International Women's Day

How did three days go by since my last post? The days go by so quickly. Admittedly, I still find it hard to get out of bed before 1pm most days, but we stay up very late here as well. I am still feeling dizzy and hazy every day. I suppose my body is still adjusting to being on the other side of the planet. It is a feeling akin to day two of driving nonstop across Canada, or how you feel after getting off a long boat ride. Evenings are when I feel most awake and grounded. Let me just paint a picture of yesterday, which was International Women's Day… I woke up late, just as Brad was heading off to work. Xian Xian, (who takes such good care of me and is the sweetest host ever!), ordered my favourite bean curd dish for brunch. We sat and enjoyed a meal together, then I showered and got ready for my business meeting, which was a 20 minute walk down the road. It was an excellent meeting, my new client talked about his business for an hour, we shook hands, and I left feeling pretty darn happy! Not two minutes later I bumped into Brad, and we walked back to the apartment together, picking up a coffee along the way. Then we met up with Xian Xian, hopped on a couple of electric bike taxis (the best way to travel here, it's loads of fun!), and zipped through the streets to a massage parlour that Brad and Xian Xian frequent. We all had a massage in the same room, for 1-1/2 glorious hours! A real cultural experience. Afterwards, I felt like I was walking on clouds. We sauntered through the streets and joined two friends, Jeff and Joanna, at a restaurant for yet another scrumptious meal of shared dishes - noodles, ribs, pumpkin dumplings, soup, seaweed noodles… all so yummy! After our meal we took a taxi (a car this time), to one of the Mc Cawleys pubs across town, where Brad had to meet with someone for work. There was a band playing and a dance floor full of dancing enthusiasts. We stayed for a few hours, sipping on pints of Carlsberg and taking in the scene. Then a taxi back to our neighbourhood, a night cap and a few games of pool at the local hang out, and then home. It was another full day and late night! I love it here!!!

A typical street scene. Many bicycles and electric bikes.

Apartment building.

Brad and Xian Xian on the electric bike taxi on route to the massage parlour. It was a misty rainy day, so the umbrellas were out.