“Don’t judge anybody until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes. After that it doesn’t matter, because they’re a mile away and you have their shoes!”- Author Unknown

Have you ever had something valuable stolen? Have you ever been a predicament where you can’t do anything about it being gone? Well, ladies and gents that’s my story, a stolen Harley Davison Chinese motorcycle.

Hello, Chinese police…

if your reading this, I would like to report that this motorcycle was stolen around 18:00 to 20:00 hours in the Wei Hei Lu district in Qingdao, China on August 8th. Please help us find our stolen puppy motorcycle.

Denny and his new toy!

What does a foreigner do when they have something stolen in a mega populated city of about 8 million people? Expats what have you done?

 The Mourning

We have about 3 weeks left of living in China. Denny got the motorcycle about 10 months into living here. The bike was a life saver for us both. The most common popular form of transportation for the Chinese are the buses, taxis and walking. All three of those are not ideal. They are lots of sweat and time. Maybe you can’t relate to this lifestyle because you wheel yourself in a comfortable car but trust me when I say it’s not always fun. Just the other day I was on the Chinese public bus and the mother sitting next to me with her 2 year old son had sweat drops on her face the size of large blueberries (no exaggeration). It’s super humid in Qingdao and most buses don’t have air conditioner. Taxis, forget them. It’s tourist season so waiting for them “is like waiting for rain in a drought. Pointless and disappointing”. (Which movie did I pull that quote from?) Not to mention, Qingdao’s International Beer Festival is now. Double whammy. I honestly prefer to walk: light exercise, same time waiting and less stuffy. ( Note, the Chinese are not known for wearing deodorant.FRESH air if you know what I mean?) I don’t say this all to complain but to help you understand what Denny and I loss was a mini tragedy. =(

This mourning season has it’s ups and downs.

UPS (When thinking in Love)

The evening his bike was stolen Denny came home and we prayed about it. Afterwards he went out for some Chinese BBQ and chatted with his Chinese buds. We had prayed for peace. When he returned prayers were answered, PEACE was given. Denny told his friends and they listened. Somehow or another they talked about cost in life. The motorcycle was about $400. One of the Chinese guys, in CA looking board shorts with no shirt, had commented that his rent is $50 a month. Denny pointed out to me that the “CA looking dude” lives in the shacks near our home. The discussion really put the stolen bike situation in perspective for Denny.

On another side note, I know I am very blessed God protected Denny and I on the bike as long as we were blessed with it.

DOWNS (Theft)

I can’t stress this enough, the weather in Qingdao is currently a mild room of sweltering Hell. It basically feels like you’re stepping into a sauna. You’re probably thinking it’s not that bad, midwest summer weather isn’t that bad. Yes, it’s not when you can comfortably go from one air-conditioned room to the next, including transporting in one. “Hey, have you thought of taking a taxi?” Yes, but like I mentioned above, it’s tourist season and waiting for one in some areas in Qingdao is a lost cause. This week Denny walked and waited for a taxi for two hours and then ended up taking a bus. Least to say, the combination of the weather and polution gave Denny a cold.

My Memory Scrapbook of the Chinese Hot Rod:

Today we drove Denny’s motorcycle along China’s coast. It was my kind of day: clean streets, gorgeous view and the wind in my face. Riding is scary and thrilling all at the same time.

Developing world issues: adventures with my husband on our Chinese motorcycle. These are moments I will remember. We did our monthly run to Metro and came out and it was pouring during rush hour. We carried our groceries in between us and in our bags.

Denny and I took a day trip on the motorcycle to the countryside. It was quite the adventure. We saw tea plantations, children getting out of school and lots more. 

This is when a Chinese motorcycle gang helped us out. The gas tank wouldn’t open and we were in the outskirts of Qingdao. This picture documents the day we had a picnic at the beach and then drove along the Yellow Sea’s coast.

What kind of big ticket items have you had stolen? and if not, come up with the most elaborate story ever. 

10,000 Smiles

Vote for the picture that makes me smile at the end of the post. Thanks for participating in the 10,000 Smiles Project.

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