The Chinese Army Commute

My first full week of work in Hong Kong has ended. For those that know me, you know I work from home 100% so getting ready in the morning and commuting is not something I have to deal with. I know a lot of you will relate to this if you live in NYC or London and are taking public transportation to work every morning. You probably feel like a robot, just going through the motions of getting to work. I certainly feel that way every morning and every evening. You're thinking, blah blah poor Jennifer she has to do what all of us do every single day. True, but it's not a bad thing. I'm not complaining. I think it's really interesting to watch everyone do this every morning. So, here is what makes it interesting in Hong Kong as opposed to what you all experience every day. This city has 7 million people and they're all walking around the streets at the same time and (no offense to anyone) they all look alike...relatively speaking. Hong Kong is 95% Chinese so you are commuting with hundreds and hundreds of people that look alike and dress similar all walking in lines, in giant crowds, up and down escalators. I feel like I'm in a Chinese army! When I do see the occassional expat or tourist I wonder, do they think I am part of this army, too? Do I blend in to them and stick out to the locals? Maybe.

There is an unspoken rule to walking around and manuevering in these crowds and through the MTR. The first one is easy, just like in London, stand to the right of escalators and leave the left side for those that want to walk up or down them. OK, that's easy. That's where my knowledge of the rules end. I still don't understand how people get through crowds successfully or even get off the MTR when people are in the way. No one speaks to each other, they don't say "Excuse me" to get through crowds yet somehow it's not an issue. Meanwhile, I am bumping into people and pushing my way through to get off the MTR in time for my stop. Unspoken rules...I'll probably get it just in time for me to leave!