FOLLOWING THE RULES

While here in China, I live in an expat area. It is green and modern and full of enclaves of housing that are created to house people coming to Shanghai from around the world. Many affluent locals are moving in to the area, but you can tell that it is full of many Expats - likely families with fathers that work here in the high tech or manufacturing companies of China. And with them, they bring their families. On Saturday, there is an green field where many of the families come to watch organized soccer games. This field is attached to a shopping center with a sport club. The field is reserved for organized sports play - and is green, well kept and a small oasis in a city where undeveloped green land is rare and prized.

As I was walking by a corner of the field on Saturday afternoon, I saw that there were a group of "international" kids in the corner of the field, kicking around a soccer ball in to an empty net in the corner. No one was using the field, but they obviously were not part of league play for the day. Surrounding the 8-10 kids were two service blue dressed security guards from the local shopping center (that also patrols the open field). By observing the interaction, you could tell the young guards were attempting to tell the kids to get off the field. Instead of complying, they kids simply ran around the guards, like little six year old kids intent on disobeying. The guards were at a loss as to what to do - either because they were 2 against 10 and what were they going to do? But the kids were obviously out of things to do on a Saturday afternoon. And with the saavy you get from being an expat kid, living in China, they had enough attitude that they were testing the situation.

I found myself watching, both to see how the whole situation would be resolved, but at the same time, trying to decide what my own opinion was of the situation. On one hand, they weren't causing harm. It was a Saturday afternoon. And I am sure there can be limited places for kids to "go and play."

On the other hand, the guards were entrusted with keeping order. If they didn't keep these kids off the nice manicured lawn, then others would eventually follow - droves of "locals" would come and begin to wear the field down.

I remembered when I was in Singapore that the emphasis on following rules began to get tiring. When your personal desires and logic or principals were out ruled by local laws or customs, you had to choose to appreciate the local situation. But sometimes, you just wanted to rebel. I didn't do that often. For me, my little "rise against the man" was riding my bike on the sidewalk under bridges along the river. You were supposed to get off your bike and walk it or face the potential of a $1,000 fine.

I suppose this was the same situation. From the perspective of these kids, they were not doing anything "wrong." But they were not thinking of the larger pictures.

A few of the kids started to encourage the rest to leave. A few others, who decided to buck the system just kept running around the guards and kicking the ball in to the net. One of them tried to reason with the two guards, which was funny to watch. The kid had picked up a little mandarin and was trying to use it, but with little success.

The guards looked at a loss as to what to do - and finally just stood in front of the net - like a goalie - trying to keep the ball from being kicked in. The two belligerent boys considered them a fine challenge to get past - and tried several times.

Finally, the greater majority, led by one kid who seemed to be a little more mature, encouraged the group to finally go away - that it "wasn't worth it…"

I found myself both frustrated with the kids. I have an inner conviction that when you are visiting another country - you are guests and you should appreciate the local rules. Yet, having been an expat, I also realize that you also get personally frustrated by rules that don't seem to make sense or simply may be contrary to your own values and principles. I both wanted to smack them and tell them to grow up. And at the same time, I could sympathize with them. When you are growing up in the West, adolescence is a time to test rules and establish identity. It would be more difficult when you are going to school with a lot of over confident worldly kids who are trying to out do each other, while at the same time also trying to learn to appreciate the local cultures.

I am fortunate not to be living in a hotel for these 25 days of being in China. Living in a neighborhood, albeit still an affluent expat world, I will get a little more time to see the rhythm of life and have a chance to see and understand.

I am glad to be back in Asia.

(Note: While I am committing to writing this blog every Friday, I may post a little more often if I am far away from home - like China. I hope you won't mind!)