Wanderings

"Am I lost?"

No you're not lost. You live in that direction, to your left. You went under the railroad, then walked in this direction. But you did take a lot of not right angled turns back there; now it's dark and seems like the ocean could be in front of you, or to your left, or even...

"I am kind of lost..."

No you're not lost, you're looking for downtown Tainan. It will be obvious.

I'll just keep walking on this street, there are lots of interesting things on this street. Look at th-- Holy shit, that's the closest you've come to being hit by a car. Don't get so comfortable. Pay attention.

I am paying attention, there's just a lot to pay attention to... That's a fun looking alley. This is where Taiwanese people live. No right angles here either. Just dark windy little alleyways with windows and doors into people's lives, and, is that a dry cleaners? Matt said there weren't any dry cleaners in China. I guess Taiwan and China are different. No, there must be dry cleaners in China, Matt didn't look hard enough. But Matt wasn't looking, his native friend was asking around and people didn't know what he was talking about. I know but it was Shanghai, there must...

Man I am hungry. What time is it. No you didn't bring your phone with the time on it, just like you decided not to bring that map.

Explorers don't have maps, they just go. That's what you're doing, just going. Just don't get so close to the cars. Look, maybe that food doesn't have meat in it.

"你好。有沒有素的飯？"

"有。"

She's staring at you, and that guy she was talking to is staring at you too.

"不好意思。我吃素。"

I just eat vegetables. Does your food have meat? That's what I said, right? Just smile.

Why are they staring at me, she said she had food without meat. Now she's making a joke with that guy. They're smiling at me; are they laughing at me? Just smile.

"你的鼻子很長."

My nose is long? I think that's what she said, why are they both beaming at me? What does she mean? What if she's asking me something?

"Uhh... I'm sorry, I don't understand. 你可以再説一次嗎?" Could you please say that again?

(At my request, she pointed to her nose, once again said bizi (nose) and then pushed her flattened hand against it. She then drew her hand out away from her, indicating a degree of leangth. She finished with a thumbs up. The gentlemen next to her raised his thumb in agreement.)

She sold me two pieces of bread.