A Whole New Way to Define "Carry On"!

This "moment in time" occurred at the Guangzhou Airport last year while we were returning from a trip to Shanghai.

As we were waiting for our car outside the insanely crowded Terminal 2, a white van pulled up and started unloading carrots, cabbages, onions, eggs, various chicken parts and other fresh local delicacies right onto the sidewalk amidst the crush of luggage carts, carry-ons, roller boards, smokers and hordes of travelers waiting for their various forms of transportation.

Clearly prepared and with unwavering focus, two boys in crisp white kitchen attire rolled in with two empty luggage carts, loaded their groceries, and took a full inventory of their goods. Undeterred by the van driver shrieking at them to move faster, the impatient drivers blaring their horns from the long queue of vehicles behind them, the oblivious travelers pushing past them, tripping over their carrots and threatening their neatly stacked eggs, and the general chaos and overall yelling which was on an alarming rise, the boys carefully checked off each item on their list.

Chris and I stood firm and held the line. As much as I wanted to reach down and help them load their cabbages, instead I opted to reach into my purse and pull out my trusty Panasonic Lumix, a dear friend with me wherever we go to capture just such "moments in time." Clearly, the boys did not need or want our help; in fact, I've come to learn that Chinese workers very often feel a greater sense of accomplishment based on the number (and/or magnitude) of the obstacles they're required to hurtle before their task can be completed.

Dare we say to these young gents ... "Carry-on" ?