Accidentalǎowài

I took my two youngest children to breakfast this Sunday. It’s a thing we do for ourselves (to be together) and for my wife (to leave her alone). And we have two convenient options to choose from directly downstairs in our Puxi apartment complex: Baker & Spice, and this weekend’s choice, Element Fresh. We love these two restaurants, patronize them more than we care to admit, contribute more than our fair share to their profit margins, and owe them both for a small percentage of our happiness and sanity during our life here. Both are successful Shanghai-based chains with authentic international fare catering to expats as well as well-heeled locals. As such, pancakes are a standard part of their weekend breakfast menus. Which is why I was surprised when, after ordering, our fú wù yuán (waitress) reluctantly returned to inform us that they were out of pancakes. Now, I’ve been in China long enough that almost nothing surprises me anymore. But for a Western-style restaurant with a menu entirely of non-Chinese international breakfast items (save for one bowl of congee) to be out of pancakes at 8:00 am on a Sunday?

There are hundreds of stalls at Shanghai's Han City fake market. Almost every one of them is named for the shopkeeper's English name, followed by their floor+booth number, which I can only assume is an effort to make them "easier" to find, given the labyrinth-of-mirrors design aesthetic favored by China's foremost fake market architects.

Despite the growing number of Christians in this officially atheist country, I seriously doubt that John (or whomever runs this booth) was at all aware of the biblical reference in their store's name, let alone do I think they were following in the proselytize-n-profit footsteps of In-N-Out Burger and Forever 21 – or Tim Tebow and Rollen "Rainbow Man" Stewart, for that matter – especially considering the phony Fendis and counterfeit Christian Louboutins that line his shop.

(That said, stranger statements have been made in China regarding both religion and luxury goods.)

But state media recently reported China's plan to construct a "Chinese Christian theology" that "adapt[s] to China's national condition and integrate[s] with Chinese culture." These measures to "nationalize" Christianity may sound like an open-minded move by China to recognize (if not support or sanction) this fast-growing religion, though it's more likely an effort to keep it under control.

There is a star rating system for Shanghai taxi drivers, earned for years of experience, safe driving records, scoring well on exams, even fluency in English (so I’ve been told, though in not the best English). One occasionally sees one or two stars on a taxi driver’s plaque. Three at best, though that's rare.

However, on a recent trip back to Puxi after a client meeting in Pudong, our taxi driver had the maximum: Five stars. Given his relatively low ID number (the newest drivers are now up around number 360,000), he’s been doing this a while. But five stars?! Impressive.