I just visited Memphis two weeks ago. It's already spring there! The trees and grass are sprouting. Some of the flowers are blooming. Sometimes the air is warm enough for you to out with shirt. Its temperature is much closer to my hometown. I would like to send you some pix there someday.



Memphis is a very nice city. Impress me most is its environment, musical atmosphere and historic scenes. I've visited Martin Luther King's Museum which is named National Civil Right Museum; Residence of great Elvis Presley Graceland; Blues origin Beale Street and Mississippi River Harbor.
However, Memphis is also kind of dangerous. After I checked on line I felt startled. It's said that Memphis is one of the top 20 dangerous city in the US. It's roughly number 15. Yes when I went to its beautiful downtown, I felt I was visiting a certain African city! At least 70% or more town people are black. Some of them are very friendly but some are not. There're so many beggars and some of them harassed me. When I walked on the street they stopped me for money; when I waited for bus they asked for some change; when I asked for direction they asked me for payment; when I entered a restaurant they asked for help; even when I went to a bathroom they spread me their hands during my pissing---much to my embarrassment and dismay! I feel so annoyed and pissed off because them are almost healthy and strong teenagers. In the vicinity of Martin Luther King's Museum, after I payed one black guy two bucks for his spending five seconds letting me know how to approach it and one minutes urging me to show my humanity, some other guys nearby were swarming over suddenly. I realized the potential menace so I had to escape without one second delay! Some of them even tried to chase after me! Afterwards I ran into a pimp! I had to survive by saying:"Sorry! I'm not Japanese but Chinese!"

I really was fucked up as the most exciting and worst moment came. You know what? When I return from Memphis to Madison, I met a white guy who deserves that title:"Trailer Trash" or "White Trash." This guy, with a cup of beverage on one hand and, a cigarette on the other hand, standing at the gate of a fast-food restaurant, said hello to me like a long-lost friend. I couldn't help his sincere accosting so began conversing with him. You know long tour is very boring and I'd been looking for something to kill time. This middle-aged guy said he is from Alabama. His tough appearance shows he is a countryman. His outfits are dirty and shitty. His teeth is very yellow, black and has some gaps. I even feel the air around him was polluted because of his stink mouth. You know I'm not shallow creature who would judge something by its appearance. So let's keep observing. His accent is so odd that I had to ask for"pardon"repeatedly. I don't know what he is doing since as I ask him for that he used a weird word I never heard, probably a slang or jargon. He refused to paraphrase it but just was sneering with kind of embarrassment. So I had to give up. When he knew I'm from China, from Beijing. He flattered me by saying "Wow! Big country, Big city." He said he never been out of the US. Then asked me if I can introduce him some Chinese ladies. I felt kind of weird then asked for reason. He said Chinese women are the best women in the world and American girls are worst. I probed into the root. He illustrated that American women are all materialistic. "They are bitches!" he stressed with a tone of resentment. I protested immediately:"Sorry! I don't think so and I even have to go to your opposite. I think American ladies very nice. I'm planning to marry an American lady. Save your words and watch your mouth, please!" Spreading his fingers to pretend to count bills, he continued:"They care for nothing but for money. Chinese girls don't." I corrected:"You are totally wrong. Who told you that? I know both sides so I have more say in this field. Let me tell you, Sir, you are wrong wrong, wrong!" I explained that current China is a more materialistic society comparing to the US. In the US, I stressed, at least sometimes, when you date a girl, you can go dutch. It proves US girls are more independent. "This yokel asked me:"How about China?" I said:"If you date a girl 100 times, you have to pay at least 90 times or more!" He almost collapsed, stumbling:"That's stupid. That's stupid! I can't stand." Then he cheered up suddenly and asked me:"Sir, you are such a nice guy. Can you donate?""Donate? For what?"I was at loss then ask:"Are you working for some presidential candidates? Democrat or Republican? Obama or Hillery? or Mccain? Are you asking me to donate for them? I wish I could but unfortunately I'm not American citizen." I shrugged. He said:" No! You needn't donate for those bastards. They are assholes!  You just, I'm just asking you to donate for me!" "For you? For what?"I was still kind of confused." Yes, For me, for some food or drinks." Then and there I realized it's too late to tell him I'm a Japanese. I  hesitated and tried to find an excuse. Before I told him"I need donation too," he began encouraging me:"Why not? Sir, Be a man!" Since we look like already long lost buddies and I was encouraged by"be a man!", I couldn't do nothing but donate five bucks! Fortunately that's the smallest bill in my wallet.

Finally I, a lettered guy, was trapped by an rustic look like a real illiterate. This is life itself rather than a lesson concluded by my American"they just take advantage of you as a foreigner"!

>