Last weekend, I went to Taipei. A group of people had gone from all
over China,
maybe about 30 in all. I’d been there before but this time around went to a
little touristy city up on a mountain.
When we planned this weekend, we hadn’t realized that not
only was it Columbus Day, but also Taipei’s
national day. Last year, that wasn’t an issue because we chose to go to Hong Kong, but this time, the city selection proved a
little silly. It was super crowded and we couldn’t get deals on hotels like we
had in Hong Kong.
Nonetheless, we all found housing. We also found people
everywhere, especially in the little mountain city. (It’s where some film,
“Spirited Away,” was set. I’ve never seen the movie.) The big thing to see was
a little narrow street with all kinds of cool shops. It was also filled will
all kinds of people, and by that I mean mostly Japanese tourists.
We also did food and the night market, which are the things
to do in Taipei.
I also did my thing, which involved Krispy Kreme. Yes, so far as I know, it’s
the nearest Krispy Kreme to me, and I made the most of it.
In the end, I was glad enough to have gone again. It was
nice to be with people and not just go somewhere alone. I’m not as big a Taipei fan as are some
that I work with and wouldn’t have gone back on my own again, but with the
group, it was a good weekend away.
Having three holiday weekends also meant three
less-than-five-day work weeks. We had a four-day, a two-day, and then another
four-day. Quite honestly, I am ready for a five-day, which is good because
those start again tomorrow.
On Friday before my weekend in Guangzhou, my department took a cruise. For
mostly everyone but me, it was fun. For me, it was a logistical nightmare. For
a select crew that I have not yet figured out, it was a no-go, because they
missed the boat.
I’d sent out an email wherein I said “the boat leaves at
7:30” eight times. Basically it was every other line in the email. I’d arranged
with the boat guy to buy me another five minutes, just in case, and what do you
know but people didn’t even make that.
I held out as long as I could, but the boat guy was taking
off so I left my “wave ‘em in” spot and got on. We started the engines to pull
out and I heard a commotion at the dock. Looked up and there was another
person, so I frantically waved her in. She made it, but started berating me,
saying I “should have told them in the email” that it could take awhile to get
there in a cab. Seriously? It’s a city of 15 million people and it’s rush hour.
Can you not figure that out? Or, you know, ASK SOMEONE?
So basically that just added to my stress. I know of there
people who definitely didn’t make it. I have no idea how they will react tomorrow.
I just hope they don’t expect a refund. It was pretty darn clear what time the
boat was going to leave. (Indeed, I found out later that, at 7:33 on the boat,
when I was still waving in people, the folks on board were wondering aloud why
they hadn’t left yet.)
But all in all it was a success. Next week’s project is to
continue collections for Marine ball tickets, of which we will purchase as many
as possible and then hold drawings for winners. Right now, I have collected
enough for maybe five tickets (of which I purchased one). Last year, we had 11.
And now I am on the tail end of what’s been a successful
weekend in Guangzhou.
I did 14K on the treadmill in 90 minutes Saturday morning, then napped til 10,
worked 1-4, then hit the wet market and bought veggies for the first time in a
month. Also finished a book that I didn’t really like but had invested a lot of
time trying to figure out, so I stuck with it.
Then I chilled out – well, sweated, anyway – in the steam room and
sauna.
After setting my alarm for 12:24 a.m., I got up, remembered
in a haze why I’d set the darn thing, I Slingboxed the FSU game until 3 a.m.,
crashed until 6, then got up and did 10k on a couple of milder settings. My
hips hurt so bad yesterday it was not funny. I was limping like crazy. I have
no idea what I was thinking on this 10k. I’m going to die.
Anyway, I got back into the usual weekend routine by hitting
the grocery store, which redefined crowded and raises your blood pressure,
cooking my week’s meals and then getting a massage. I’m still sore but not
limping. My other task was getting a light bulb changed, which is harder than
it seems. It involves contacting the front desk and explaining what I need when
I have zero language skills, but I got it done.
Basically, it’s been a really domestic weekend and I don’t
mind a bit. I still have a couple more things to do, like wish Leila a happy
birthday, but I’m really glad to have not commuted to or from either the
airport or the train station this week.
Next week is in town, too, but the following weekend I head
down to New Zealand.
This has been in the works for awhile, but I haven’t done much planning beyond
signing up for a tour of the south island. Now it’s finally the “next trip” and
I guess I should get in gear.
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