Life seems to be full of contradictions and requires a balance in deed.

While the world is upset with what is happening now in the  Middle East and elsewhere,  in addition to the global economic/financial issues, life keeps making its way to continue and we have other side of the coin as human being..

As a long term serving expat in China, especially in Shanghai and Jiangsu, I have been having some funny moments among the hardship-moments of the life:

Very recently, I was in Xujiahui in a large shopping mall and was looking for the elevator to get to 12^th floor.  I approach the two standing ladies behind the desk and asked one of them how to get the elevator. She answered and I did thank her.  It was a mini dialogue in Mandarin.

Immediately, the other lady looked at her colleague with a smile and said:

- Oh ! I did not know that you speak foreign language...

I was puzzled whether she was kidding or she did not pay attention that I was talking to other lady in Mandarin..


                  ************************************

After a short while, same building, in the elevator, getting down to 1^st floor from 12^th floor...

A lady was busy to scan this foreigner and asked me:

- Where are you from?
- From Turkey.
- Turkish men are handsome..

Before I attempt to thank her for the pleasant compliment, she continued:

- I thought Turkish people have white skin, why do you have tan skin ?

I was surprised with the unexpected answer. The short time journey of elevator and crowd did not allow me to explain to her that mainly Turkish men are known to have tan skin...

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