(beware) The Chinese

Until I got used to it, I was appalled by the belligerence and self-centredness I came across every day. Obviously it's a cultural thing, I probably appear obsequious to Shanghainese. But it truly is a test of self-control to spend 10 minutes in a public place without hitting anyone. There is a complete absence of solidarity. Near a city called Foshan, on October 18th a 2-year old girl was hit by a car. The car stopped for a second, then ran over her legs; a few minutes later, another came and also ran her over. After CCTV cameras counted 18 people walking past, finally a sanitation man picked the little girl up and placed her by the side of the street.
In the subway, the people throw themselves into the carriage when it's clearly already too full, and just shove frantically in general. It's amusing because there is an animal-like frenzy followed by complete calm once on either the train or the electric steps. I was once waiting, about the 15th or so back in a queue(a rarity) when the doors of the already completely full subway began signalling their closing. A tiny woman with two huge bags at the front of the queue thus stopped in front of the doors and was going to wait for the next one, when a burly man sprinted past, knocked the tiny woman over and launched himself inside the train, which did not appear to be capable of fitting anyone else in just before the doors closed.
Eating in Shanghai was something that became easier and easier as my Chinese came along. I began to build up a small but potent network of Chinese restaurants in which I had continuously stood defiantly until given food or a table, and who eventually began to accept me (and even grow fond of me). I consequently progressed from having to eat at Costa Coffee (a divine place in fairness) or Subway for 60-70 RMB to eating for 9-40 RMB (depending on my usually ravenous appetite).