Different worlds

Different way of looking at things

Yesterday came with a blue sky, a shining sun and running-friendly temperature, so we decided to be a bit active and go for a middle-of-the-day-run (something you normally aren't able to do). It was still quite chilly outside so we dressed accordingly: I was in a serious looking running set of matching pants and jacket (made for running during the Scandinavian winter so this is the real stuff.. making me look as a total running-geek, I swear that if you didn't know better you could have actually taken me for a professional runner), tomato-red Asics, GPS on arm, HR monitor on chest and watch on hand. Bf didn't look quite as cool as me but hands up for a fair effort: running shoes, Adidas pants and a sporty looking sweater. On our way to the gate we met a large group of caretakers that are working on the yards of our living complex. Dressed in blue, carrying their shovels and brooms, most of them were looking happy as ever. As it was around 1pm we guessed they'd all just had lunch and were on their way back to work.

I normally chit-chat to one of the women who works outside our building. She's in her early 50ies and is the sweetest thing, even though I can only understand about 20% of everything she's saying (we are talking heavy Suzhou dialect here!) Today, she was in the group of caretakers and when she saw me her face lit up:

-Hi Gu Niang (she calls me that), where are you off to today? Going to the city to do some shopping? Buy stuff? Or to a restaurant to eat?

-Eh.... no!! We are going for a run actually! Exercise, you know?

-Oh! Really!?

Once we passed each other I turned to my bf, going:

-Oh my... how can she think we are going shopping when we are dressed like THIS?! And we started laughing.

Then, I heard the group of caretakers:

-They are going running! Hahahhahaha... RUNNING?! On a day like this!? Hahahaha, laowais are so strange! And they all laughed their lungs out.

We sure come from different worlds.