Zhuliugan

That title of this blog could also be considered a new "magic" word for Western visitors to China. What does it mean? Zhu is the Chinese word for "pig", and liugan means "flu". I was first introduced to this word on the streets of my local community around the beginning of May as an intrepid young man, upon seeing me walking down the sidewalk, came up and asked me "You mei you zhuliugan." This is a Chinese way of asking a question and it literally means "Have not have swine flu" but is the common(and might I say simple) way of asking a question in Chinese. The man wanted to know if I had swine flu. At the time I didn't know what zhuliugan was, so I replied "Meiyou" (meaning I don't have whatever it was) and continued walking. It wasn't until the next day that I found out what zhuliugan meant, and as the week went on I found out how serious the Chinese government is taking the task of preventing its spread. All visitors from America are subject to a health check at the airport and can be quarantined at a local hotel for up to a week if they are suspected of having zhuliugan. This has actually changed my travel plans, as my girlfriend and I are leaving a week earlier to head back to China in case we get quarantined. Yikes!
Zhuliugan has had one positive aspect in my life. As a white guy walking down busy streets in China, it sometimes feels like walking along a boardwalk at a beach, where the workers try to reel you in like a fish. Salesmen and women are constantly approaching you and in broken English asking if you "Want buy watchie?" or "Want massagie?" It can be annoying, and often the hawker will follow you down the street, even if the look on your face makes it clear that you aren't interested in either his product or his company. Well - I finally found an effective way to rid myself quickly of these enthusiastic, but bothersome touts. For the last month, whenever one would approach me, I would cough, rub my stomach as if in pain, and as they begin their pitch I would say, "Wo you zhuliugan." translated as "I have swine flu." I know its not politcally correct, and at times felt guilt for using it, but it really worked. As soon as I said zhuliugan, they would peel off their oncoming path, with a look of discomfort on their face, almost as if repelled by a magnet or invisible force field. I could then continue my walk, without unwanted company, a smile on my face, and the thought "Adam - 1, China - 0"