One big difference between someone who grew up in New York state like I did and those that live here in Suzhou is the ways we use escalators. For me, when I’m walking around town, the mall, or getting to the subway, I just want to complete that task as soon as possible and this means using the escalator as an aid in moving faster. In Suzhou, and the few other places I’ve been in China (Shanghai and the Pudong Airport), any mechanical people mover, flat or inclined, is used to rest and not to help you reach your destination faster.
Tonight on my way to dinner, a down pour started as I was two blocks from the restaurant. Knowing there is an underground mall that connects these blocks together, I jumped inside the passageway with a number of other folk. Most people lined up on the right side of the escalator — there were no stairs — which to me implies they will stand and not walk down the moving stairs. One boy, maybe 8 years old, decided to stand next to the adult who was with him, minding no attention to others around him. As I approached I said “excuse me”, albeit in English instead of the Chinese 对不起 as English still comes as my natural response these days, but he didn’t move and the adult just ignored me as well. I said it once more as I tapped him on the shoulder; no response. My next move was to say it once more while applying light pressure to his shoulder to move him in direction I needed so I could pass. Moses had an easier time parting the Red Sea than I did this little boy on the escalator.
So yes, that’s just one incident but it happens like that over and over. If there are stairs that can be utilized, I take them. Not only is taking the stairs faster, it’s better for your health, kind of a mini workout, but, while you’re making double-time up or down the various levels, you need to ignore the stares from those standing on the escalator staring at you as if you’re a zoo animal doing a feat never been performed before. That is, unless of course, they are too engulfed with their digital device of choice and thus why not moving on their own accord is likely more preferential in the first place.