That’s what was happening in my mind on Saturday morning…

This particular bit of information has not yet been released on this blog…. so here it is: Chinese drivers, whether of public transportation or privately owned cars, are crazy. The laws surrounding driving in this country are “more what you call guidelines than actual rules.” The bus drivers are definitely included in this… they can be seen passing cars left and right on a regular basis. I thought busses were supposed to be slower than the flow of traffic…. not so.

Saturday morning was no exception. Our driver was fast but not too crazy. We had no problem dozing off to the sound of our iPods. Once we got into the city however, something very unfortunate happened… and we never even figured out the cause of all of this. Our bus driver actually SLAMMED on the brakes. This has happened before. It has startled us. We’ve exchanged concerned looks that ask each other, “What in the world are we doing here?!” Today was different. You see, today we had the unfortunate pleasure of sitting in the very back row of the bus. Rather than two sets of chairs divided by an aisle, the back row extends across the width of the bus. Britt was in the middle seat and I was to her left. Have you heard the principle that goes: “an object in motion stays in motion”? Well we discovered the inherent truth of this principle. When our driver hit the brakes and the bus came to a screeching halt…. Brittany did not come to a screeching halt. Brittany flew. Off her seat and down the stairs. 

I could not wrap my mind around what was happening. I’m shocked, obviously, due to the sudden stop, like I have been in times past. Then on top of that, my friend is no longer in her seat by my side. She’s sliding. All I can see is her head bouncing as she falls down the stairs. One-by-one… lower and further away from me. (I kid you not, I cannot breathe right now as I write this. And poor Brittany knows I’m laughing at her expense too. Sowwy Britt!) I couldn’t understand why she wasn’t stopping. She slid long after the bus came to a full and complete stop. 

Other concerned passengers thrust their arms out to help her stop. The poor thing looked back at me like a very confused and wounded child. We both had the question in our eyes as we stared at each other: “What just happened?!” I can’t tell you how happy I am that she was unharmed… makes it easier for me to laugh about it without too much guilt. I’m sure she would be doing the same had the tables been turned in my direction. LOL! 

It’s safe to say that was not the safest ride we’ve ever taken on the bus… but it was certainly the funniest.

That is all.

PEACE!