Of course..it has had some challenges, many of which you've read about already. Today my new friend Kayla and I found that it can present a struggle when you're attempting to navigate your way in a new place with writing you mostly can't read, people you mostly can't speak to and a phone that is almost completely no good without wifi! We were heading to a sporting goods store called Decathalon so I could purchase my bike. We were somewhat prepared...loaded the location onto my phone using google maps before we left my apartment. I felt like I had a small idea on how to get us started on our journey...haha....what a fool I am! We were planning on taking the bus. Bus 95 according to google maps. Do you think we saw a bus 95 anywhere on our journey??? Nope! Not a one! So instead we opted for walking, thinking it would take us about an hour to get there. We referred back to our map on my phone frequently and along the way found roads we were supposed to find. About an hour into our walk we thought we were all stars! So proud that we found our way...and by foot! Everyone else had either taken a taxi or a bus...we were golden!
3 hours and 45 minutes after our journey started...we finally made it to Decathalon. :( No sad face can convey the way we felt. We were exhausted, dripping with sweat, feet ached, knees ached, hips ached, backs ached....we were in rough shape. Turns out, we did a gigantic loop around God knows where! We have no idea how we did it, but we figure we logged well over 10 miles during our little stroll. However, the light at the end of this dreary tunnel, is that I now have a bike to ride to work tomorrow and I'm very excited about that! :)
When Thomas came and picked us up to take us home we told him about our day...he laughed and felt sorry for his new pathetic American friends. And as he drove us home we learned that Decathalon is a brief 10 minute ride by taxi at the most and no more than a 40 minute walk which required exactly two turns out of my apartment building. :) Another learning experience.
Work starts tomorrow and I know it will be very busy, so I'm hoping to write again at the end of the week...unless something really crazy happens! In that case, I'll share immediately! For now, here are some photos I've taken over the last three days....enjoy and thanks for traveling with me. :)
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| Ryan, Judy and their beautiful daughter Hannah. She might be my new best friend. :) |
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| One part of downtown Wuxi |
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| You can take the girl out of Washington, but you can't take Washington out of the girl! |
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| Cobblestone Pedestrian Street in Nanchang Temple District. Reminded me of The French Quarter in New Orleans. French style signs, restaurant after bar after restaurant, outdoor seating and lots of live music! |
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| I absolutely love this photo of the canal that separates two of the cobblestone streets in the Temple District. Not exactly what I thought of when I thought of China. |
Zaijian (goodbye)
Wow! What a long day! I'm glad you found one of your comforts! Was your coffee the same as at home? I can't wait to hear about your new mode of transportation! Wuxi actually looks quite beautiful :)
ReplyDeleteI would be lying if I said that similar experiences have never happened to me....and while still on US soil....I totally know what you mean about public transit and biking to work. When you grow up in the west, the public transit infrastructure is pricey and not always conducive you your schedule compared to what they have in the east-even if you live in a larger city like Seattle or Portland. And depending on where you live *cough green mt rd cough* biking isn't always very practical either :-) The pictures are gorgeous and I love the one with bridge too!
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