My Elevator Experience
People poured into the hospital doors, so unlike anything I had ever seen, unless I use the comparison of cattle being herded into a coral! There were so many people that a lady was hired to maintain order at the elevators. She wore her hair in a tight bun with a little nurse cap perched on her head and a microphone attached to her lapel with a speaker on her waist. She would remind everyone to “pai dui,” which means to line up. Many people, apparently oblivious of the fact that there was an incredibly long line leading from the elevators to the end of the corridors, would push right up to the elevator doors at which point they would be told to pai dui. Roused from their stupor, they would notice the “Great Line of China” and march back to the end of the line.
Once the elevator doors opened, people would scramble onto the elevator, some would even dare to cut in line, but thankfully, the “elevator monitor lady” would call to them on her microphone and send them back where they belonged. After cramming themselves into the elevator, the siren would go off indicating an overloaded elevator. At this point, you would think whoever was the closet to the door would quickly take their leave, but not in China.
So here I am with my friend, closest to the door, with the siren ringing. I try to step off, only to feel my friend’s hand grip my arm and pull me closer to her, as if to say, “No, don’t step off!” Her head is down and she whispers, “stay.” The siren continues to ring and everyone is talking about how someone needs to leave. I am thinking it is obvious that it should be us since we are nearest the door, and not wanting to waste anyone’s time, I again attempt to step off. I feel her grip on my arm again requesting me stay put! I’m amused and wondering what will happen. Those of us nearest the door try to keep our bodies from the door, thinking perhaps it’s our clothing in the doorway and not our weight. Eventually people talk louder and the microphone lady is saying something and finally my friend relaxes her grip on my arm and nods her consent for us to leave the elevator!
We “pai dui” once again (but now we’re in the front of the line) waiting for the elevator to empty its contents and return to the 1st floor. Once the door opens, we quickly move to the back of the elevator. I have very little breathing room, but I manage to keep my pregnant belly from getting squished. Once again the elevator is quickly packed beyond capacity and the siren starts ringing. Once again those in the elevator start talking about how someone needs to get off and once again those closest to the door are staring at the floor, ignoring the siren, and hoping someone else will get off. At this point I am giggling to myself!
It’s comical. It’s crafty. It’s completely Chinese! I’m squished into an elevator where the air is thick with the smell of soy sauce and garlic. The obnoxious siren makes it obvious someone needs to hop off the elevator, but no one is willing and it’s the fight of the fittest! Finally a lady relents and steps off the elevator, the doors close, and everyone is content. I imagine it all happening again and again throughout the day and suppress the desire to laugh out loud!
I love China. The shear amount of people sometimes astounds me! I felt like an entire city of people was in that one hospital! The elevator ride was just another reminder of how the people have learned to look out for themselves and fight for their positions. Although it was a comical sight for me to watch in the elevator, it is an everyday battle for them that is not comical!
