You’ve probably seen the news about the 60 mile traffic jam outside Beijing that will take weeks to unclog. Beijing was overcrowded in the early nineties when I lived there, and I can’t imagine ten million people with cars. On the other hand, the people stuck in this jam have probably ridden in the hard seat car to get home for Chinese New Year, which means that they are used to unthinkable congestion and inconvenience (people standing up against people in the aisles all night long, and it’s an ordeal just to push your way to the bathroom, which is a hole you squat over while the train is moving–probably why the Chinese turn out such great gymnasts).
I guess it’s all relative. I was thinking about avoiding the intersection that is being paved by my house this morning, but now I think I’ll head straight for it and enjoy the delay. It could be worse.
Mike Wittmer 
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