I think it is unanimous.  Most foreigners in China hate riding buses.  I took a survey and didn't get one positive response.  I should probably expand my search beyond Aaron and Vince, the two guys who have been riding the bus with me for an hour to the gym a few times a week.  It never seems to fail.  As soon as we get to the bus stop to begin our trip (it is literally the very first stop since our school is officially in the North 40) people just start coming out of the woodwork.  And if you have ridden a bus in China then you know that if more than five people show up at any stop then there is a mad rush to get on first, yes even if it is the first stop.  So, mi amigos and I have devised a one and one plan.  One way we ride the bus, supposedly when it is not busy, and on the way home when it is definitely busy we take a cab.  Between the three of us we can do this three times a week and only pay once for a one way trip ($5). 

 

We just experienced our first snow on Thanksgiving.  It wasn't much but it was snow and there is something about seeing the pure white snow that just warms the heart.  Two days later we found ourselves at the gym again.  Not sure why.  We all look exactly the same as three months ago.  There is something about going through the process of working out that fools your mind into thinking that your muscles are bigger.  Whatever.  This particular day was raining, a lot.  We had just finished dinner ($3.50 for three guys).  And upon leaving we found a cab as a lady was getting out.  So we waited for her to get out.  I made a joke about Aaron having to ride in the front.  (I wanted him to pay because he wanted to go to this store before we ate.)  As we were all laughing hysterically at my witty sense of humor this man and his mom and two daughters practically sprint to the car and start getting in.  I think Aaron ended up opening the door for one of them it was so sudden.  It was straight out of a movie. 

 

As we moved down the road in a different taxi and just a little bit wetter because of the prolonged time in the rain we were all laughing at Vince because he was the one who said something to the man who stole our cab.  We were laughing because we all wanted to but we were glad he was the first because then you realize it is useless and pretty funny at the same time.  So we were laughing a lot when we got a flat tire.  Yeah, we stopped laughing.  I have never been in a car that got a flat in China.  Not sure what to do exactly.  I assumed that she would call AAA and wait.  And that we would get out and try to get another cab.  Nope!  Our less than 100 pound female cab driver, in her high heeled boots, decided to change the tire herself. 

 

Hey, it was cold out.  And raining, don't forget.  Not to mention we were still ticked off about being cab mugged.  (I seriously thought I was going to need to throw down.)  But, of course, being gentlemen, we decided to get out and help her change it.  (By help I mean I handed her my umbrella and let her watch.)  Unfortunately I had Larry and Curly with me so changing the tire turned into quite an interesting moment in my life.  First, the jack was jacked.  (I realized later the car was not properly breaked.)  Second, it was dark out.  Third, it was raining (rain is really wet if you haven't been in it for a while.)  Fourth, it was really cold (notice the down coat and stocking cap).  Fifth, we parked up hill.  And finally, apparently Chinese cars don't have lugs and lug nuts.  They jus have a lugish nut combination.  By that I mean there is just one piece, like a big bolt.  So I had to align, with my freezing hands in the dark, the four holes in the wheel with the four on the axle.  No lie, got it the first time, right after complaining a lot about how impossible this would probably be.  During the process however I remembered I had my camera in my bag.  Since Aaron was occupying the umbrella space with the driver I told him to document the moment.  Be sure to check out the new pictures on the blog.  The one of my butt is his first take.  He has a good eye.  What can we I say?  We got r' done though.  And when we finally got home we even got to pay full price for the ride.  It was a good day.  Cold, but good!