Sometimes if you're lucky, once or twice in your lifetime, a trip changes your perspective on the world or gives you a awe-inspiring experience of living in that particular place. This trip was not that. However, it was good to visit the homeland and see the places that my father talks about in his childhood. Whatever you do, do not visit in the summer. The heat and humidity is brutal and I didn't have enough T-shirts. I know for a fact that my BO did not deter any aggressive peddlers. SDLT, thanks alot for the medicine! We didn't have to use it but it brought great comfort knowing that we had a license to eat anything.
We visit a family near Guilin to see what living conditions were like. The biggest luxury in their household was a 20" color TV and it's shared with other neighbors. And I bitch if I can't find dental floss in my toiletry bag. In a room next to their living room is a coffin, the old couple brought it early when they had money. They're just waiting for their time.
Work
Lately there's been turmoil, a lot of that due to the subprime credit fiasco. I'm still faking my way around my undefined job. I work in the basement, 3 sub-levels below ground. The bomb shelter, they called it. I'm on the beck and call of a hated, incompetent med-level manager. I'm rooting for him to get promoted and out of our department. Funny but true, promoting bad people is a good way to move these type of people away.
Sex offender
An ex-coworker was arrested over the summer in a sex sting operation. He was engaging in pornographic materials with minors. For some reason, I wasn't surprise. I'm a pretty good judge of people and I didn't trust this guy. Although there were no clues that he was this way but I still didn't get good vibes about him. I heard from someone that he 's now sporting a mustache - like that's gonna to fool everyone.
8 Years
We just celebrated our 8th year anniversary. I really mean it when I say the years go by fast.
I still forget to put the toilet seat down - I don't know what the big deal is. I don't say to her to put the seat up after she's finished. But I am lucky that she picked me to be in her life.
Disappointments
The world is not the way I pictured it as a kid, I imagined floating cities and flying cars in the future. Kind of like that scene in "Bladerunner". Also do not see "Eastern Promises", it sucked big time with the ending - very unsatisfying. However, I am pleased with the invention of anti-itch powder and extra extra fine point pens.
A Picture
This is a lighted pagoda in Guilin and the picture was taken fairly quickly. The mosquitoes was sucking the blood out us. The thing I noticed most about the people in China is that they tend to stare at you alot. (more so if you're a foreigner) I know it's more out of curiosity than hostile intent or contempt. That did not stop me from winning all of the staring contests, it was more fun in the elevators. Most of them had to turn their backs away from me. puahahahah!
2 comments:
what a lovely post. i'm so glad that you are back. i know i've said this a thousand times before, but i hope you find the time to keep writing. you're funny, and poignant. a wonderful combination.
when i was in indonesia, i noticed that people stared a lot too. much more so than in america. i always looked away though. i have never been able to stare anyone down! i admire you for doing it-- maybe you could give me some tips?
congratulations on your 8 yr anniversary! your blog was like an OPEN INVITATION for female opinions about toilet seat up or down, so let me offer mine: i hate when he leaves the seat up too!! i can't explain why. maybe b/c we girls are so used to seeing the lid down, that seeing the lid up just looks GROSS! then, touching it and putting it back down is ALSO GROSS! but you boys touch the lids up and down all day long, so it's not gross to you, and easier to do than for us to do it! :-)
i don't know if my trip to asia last year changed my life either. but like you, it was a revelation to witness my parents' roots. it also helped me to understand them better.
are you happy at work? from your description, it sounds rough, but you also didn't sound UNHAPPY. that's good. you always managed to stay positive through any situation.
i hope you didn't get any ideas from the people who bought a coffin for their own home.
hope you're well! have a nice week.
Hey, I totally agree with the stick, but I guess only those who have personally experienced it can vouch for it. After all, I've been through it myself!
I like that last photo. Did you take it with tripod?
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