I knew I was in trouble when bus 120 turned left instead of going straight.
Today, I decided that instead of taking bus 160, my tried and true bus that takes me to the downtown area, I would take bus 120. I knew bus 120 would take me to the fabric market, and I was like 90% sure it would take me to downtown also and be quicker about it too.
When we made the left hand turn I kept thinking "short cut...it has to be a short cut..."
Sure enough, it was sort of a short cut and we went past the stop for the fabric market. It was then we made ANOTHER left hand turn instead of going straight. Uh oh! I was confused. Just the other day I had taken a bus from the fabric market to downtown and I could have sworn it was the 120....and then it hit me...I did take a bus, but it had been the 227, not the 120. I was now going down roads I had never seen before. I thought to myself "maybe I will just ride it out and see where it takes me..." because that is always a smart idea when you know almost NO Chinese and all your friends who do, are miles and miles away.
Seven stops later, I decide to get off. We had just crossed a bridge over the big river and I knew that because we crossed it, I was at least much closer to downtown that I would have been. I hopped off and headed towards the nearest stop light. Left, right or straight? I looked around and opted for right. It made sense. I mean, I turned left earlier, so to head back in the correct direction I should turn right, right?
Let me put things into perspective. It was 2pm in the afternoon, the temperature says it is 5 F out, but really it feels like -10. I had very few layers on because...well...because I am stupid. To top it all off, I am slightly sick. More like I just have a nasty cough that is enhanced by the freezing cold wind.
So here I am, coughing and very cold, walking down a street that the name of looks slightly familiar but I can't be too sure. I think "this is stupid. I could wander for hours and possibly be going in the wrong direction...I am getting a taxi." For me to get a taxi, you know I am not feeling good or in a good mood. I hate getting taxis by myself for various reasons. I catch a taxi and say in my best Chinese "Guiling Lu." The driver nods his head slowly and looks at me funny, but begins driving. Then he looks at me again and asks "Guiling Lu?" while pointing straight ahead. oh crap. don't tell me.... yep. the road I wanted was literally 3 blocks ahead. Totally within walking distance. Apparently, I had a better sense of direction than I thought. Blushing, I nodded my head and got out of the cab not even 3 minutes later. Pretty sure the cab driver was thinking "silly American".
It was withing walking distance, but my pride reasoned that I was not feeling good and it was really cold out, so the taxi was necessary....right keep telling your pride that one.
So, I get my errands done and then I am off in search for a bus to take me home. I stated that it was cold out right? Well it was now 4pm, and the sun was going down, so it was growing even colder. I didn't feel like walking the 3 blocks that it would take me to get to the 160 bus stop. Remember, the 160 is the tried and true bus that always takes me right back home. No, instead, I decided that I want to find that darn 120 bus stop. And sure enough I do. So it does go down town I thought bitterly. I would have found that out if I had been patient but what was done is done. I cross the street in search for the 120 heading back home...but I can't find it. Do I buck it up and walk the now 4 blocks to the 160 bus stop? Nope, why here is the 227. I know that will take me to the fabric market and then I can catch the 120 from there. What is a little bus change? Pleased with myself, I hop on the 227, but this time I ask the driver for sure if he goes to the fabric market. He says yes. We get to the market and I switch buses. All should be good right? Heck no. I get on the 120 and we make our way to the street I live on. I am happily daydreaming when an older Chinese man across from me asks me a question. Great...I have no clue what he just asked me...maybe he asked where I am getting off? It was the best I could come up with...So I said my school's name even though I was gonna get off at the stop after because it would be quicker to my apartment. I say my school's name and the Chinese man says something while shaking his head... uh oh....crap. I wasn't smart and didn't write down the name of the actual stop I wanted, so I had no way of telling him that the stop I really wanted was the second one from the school, not my school. The driver must have heard me say my school's name, because he dropped me off in front of my school where there is no stop. This probably means he felt bad for the poor stupid foreigner. The thing is, where he dropped me off is smack dab in the middle from either possible entrance. You can't really enter from the real front of the school, you have to use the side or back entrance....and I was in the middle of both of those. So, while grumbling under my breath at my stupid pride, I hoofed it to the back entrance.
My lesson? Write down the darn pinyin of the stops you want so you don't end up walking a bunch in the freezing cold weather. My pride was in the fact that I had the characters copied down and obviously I would never get lost with those....but I can't read/pronounce characters.
The Father was gracious in providing me with a decent sense of direction and the ability to catch transportation that would take me where I needed. But from now on, I will just take bus 160, the bus that actually goes to where I need. The Father was also gracious in providing me a lesson in humility and patience.
Well, that was my China adventure for the day. I am grateful I can look back and giggle at my sillyness. Now I am off to go make dinner and a nice big mug of hot chocolate. I definitely earned it.
