Smoker’s Paradise

Cigarettes cost about $0.30AUD/pack here. I’m not a smoker and never have been, but the packets certainly look a similar size to what I’ve seen for sale in Australia.

In the 10 weeks that we’ve been here I’m pretty sure I’ve inhaled more second hand smoke than in the past 10 years living in Austraia/Korea. I certainly wan’t concious of just how much I was taking the (non) smoking laws in Australia and Korea for granted.

By the amount of smoke I’m breathing, I’d have to estimate that more than half the men around are smokers. China doesn’t appear to have a single non-smoking law. Or, if they do, they’re completely ignored.

People smoke in restaurants/cafes and there’s no such thing as a non-smoking area/seat.

People smoke on busses, sometimes they’re considerate and open the window, other times not.

People smoke in elevators. We regularly have to wait for another elevator because somebody with a cigarette is getting onto the one that just arrived.

People smoke in the street with no concern for where they are blowing their smoke.

At university, in the 5 minute break between classes, students step into the hall and light up. Meaning that walking to the next classroom is usually through hallways filled with clouds of smoke.

People smoke in hospitals!

The one that takes the cake though – Chinese people even smoke on airplanes. Twice now I’ve been on an airplane and had the cabin start stinking like cigarette smoke during the flight. The attendants confronted the people both times and a shouting match developed. In the end, nothing appeared to be done.

I have yet to find a place or a situation here where people don’t smoke or at least show a little respect for the cancer-clouds they’re spreading around them.

So if smoking is your thing – China’s the place for you!