I fractured my ankle again a couple of weeks ago. At first is was really upsetting, as it is my third time since I have moved to Shanghai…. Three fractures in three countries over one year! It happened while I was playing touch rugby. I damaged my ligaments around my ankle and it is the first time in my life that I have had a cast. Thankfully I only have it on for 2 weeks (so I get it off on Wednesday).
Over the last couple of weeks with the cast I have been pleasantly surprised at how helpful the Chinese people in general have been. Doors are consistently opened for me, people get out of the way when I hobble by. I have had guards come up and put their arm around me to make sure I get up or down stairs safely. The guards at my building will get a chair for me as they hail me a cab and will get upset if I move closer to the curb instead of having the taxi pull in. Being a position where I have needed extra help, the Chinese have really stepped up. I guess when they see physical boundaries of cast and crutches I am not treated in the same way (lack of personal space) and people feel compelled to help me.
