things that make you go "tat"

          Things that make you go “tat”.  Tat (v.)- the sound that you make when you get annoyed, frustrated, or upset with something or someone.  Actually, I think that Chinese people might have invented it.  But, since then, this sound/term has traveled all over the world….and it has become just as universal as the “F” word or  the finger (which I witnessed by a taxi driver in Shanghai only a few months ago…and was quite impressed)  But, I think the Chinese are better at the sound because it seems to come out louder and more exaggerated.  

         Why in the world am I bringing this subject up?  Well, first…I’d like to dedicate this blog to a special friend in London…who started the things that make you go “tat”.  Just let me say that I’ve only been in Beijing a few days…and I’ve already discovered plenty of things that make me go “tat”.  But, I will only mention my swimming experience today…

Ok, so, one might say that  I am a super crazy obsessed exercise freak….but, when it comes to swimming.  I think that there are pretty much understood rules of how to use the pool, right?  Esp. when the pool is an Olympic sized pool with lanes….and the obvious objective is to swim and not stand in the pool.  Now that I think about it…am I being too snobby?  Hmm…so, I’m swimming in my lane…and I get to the end where there is a wall….normally, the freak that I am, I would be doing flip turns and getting a full on workout…but, I understand that there are a lot of people sharing the lane with me…so, for safety reasons I’m going to skip the flip turns but hope to swim without stopping.  Unfortunately, there was a 30 yr old lady who was playing on one of those kids lifesavers in her hot orange skirt swimwear.  And, well…the lane doesn’t exactly fit anything else but her and her “toy”…it’s kind of hard to pass….there is “tat” #1 right there!!!  Oh, did I mention that there was a divided lane that was about the size of 3 lanes…esp for swimmers like her?  

Then, as I continue to swim…I notice that there are a group of male “swimmers” that seem to constantly go under water whenever I pass….hmmm…am I imaging this?  perhaps….maybe I’m being too sensitive but each time I pass them I see one or two of them dip under and stare…and then one of them even follows me in one lane looking over…luckily, I was only wearing a one piece…that’s the oh, sicko “tat” #2!

I’m pretty sure that the lanes are there to get rid of the waves and direct people in a lane…which means that you are supposed to swim in the lane and not over the lanes.  Yes, this happened a few times…and I tried to avoid it by switching lanes with less people…but, those same people seem to suddenly appear again in my lane…crossing it rather than swimming in it,  “tat” #3!!!

That reminds me of another time I was swimming and there was this man actually swimming in circles in the pool. And it caused this huge whirlpool which was extremely hard to swim in.  I remember going for a breath and I’d drink all this water because of the waves….”tat” “tat” “tat”!!!  

The final “tat” was the women who had this rude starring problem with me.  I don’t know if I just looked like a westerner to them…which I hate to say…but, they seem to look down on people who are a bit westernized…kind of makes me feel like I’m dumb or something.  Yeah, they definitely gave me some attitude…as I was stepping out of the pool…. in the locker room…and even the women at the front desk…they were all totally “doggin” me.  “TAT”!!! such attitude everywhere!  

I think I should start writing down all the “tat” experiences that I have this trip…I would probably write a novel!