Lorraine & David teaching in China
One day I saw elementary school children giggling and pointing to my green Tilley Hat. I am quite proud of my green Tilley hat and not knowing what to make of this I smiled and carried on my way.
I started to notice everyone was looking at my hat. My wife's students would say "Nice hat David, is it a cowboy hat?"
One day a young girl said "I should tell you about your hat, but it is not good and I do not want to tell you." After reassuring her I would not be upset, she said "In China when you wear a green hat it means that your partner is not true."
I finally decided it was in my best interest not to wear my green Tilley, so I put on my white toque. Guess what? Everybody started to look at my white toque! It turns out a white hat means someone you love has died.
Now these were the only two hats that I brought with me. Unable to buy a hat here that I am comfortable with I now find myself hatless in China.
I really miss my Tilley hat, a gift from my wife Lorraine."
