing for 2 weeks now and if there's one thing I must name - and I can name plenty - that I will never become accustomed to even after having been here for 200 years, it's the concept of the kaidangku.
What is that you ask?
When I look at this I feel like I'm going to spontaneously come down with cholera.
I might be overreacting. I might not be.
Who knew exposed bottoms could cause so much internal confusion.
That's right! Toddler pants! That are unsealed! On purpose! So your potty-untrained child does not have to encumber you nor himself when nature calls! How bad can living under Communism be when you're free to wee when you please?! Which can happen at ANY SECOND without warning - like when you're walking along from behind, or maybe while you're unfortunately standing next to the same tree.
Here is another more graphic shot of the kaidangku and what it can do to your dignity and self-respect. Especially if they have been crocheted.
I was hoping that if I waited two weeks before I posted about this phenomenom that I would have somewhat positive thing to say about wearing kaidangku's:
China is greener without disposal diapers in landfills.
Chinese household saves hundreds of RMPs per month and uses money to buy LV bag (real one) for only child.
Baby's bottom in China is 300% drier than that of Western counterparts.
Has never known the horrors of diaper rash.
But one day there were children running around just outside a restaurant we were about to patronize. Each of their undersides were exposed for all to see. Baby bottoms are supposed to be cute so shoot me because I saw them and completely lost my appetite.
I was hoping too that they're not actually allowed to go in public, and if they're too young to speak, they have some secret code with their guardian so that they could be quickly taken to a facility. A real one. That has a door. Not a bush or a tree or some corner in the train station.
OH IF ONLY!
A few days ago I turned the corner and came face to face with a toddler and his seamless pants in action, doing a #2 on a grassy knoll separating the street and the busy sidewalk, while his grandmother held him aloft from behind, knees hooked over her arms.
The reaction I had was like a rocket boost and I ran and ran and ran and could have kept running home to Boston if the sidewalk wasn't so clogged with people.
The thing is, my cats don't wear pants, and yet...
Also I believe dog owners pay a hefty fine here if refuse is not picked up...so how come...?
"Having face" is something that's important to the Chinese, so this sort of practice confuses me all the more, particularly in a cosmo city like Beijing.
They say the practice is much diminished here in the city. I would think that if you invent something like the compass, and construct something like the Bird's Nest, you could patch up that hole in your pants, no sweat.
Filed Under: Travel | WTF