Officially moved out and HAVE BOOKED A TICKET HOME!!!
What a huge sigh of relief this day has been, I've moved out of my apartment and in doing so, I tried reaching United Air in Beijing to see if there was ANY FLIGHT between Aug. 5 and the 22. Here's how the conversation unfolded with the representative there:
RIZ:
"Hi, I have an electronic open ticket and I was wondering if any flights were available between the 1st and 22nd of next month."
REP:
"Oh, I'm sorry, there are no more flights between the 9th and 12th."
(Riz rolls eyes and bites lip)
RIZ:
"Can you please check for ANY AVAILABLE FLIGHTS BETWEEN THE 5th and 22nd?
REP:
"There are no flights, only on the 6th, 7th, and 8th there are flights"
I'M COMING HOME, BABY!! WHOOOO HOOOOOOOO. I will call tomorrow to confirm my reservation on AUG. 8TH and just to make myself feel better about this situation! SALAMAT SA DIOS!
So, yesterday, I invited Winco (a replacement for Sam, who seems to be avoiding me for known reasons I won't go into here) to have dinner with me and my landlord Zheng Heng Shi, who arranged this final get together before I moved out of his apartment. I had what will probably be my last hotpot meal in Chengdu. Even with the obvious language barrier, I'm so grateful that we were able to communicate these last few months. The room was exactly what I needed in terms of independent living here in China as it wasn't too big nor too small. It taught me to live sensibly and simply without too much extravagance; it was just what I needed. Having a landlord that didn't speak English allowed me...or should I say, force me to speak more Chinese no matter how limited and "baluktot".
Now, it's just winding down and taking it easy. Now with a set date to return to the states, I just have to decide when I'll leave Chengdu and decide what to do while I'm here.
Today, Li Xiangyu (aka Shawn), helped me get the last of my things to the lab after lunch, met with my landlord to give back the keys and get my deposit back (which he totally forgot about and will call me soon about it), and I had dinner with Yurn.
Now, it's finishing up the already drying specimens and making arrangements for their shipment to Shandong where my contact is, cleaning seeds, and preparing the plant material I hope to bring back.
Work's not over here folks and I'm actually dreading the heavy load I have before me when I return, but it just feels good knowing that I am returning home! heheh
NOW IF BLOODY WEBPINE WOULD JUST OPEN UP SO I CAN EMAIL!! ARRRGGGHHH
See you in a few weeks, y'all! I've missed ya!
Riz
RIZ:
"Hi, I have an electronic open ticket and I was wondering if any flights were available between the 1st and 22nd of next month."
REP:
"Oh, I'm sorry, there are no more flights between the 9th and 12th."
(Riz rolls eyes and bites lip)
RIZ:
"Can you please check for ANY AVAILABLE FLIGHTS BETWEEN THE 5th and 22nd?
REP:
"There are no flights, only on the 6th, 7th, and 8th there are flights"
I'M COMING HOME, BABY!! WHOOOO HOOOOOOOO. I will call tomorrow to confirm my reservation on AUG. 8TH and just to make myself feel better about this situation! SALAMAT SA DIOS!
So, yesterday, I invited Winco (a replacement for Sam, who seems to be avoiding me for known reasons I won't go into here) to have dinner with me and my landlord Zheng Heng Shi, who arranged this final get together before I moved out of his apartment. I had what will probably be my last hotpot meal in Chengdu. Even with the obvious language barrier, I'm so grateful that we were able to communicate these last few months. The room was exactly what I needed in terms of independent living here in China as it wasn't too big nor too small. It taught me to live sensibly and simply without too much extravagance; it was just what I needed. Having a landlord that didn't speak English allowed me...or should I say, force me to speak more Chinese no matter how limited and "baluktot".
Now, it's just winding down and taking it easy. Now with a set date to return to the states, I just have to decide when I'll leave Chengdu and decide what to do while I'm here.
Today, Li Xiangyu (aka Shawn), helped me get the last of my things to the lab after lunch, met with my landlord to give back the keys and get my deposit back (which he totally forgot about and will call me soon about it), and I had dinner with Yurn.
Now, it's finishing up the already drying specimens and making arrangements for their shipment to Shandong where my contact is, cleaning seeds, and preparing the plant material I hope to bring back.
Work's not over here folks and I'm actually dreading the heavy load I have before me when I return, but it just feels good knowing that I am returning home! heheh
NOW IF BLOODY WEBPINE WOULD JUST OPEN UP SO I CAN EMAIL!! ARRRGGGHHH
See you in a few weeks, y'all! I've missed ya!
Riz