Spellbound
1343
Paying it forward
Dec 14, 2013,22:15 PM
As mentioned, I got this watch with the intention of giving it to the first visually impaired person I came across in Shanghai. Unfortunately after wondering the streets in search of someone, I resorted to driving the streets in search of a massage parlor. You see many of the visually impaired in China might find it difficult to find work, but this is one industry where there are jobs a plenty. Blind masseuse may have more talent in their sense of touch than those with the sense of sight. And so many legitimate massage parlors will have a roster of visually impaired on their staff roster. So finally driving around this cold winter Sunday, we came across one parlor, and went in.
I did not realize this would be so hard, as at the reception we were confronted with a board with pictures of many of the masseuse, and how to choose just one ? I had my partner explain to the reception staff, and ask which one of them was kind hearted. An odd and rather discriminatory method of choice I know. In the end, the receptionist just told us to choose from the pictures on the board.
We chose number 5, and within a minute, this nice gentleman was led out to the reception area to meet us. I took his hand and led him to the sofa, and we explained that we wanted to gift him this new watch. I had him touch the braille on the package, not knowing whether or not Chinese people can read Western braille. He actually spent a couple of minutes reading the braille on the package, and then on the booklet inside so we assumed they could. It turns out that Chinese braille is quite different so perhaps he was just being kind, or even curious.
I strapped the watch on, taking it off again to adjust the strap size, and once back on explained how to read the time. He quickly got the hang of it, and we wished him a Merry Christmas, and told him to contact us if he had difficulties, or if he wanted to replace the battery.
Unfortunately I didn't get his name. Let's just call him the Amazing Number 5.
Thanks to those cool guys and girls at Eone Time for making such a special watch.
Merry Christmas !
Dean