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Weaksauce
Chinese salads are weak.. I miss my greens!! Ok, its been awhile! Sorry everyone!
Well today was a sad day because my roomslice Joohee left to Korea 😞 she had been my rock this whole trip, i am going to miss her dearly!! After saying goodbye to her and watching her drive off in a taxi, i decided i should try taking the bus to my hostel, instead of taking a taxi. I was thinking it would save money and i thought i was down with an adventure.. Haha. I had my huge backpack all rigged up with my hula hoops, shoes and hats, with my sleeping bag hanging on the bottom. Then i had my fanny pack on (so hot, i know) and a purse full of tea and snacks, And a huge shoulder bag full of books and crap i dont need to be dragging around with me. I couldnt help but think of my mom as i wobbled down the street, and how she calls me a pack rat, its true. And i felt that obvious fact right in my shoulders and back, damn my backpack was heavy. I got to the right stop in about 10 minutes, but i could have sworn it was eternity
Eggs and tomatoes
Signature dish in china. And one of my favorites! (did i mention it was over 80 degrees out and on the verge of raining any second? With humidity to go with it). Yeah so i get on the bus, barely fitting through the door. The bus driver had to push me through, haha. I was so grateful to have a seat, and there was air blowing on the seats. Im not sure if it was a/c, but i was stoked. The buses dont have levers to alert for your stop, they are required to stop at every stop. This results in what i call, "bus drive bys". Its where the bus speeds (not pull up, speeds) to the stop and does a quick door open and screeches to a halt really fast, and if you dont make it obvious that you are getting on or off it speeds off again. This was an issue because one, i wasnt sure where my stop was, and two, it gave me no time to gather my stuff to get off. So i gathered my things as fast as i could, preparing for what i thought was my stop, waited for the screech stop and bolted towards the back door. You would think
Buddhist academy anniversary
Me and 3 classmates were invited back to the buddhist academy for their anniversary celebration. Along with monks from all over the world, we were the only white people! that would be enough time to get out the door, but no. The door slams shut in my face, almost cutting me in half, and i start screaming like a spanish cowboy! Really loud, im like "Ai ai ai ai ai ai!!!" I cant remember what wait is in chinese so thats what came out, something spanish like, typical. I speak almost fluent spanish here with my attempts of remembering my chinese vocabulary. Anyways, the bus driver takes no notice, but i keep screaming, and by this point i have the whole bus yelling with me (they easily figured out i was struggling haha). After 5-10 seconds of the whole bus screaming stop, he figures it out and stops the bus for a mili second for me to leap out. I look around and realize the zoo (which was my landmark) was no where to be seen, not even signs. There is no time to be shy when your lost in a foreign place. I looked for the "friendliest" looking person at the bus stop and politely asked if the zoo was close by. With my struggling chinglish, it took awhile but i figured out i needed to get back
Westlake
After a long hot day we paid a water taxi to take us across the lake! on the bus and go two more stops. I only had 2 yuan in change and usually its 3 yuan so i instantly got nervous and anxious. The only other bill i had was 100. I was stupid not to bring more change with me, but i decided if the bus driver gave me a hard time i would play the dumb game. I was not going to attempt walking with all my shit. So another 15 minutes went by and my bus did the usually "drive by" method and i barely made it on with all my stuff. I asked how much and i understood he said 3 yuan, but i dropped only 2 yuan in and he didnt even raise an eyebrow or say anything so i was in the clear.. I worried for nothing, and i took note to do that next time. So round two was coming around the corner, i had all my stuff in hand, ignoring all the intense stares i wobbled off the bus and there was the zoo! I felt better but i couldnt remember if it was up the road or down the road.. I stared at the map the night
Last day with my Boo!
Roomslice is going to korea = sad panda :( before for like an hour.. But couldnt remember. I had the address but they dont put address numbers easily to see on the buildings. The street sign confirmed i was on the right street, but i had to walk around to figure out where i was headed. Total drag, i was getting frustrated. I used to think i had a good sense of direction, but then i surprise myself with getting extremely disoriented and lost. I couldnt call a cab because i knew i was so close, and between me and the dense forrest there wasnt anyone to ask for directions. Lets just say i trekked around for over an hour.. Until i found a nice chinese lady who could see the desperation on my face. My phone had run out of minutes so she used hers to call the hostel and ask for better directions. If i had gone left not right, i would have enjoyed my afternoon, but instead i spent it panting around lugging my precious "pack rat" accessories. She was so nice and walked me up to the door, i kept saying thank you thank you, you are wonderful, you are wonderful! I truly believe in karma, because without it im not sure if i would have made it without crying haha. But i didnt cry! I was so frustrated though. I learned my lesson though, next time i go to find a hostel it will be much smoother! The hostel is nice and although the small room packed with 4 bunks is nothing like my old dorm at Zhejiang, it will do, i made my bed cozy and hung up my family pictures. After checking in i had to go back to school to get my bike. On my way back i got minutes for my phone and it starting raining. Usually im down the rain, im from Olympia, but i recently learned its not just rain, its acid rain! It will deteriorate the walls of buildings and even worse make your hair fall out!! I guess its a form of "smog" rain. Its hard enough to ride a bike around here in normal weather, because the crazy road raging drivers, and in the rain its even worse. With the fear of losing my hair, i frantically peddled up and down the hills along side the lake keeping my eyes and ears open for the crazy drivers who like to use the bike lane as a "passing" lane. I had one hand steering and braking with the other one holding my umbrella. Not an easy task with hills involved and not to mention no gears on my bike. I was so happy when i realized the rooster i was hearing was actually my phone ringing, and it was nick calling me. I pulled off under some trees and took a break. He let me vent his ear off about my morning and we talked more about switzerland and we did our usual "chicken and bunnies" talk. He makes me really happy 😊. Im really excited to travel with him next month, we are a good pair. After i hung up i found my blue poncho in my purse, which is waaaaay easier to bike with then an umbrella. My day instantly turned around. Although im sad Joohee left, and she was so helpful, in a way im stoked to be on my own. I will struggle, absolutely will struggle, but im looking forward to the challenges to test my character and strength. Todays mishaps are just the beginning, all i can do is keep my head on straight, stay focused, and enjoy the ride 😊
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Joohee
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Perri I miss you!!!!
Seems like you had some adventure of your own today! I'm sure you can do it! I have faith in you!! So.. The taxi cost about 140 yuan, and I was only able to send just one luggage on the airplane since it's only China-Korea flight. So I had to struggle rolling around my 80yuan luggage at the airport.. Cuz it won't stop wobbling!!! Shitty! So I drank a whole cup of coffee and used 150% han mei mei strength to carry that shitty luggage on my shoulder instead of wobbling sideways in every steps. Hahaha I missssss youuuuuuiuuu!!!!!