Wed 9/25/02:      Locked out Again

 

            The morning started out bad.  I couldn’t figure out what to wear because everything I want to is wrinkled.  I haven’t seen Downy Wrinkle Releaser here anywhere.  I tried steaming something in the shower and even over a pot of boiling water for a long time, but no success. 

 

Rushing around, I stepped out to throw away food in the garbage outside and as I stepped into the hall, impulsively pushed the door shut to keep in the AC, and as soon as I heard the click it occurred to me I made a huge mistake.  Yes, I was locked out AGAIN, and this time the outside metal door.  I couldn’t believe I could be so dumb.  Had to be at school in 25 minutes for a test.  Ran downstairs where the lady told me to find the same guy, but when I ran to the corner he wasn’t there yet, so asked her for scissors and ran upstairs, tried those and my hairclip but knew I couldn’t do it, ran back down and went to find him—he laughed to see me again until I told him I had to be at school in 25 minutes.  Luckily he was faster this time, just used a plastic sheet to force the tab in.  Another 100NT spent on my stupidity. 

 

By now I had about 15 minutes, not enough to get there on time, but not so long I really had to take a cab, so chanced it waiting for the bus.  As I was rushing realized I was wearing gray shoes with brown pants.  Disgusted.  My whole day already ruined by bad nonmatching shoes. 

 

Got there 7 minutes late, tried to call Stella to ask her to stall the teacher since I knew the elevator would take another year, but when I got in they were going over homework. 

 

I could tell by the test the grammar is starting to get tricky for me. 

 

After class I went to the cooking today since I missed yesterday.  Ange and Steve were in the class and asked me to cook with them.  Steve felt bad for ditching his two Korean girl partners, so he made me put on a big act and yell at him loudly to join us and wave like crazy from across the room so the girls could see.  He threw up his hands feigning helplessness and told them, “Sorry, look my friend really wants me to join her,” and they nodded understandingly. 

 

We made scallion pancake and Lion’s head meatballs.  I always think it comes out pretty good but of course the teacher always has criticism:  “not enough salt/not enough soy sauce/didn’t fry long enough.”  Steve made one pancake the shape of a heart which he was so proud of, but no one would eat it, so it ended up in the trash.

 

            My bus card had run out, and it was raining—cloudy all day.  So I decided to walk to the MRT instead of wait 5 lives for the bus #15.  Just as I arrived at the Guting MRT, the #15 stopped in front of me.  If I’d moved faster I could’ve gotten on, but I hesitated and missed it.  Well, I did discover that door to door the MRT is 15 minutes faster.

I only had time for a couple gulps of coffee before going down to the first day of JiauJu’s SAS class, and I nodded during almost the whole first half, hoping she wouldn’t notice but she probably did.  During the break I dashed up, took a few more gulps, and sat through the rest of the 2-hour class.  Just like church, it’s hard enough to concentrate on SAS in English, but in Chinese… 

 

It took most of my day.  I went back up to work and had one of the little wrapped snacks JiauJu gave me yesterday, just when YuJung came to talk to me about where I could get my HepB shot.  My hands were sticky and I still had a big seed in my mouth the whole time she was talking.  After she was done she gave me a strange look and said, “If you some time want umm, snack, come to our office, we always have a lot.”  Hm, will have to visit them more often.

 

            Mom called around 8 and said she felt bad I must be working so hard, but I explained I’m just staying late to use the internet.

 

            I called Dad around 10 at his office, said “Hi Dad,” and immediately in a panicky voice, he asked, “What?”  I said, “Whoa, nothing!  Just saying hi!”  He was skeptical, “Really?  Just saying hi?  No emergency?”  and when finally convinced, said he was really glad to hear from me and we chatted.  He said to “Try to spend time with Mom” and I said “Yes, I’m trying to get her out,” and asked if he’s eating OK and he said Very good, he got scallops from ShopRite.  I said Yeah, you’re happy Mom’s out so you can eat what you want.  He added, And drink what I want!  I scolded, “Daad!”