If you can't beat 'em . . .

Legends tell of perfectly sane, law abiding citizens turned crazy on the streets of China. People who spent their first months driving here cursing every illegal move, crying out versions of "donkey!" to other drivers, vowing to rid the streets of these outlaws, now find themselves thinking of, nay even doing, those very things.

I never thought I'd be one of them. Oh how far I have fallen.

Today as I cruised the streets of my traffic infested city, I found myself thinking, "When my family comes, they are going to be appalled at how I drive." I don't slow down to make right turns. I just expect people to let me in (and they do - my car is usually bigger than theirs). I park in questionable places. I weave. I pass people in no passing zones if they are driving too slowly for me. I drive in the bike lane if I want to turn sooner than the people in front of me. I have yet to make a right turn from the inside left lane in front of two lines of traffic, or to back down an entrance ramp because I changed my mind. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

But here's the good thing about my anarchy - I'm more gracious to others who pull the same bonehead moves. It's just the way we drive here. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.