How to avoid being stabbed in the eye?

David Yu
David Yu
Aug 31, 2018 · 2 min read
“A woman with a red umbrella walking across a yellow meadow” by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

As I surfaced from the Shanghai metro exit, the sun beams down so hard that I am giving the stink eye to everyone.

Not because the sunlight was too bright, it’s because the petit girls around me began to expand their umbrellas one by one.

The fear of being taller than average man is getting stabbed in the eyes by a sunblock umbrella.

Then I realized that I never had this problem when I lived in the U.S. Why?

Perception of Beauty

Photo by qi bin on Unsplash

In Chinese, there’s a phrase: 一白遮百丑, meaning if you’re white, it covers hundreds of other defects.

While in the U.S., people pay to get tanned.

Therefore, Chinese girls work hard to keep their skin crystal clear. Buying sunblock umbrella is one way.

Average height of the population

The average height of Chinese women is 158.6 cm (5' 2.5").

I am around 183cm(6feet).

With an umbrella shaft around 88cm(2'10.6"), if they hold it lower than their waist line, it puts the rib tip in perfect striking distance to my eye.

Crowded in Shanghai

With the population of 24.18 million, swimming through the crowds during rush hours, I am bound to bump into people.

And sometimes, umbrella comes into the mix.

Conclusion

If you’re 183cm(6 feet) or taller, train your ninja reflexes before walking into a crowded area in Shanghai.

Thanks for reading

New to Shanghai? I have compiled a short checklist for your convenience.

Get your checklist here.

David Yu

Written by

David Yu

Software Freelancer based in Shanghai. More articles at https://shanghaicoders.com

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade