Some things can only happen in China and this was one of
these moments. Maybe one of my top 10 experiences in China.
Let me preface this by telling you a bit about my office
building. I work on the eleventh floor in a pretty large building for this
area, which is in old Guangzhou (Yuexiu). Next to my office is Levi Strauss and
there are numerous other pretty big trading and fashion companies in this
building. I work way at the end of the hallway and there is only one more
office further away from the elevator. So all in all I would give this office
building a pretty reputable ranking.
So two days ago around 4pm I was standing in the hallway
outside my company’s office talking to my doctor in Switzerland on the phone
about a possible Khmer inhabitant of my stomach. (Who is still surprised about
me having stomach problems in Asia? Not me!) Anyway, I am in the middle of
telling him about my symptoms when suddenly an elderly woman turns the corner
and is quickly approaching me with her hands held right in front of her and in
her hands was a huge fish. As I was trying to figure out how in the world I was
supposed to simultaneously keep a serious voice while explaining to my doctor
my symptoms and get out of the determined woman’s way the fish suddenly came to
live. It was alive! This woman had carried a live fish into the office
building, had managed to push the elevator button, took the elevator to the 11th
floor and walked down the hallway, with a live fish in her BARE hands. (I have
no clue why she didn’t just put the fish in a plastic bag or choose one of the
million other better ways to transport a fish)
As the fish flapped it fell out of her hands directly on to
the nasty carpet in the hallway. The woman picked it back up as if dropping her
wallet and passed me while I was pressed against the wall mortified that I
would be its next victim.
At this point I could not take it anymore and had to leave
in order to conduct the conversation on my phone. I have no idea where this
woman went, but that moment was simply amazing.
My only regret is that Louis C. K. wasn’t there for it,
because only he could retell the story with the respect it deserves.
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