Pride and Prejudice
Oct 15th, 2008 by Michael Max
They litter the corners of intersections like giant green boxy roaches; gather in clusters at the exits of subways and massive shopping malls. In Chinese they are joking referred to as “electric donkeys.” They serve as three wheels of cheap convenience. For half the price of a taxi, two people can turn a half hour walk into a five minute ride.
.
But, generally only after an iron test of wills.
As a foreigner, one often has the privilege of paying an extra fee for a life lived in the middle kingdom. White skin and a big nose means there are a few extra RMB that may be lifted from the pocket. The usual five kuai fare becomes six or seven to wheel a foreigner to their destination. It is not a lot of money, perhaps 15-30 cents, but like the constant drip of a water torture it has a way of generating an increasingly painful irritation. Like every moment in China, it is a negotiation.
It is not personal; it is the simply the prejudice that foreigners should pay more. These drivers have their own vision of the American dream, which entitles them to a slice of that glorious pie. But, still there are days I’d rather walk than give them that satisfaction.