Wasn't that profound? Shut up. I know. Well, enough, then. My fear today happened to be one of those lesser ones. I didn't know my apartment from the hole in the street two blocks down, and I didn't know downtown Anqing from downtown Detroit, except I had suddenly been rendered shockingly illiterate (and I felt reasonably safe). For those of you who are illiterate, you'll know what I'm talking about. And it's simply amazing that you're here now, eyes passing over lines and lines of funny white shapes, uncomprehending.
How frustrating.
How infuriating.
This is something like the way I felt walking about this backwater village of six million people that is so deep in China (about 300 miles inland from Shanghai) it has taken no pains whatsoever to accommodate the potential foreign guest. And let's not forget I can't understand anyone, either. So, this sets the stage for what should undoubtedly be an awful experience, correct?
It was awesome. Best 9 hours I've ever spent, hands down. I walked all over the place, clueless and alone, snapping photos and making up stupid names for things that surely had better ones. I smiled and waved at anyone who passed, regardless of whether they scowled or smiled back. A stuttered hello and a self-conscious giggle was about the best I could hope for, but hey, it's a start.
Anyway, here are the fruits of my galavanting:
Awesome Tower.
Silver Thing.
People's Park.
KFC.
That KFC, by the way, being the most sickeningly enormous fast food restaurant I've ever seen... except for the McDonalds a block down the street.
All right. Have a good one at work, my friends. I've already lived this day long enough. I'll leave the rest to you.
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