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Hork, Spit, and a Jump
There probably isn’t a China blogger on the planet who hasn’t chimed in at some point or another about the vile habit of littering the streets with huge gobs of saliva everywhere.
Here on the largest city on the upper reaches of the Yangtze, this situation actually seems worse than in other major urban centers. Expatriates here have coined the name “Chongqing Cough” which causes so much respiratory irritation, and this contributes in great part to the unsightly rash that plagues the urban landscape. While all this gross-out talk might put you off your dinner, imagine what it is like for us to have to view and navigate around these clumpy little hurdles everywhere in the city. Because of the relatively poor air quality caused by heavy industry that, dust created from the constant demolition of city blocks, and by the construction projects that quickly replace them, people have to clear out their lungs and sinuses in any way they can. The simplest and quickest is to just let fly wherever and whenever. Spit bombs deface the pavement, drip off the ubiquitous stairways, and even defile indoor areas like bus station floors, elevators, and even the occasional hotel lobby. Avoiding being caught in the crossfire is an art here, and I have been lucky so far, in spite (or perhaps because of) being such a broad and easy target. Prelude to most projectile emissions is the internal rasping/growling/scraping obscenity of a noise that warns bystanders to steer clear.
During the SARS breakout last year, the authorities in Beijing tried to fine its citizens for public spitting, but it did not work very well and seemed to be more of a publicity stunt than anything. How do you enforce a fine for violators who quickly slip away, become hostile, or simply have no ID or money on their persons? Easier said than done.
In Japan, the air is much cleaner granted, but people still carry cloth hankies that serve a duel purpose. It nestles snuggly in ones breast pocket, and is very handy for wiping one’s forehead clear of sweat during the humid summer months. Furthermore, if caught without tissue, it can be used to whisk away any offending viscous substances that may surface. That idea would be very foreign to the Chinese, who would see it as less hygienic than spitting on the ground, as the hankie would have to be washed well at home and then (egad!) reused??!! Well, Japan sure is a different society. Those people over on that long skinny island wear masks to prevent spreading their own germs when they have a cold. That strikes as bordering on humorous for most Mainlanders.
I suppose the best (and perhaps only) way to wean the masses off this unfortunate practice would be to clean up the air and making “Chongqing Coughs” a thing of the past. However, old habits die hard, and I wonder if even in the most pristine of environments, future generations of Chinese won’t still be littering the ground with their mini-mucous mounds. Oh yeah, cutting down on the cancer sticks would also do wonders, but I already wrote about that.
last modified Sep 6, 2004 at 8:01
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