What is the most shocking thing you have ever seen in China?
- Source: Global Times
- [22:55 February 08 2010]
- Comments
Patrick Mattimore, an American media researcher in Beijing
24-hour estate agents
One of the strangest things I've seen in China are the legions of impeccably dressed, mostly young men, standing outside of realty offices at 8:30 pm every day (but especially Sunday), usually talking on cell phones. There is another group of people inside the offices in front of computers.
At first, I thought that Americans Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith would show up at any moment with the rest of the cast from Men In Black, and the cell phones would be turned into those memory things, but that never happened.
Now there are several reasons this is strange to me.
First, it's hard to believe there are Beijing couples sitting around after Sunday night dinner when one of the pair says, "You know, honey, I forgot to buy that 3 million yuan ($439,238) apartment I was telling you about. I think I'll call the agency now."
I'm assuming these well-clothed men are talking to potential clients.
After all, if it's their girlfriends on the phone, why not be out with them instead of talking to them from afar on Sunday night?
So it's doubly strange. These people are working abnormal hours and other people are seeking them out for business.
Another reason the sight of these young people working is strange to me is because I moved to Beijing from France less than three months ago.
In France, the work motto is, "We're closed," or, "We're on strike."
Not just Sunday, but nearly any other time you would care to think of.
Finally, although I have had youngsters at the Silk Market tell me that they work seven days a week, 12 hours a day, I am still astounded when I see that people really do appear to be working those kind of hours.
It's great for customers but I'm still not planning on buying an apartment in the middle of the night anytime soon.
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