We are in Wangdian Township now and once again formally acquainted with the local police. We went to check into a hotel and the lady that was at the reception desk asked me to bring our passports and to follow her. I thought maybe we were going to a place to photo copy them but instead, we went to the police station. In Chinese police stations, if you are the big boss, you get to take off your shirt while a female employee rub your shoulders for you.
He waved us out of the room and the lady from the hotel and I were sent to another room. The sign outside the door said that everything in that room would be audio and video recorded. Soon a police woman came in and asked me a lot of questions through the text tranlation device on her phone. What were we doing, where were we going, where had we been, where were we going next, we’re we going by car? I thought that my explanation in Mandarin was very clear. Morning wake up. Walk 30 km. Look for hotel. Sleep. Morning wake up. Walk 30 km. Look for hotel. Sleep. Apparently, this is highly suspect behavior. The room where the male police officer was having his shoulders rubbed had a bed in it. I pantomimed/gestured sleeping there and they told me I could go.
I can’t imagine any tourist getting this kind of run around back home but hey, it all makes for a good story. Regardless, I think I’ll learn how to say, ” do I need to call for bail?” in Mandarin.
One Response to “Another 17 Miles In The Can.”
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Police in any culture are the same! Some just more constrained by other authorities, but basically all the same. I will leave it at that considering where you are. Good Luck! And I would say, “god speed”, but I am an atheist. It is funny how our culture and upbringing dictate so much of our language and expressions! It is often difficult to communicate what you want to say, while not saying it in the manner that you have been culturized to use.