Stages

I believe that how adapted you are to life in China is directly proportional to how you respond to honking. According to my imagination, there are five stages. I will illustrate said stages by quoting the thoughts that go through your mind upon hearing a honk.

Stage 1: "Holy COW! Stop all this infernal ruckus! Why, oh why is there soooo much noise! Simmer!"

Stage 2: "I am super cool, I am totally used to all this honki- BAHHHH! Okay, that one scared me." 

*and somewhere between stage 2 & 3, you learn that honking is not a sign of aggression, merely a friendly reminder that someone is fast approaching you, possibly head-on and is therefore used excessively. Just one of the many reasons why their INSANE driving does not result in thousands of casualties daily.* 

Stage 3: not really a thought process, but an automatic movement from the middle of the road to the sidewalk upon hearing a honk. 

Stage 4: "They can totally fit around me"

Stage 5: upon NOT being honked at: "Hey! A little warning would have been nice before you came within an inch of my personage!!! Honk next time fella!"

And then there's Matt, who has reached the same level as a Chinese National and must be dragged out of harms way because he pays absolutely no attention to the horns.