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rather-impertinent · 7 years ago

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The Girl Next Door Chp. 3

A/N: Hi friends! Here is chapter 3 at last! It’s a long one, so you might want to grab yourself a cup of tea or, in the spirit of this chapter, pour yourself a drink! I hope you enjoy it and I’d love to know what you think! xo

Demelza Poldark 9:09pm

DWIGHT <3

Hurry up!!!

Dwight Enys 9:10pm

I’m ready, I’m just waiting for Caroline. Literally waiting right outside her front door. Maybe she’s ignoring me?

Demelza Poldark 9:10pm

Don’t be ridiculous! You’re handsome and lovely, what’s not to like?! X

Dwight Enys 9:10pm

Haha oh ffs how much have you had to drink?

Demelza Poldark 9:12pm

Oh, A LOT! You’ve got some catching up to do! How amazing is autocorrect btw?! Anyways MOVE YOUR ARSE DON’T MAKE ME COME OVER YOU KNOW I WILL

Dwight sighed loudly. She would definitely come over to drag them both out if they didn’t show up soon. Dwight knocked on Caroline’s door again. “Caroline? Are you ready yet?”

“Just a sec!” She called through the door. Dwight heard clattering behind the door and assumed she was likely still getting ready and would thus be much longer than one second. He genuinely couldn’t believe she had agreed to come in the first place, and, more than that, seemed happy to be invited. That is, before she had smiled at him in her unusual way, as she had won an argument they had not been having.

While Caroline was busy still getting ready, Dwight seized the opportunity to take out his phone to see if he looked semi-presentable. He eyed his stubble and began to feel that he should have probably shaved, but he supposed he still looked fine. He smoothed his hair and double checked that there was nothing in his teeth, which of course there wasn’t as he’d literally brushed them twenty minutes ago and had neither eaten nor drank anything since. His aftershave was a little strong though, maybe. Why was he so fidgety? Probably because he hadn’t seen his friends for a while and didn’t want them to go all parental on him if he looked like shit. Yeah, that was it.

Demelza Poldark 9:18pm

DWIGHT WH Y ARE YOU STILL IN YOUR FLAT I CAN SEE YOU ON SNAPCHAT MAPS I WILL PUT MY JACKET ON IN A MIN I SWEAR TO GOD

Just as Dwight began typing a soothing reply to his distressed, inebriated friend, Caroline’s flat door swung open. She snatched her coat off its hanger and grabbed her bag before stepping onto the landing. “Sorry, sorry! My stupid fucking shower took ages to heat up!”

Dwight simply stared at her, blinking several times, as if unable to believe she was real. Yes, normally she was very pretty, but he had never seen her properly dressed up before. She stood in front of him in a one-shouldered white dress, her hair long and wavy, with a pale pink colour on her lips and a light smoky-eye behind her thick, black eyelashes. “Wow. Um – you – ehm – you look great.” She fought a smile at his compliment and smoothed her white dress. “Thank you,” she replied evenly as she buttoned her coat. She then shrugged and flipped her long curly locks over her shoulder, “I know.” He laughed at her lack of modesty. “You do know we’re only going to the Red Lion around the corner though, and not some red-carpet event?” he taunted cheekily, then immediately prayed it wouldn’t offend her. Caroline gasped quietly and eyed him with surprise, but appreciated the tease. “Well, in the words of Coco Chanel: ‘A woman can be overdressed but never over elegant.’” She sauntered past him and headed down the stairs with as much grace as if she was wearing her fluffy pug slippers, that he’d seen when he attended on her pet, as opposed to heels.

It was then Dwight realised that a small dog, by the name of Horace, was following her closely at her heels. “Um, are you bringing Horace, too? I don’t think the pub allows dogs…” He frowned and bit his lip.

She looked at him as though he was the stupidest person in the world. “Yes, Dr Enys, I thought it would be a great idea to bring my pug to a bar that wouldn’t let him and then chain him to a fence for the night while I get drunk inside,” she replied, her voice dripping with scathing sarcasm. “Do you think I’m an idiot? I’m dropping him off at Mrs Figg’s flat, she loves him.”

“The latter sentence would have sufficed,” Dwight said tightly, not caring for her tone at his simple, reasonable, question.

She knocked on door number 12 of their building and awaited an answer. “Well, not for me!” she replied sweetly, a sardonic smiled on her face. Mrs Figg appeared at her door then, very happy to see Dwight and Caroline, and – above all – Horace; whom she promised to spoil rotten, telling Caroline to enjoy herself and that she could come and collect Horace the next day at any time, or even allow him to stay until Monday, if she so wished.

A little over five minutes later, as the door to their apartment building slammed shut behind them, Caroline asked: “So, how far is it to the pub?”

Dwight made an uncertain noise, as it had been quite a while since he’d gone on a night out, and longer still since he had been to this specific pub. “About a ten to fifteen-minute walk, I’d say. Will you manage it in those shoes?” He motioned to her glossy white heels, which made her an inch taller than him.

Caroline looked down at her shoes and then at Dwight and proceeded to laugh heartily. “Oh, trust me when I say I can walk better in heels than I can in flats!”

He looked at her 5-inch heels, genuinely perplexed. “What? How is that even possible?” His mind went into overdrive as he tried to recall the exact, medical formation of the human foot.

“Well, you’ll remember that I said I did a bit of modelling to you yesterday?” He nodded. “I kind of lied. I actually did a lot of modelling, it was kind of my career. It was nice to wear expensive clothes and have your makeup done by other people but honestly, seven years of being told how thin you should be and how you should wear your hair and how you should dress just got really tiring.” She laughed it off, but Dwight had a feeling that the comment wasn’t as flippant as she’d intended it to be.

He scratched his ear, unsure of what to say next. He coughed, which came out in a puff in the cold, night air. “So, is that why you–“

Dwight’s phoned vibrated and pinged at full volume, not once, but twice. He gritted his teeth together – this better be a spam email from Dominos. “Sorry, hold on, two seconds.” He fished his iPhone out of the pocket of his dark jeans and opened the messages. Caroline distracted herself with her phone, too.

Ross Poldark 9:27pm

Where are you mate?

Think Dem is about to have a nervous breakdown, if I don’t fucking kill her first for being a pain in the arse! Move it!!!

Dwight Enys 9:27pm

OMG IM FUCKING COMING IM LITERALLY AROUND THE CORNER

Ross Poldark 9:27pm

Alright keep your cock on! See you in a min. Want a beer?

Dwight Enys 9:28pm

Yeah please. Heineken

Ross Poldark 9:28pm

Well then hurry up and get here so you can order yourself one ;)

Dwight Enys 9:28pm

Why am I friends with you? Can’t believe I fell for that

Ross Poldark 9:28pm

You should know better by now Enys. We saved you and your lady friend a seat btw ;)

Dwight Enys 9:29pm

Oh don’t fucking start she’s not my lady friend

Ross Poldark 9:29pm

She is a lady is she not? And your friend?? Or are you lying to us and bringing a bloke? If this is your way of coming out Dwight it’s a bit extra but we accept and love you no matter what

Dwight Enys 9:30pm

Omg Ross

I’m gonna kill you before the end of the night I can feel it

If you fucking say anything embarrassing about me to Caroline I will never speak to you again. I will literally unstitch the scar on your face and let you slowly bleed to death

Ross Poldark 9:30pm

Now now Dwight we mustn’t fight, you don’t want to upset your lady friend x

And with that, Dwight firmly locked his phone and let out an exasperated groan. Caroline, who had been watching Horace on her phone via the PugCam she had given to Mrs Figg, looked up at Dwight with furrowed brows. “What’s wrong?” she asked as they continued their way down the narrow streets, Caroline’s heels echoing loudly.

Dwight wiped his face. “My friends…” He sighed. “They are lovely people. Really, truly, the best people ever. But please, please, don’t listen to anything they say about me tonight, they are determined to ruin my life.” He chuckled, but his eyes held a serious, somewhat nervous, gaze.

Caroline placed her phone into her coat pocket as the sign of the Red Lion came into view. “But that’s the best part about having friends, Dr Enys!” she cried in amusement, smiling in victory as Dwight sighed and held the door open for her.

Ross Poldark chuckled as he placed his phone back in his pocket. “Well, I’ve managed to wind Dwight up nicely, so let’s see how flustered we can make him when he gets here,” he announced to the table, rubbing his hands together like a cartoon villain. Francis and George laughed in agreement, but all of the women looked at Ross, appalled. They were very defensive of their ‘little brother’ friend, even though he happened to be almost 4 years older than Demelza and was only 2 months older than Elizabeth.

Demelza slapped Ross on his, admittedly large, bicep. “Enough, Ross. When was the last time Dwight even talked to a girl that wasn’t any of us? He must genuinely like her – even if it is just as a friend – so don’t ruin it for him, please.” She placed her hand on top of his which rested on his thigh. He moved to place his hand on top and shook hers gently before interlacing their fingers, a gesture which Demelza knew meant that he had agreed to her terms.

“Yes, Ross, please don’t ruin it for him,” Elizabeth begged from the top of the table, before whispering aside to her husband: “Francis, darling, please make sure Ross doesn’t do anything stupid.” She placed a hand on his shoulder and brought out her largest doe eyes.

Francis took a gulp of his beer and whined internally at her ability to make him do anything. “I promise I will try, my dear. But you do know that no one can actually stop Ross from doing something stupid, I think it’s part of his DNA at this point!”

Elizabeth chuckled and leaned in to place a kiss on his cheek before wiping away the stain of her red lipstick. “Well, I’m definitely glad it’s not part of your DNA.”

Her phone buzzed, and she snatched it quickly, causing Francis to raise his eyebrows. “Who’s that?”

“No one,” she lied, concealing her phone from her husband’s view as smile spread over her face.

“Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth sighed. “Okay, fine! It’s Emma, I was just making sure that everything was OK.” She showed Francis a picture of Geoffrey Charles and Julia watching what appeared to be Finding Nemo.

“That’s a sweet photo but you’ve got to loosen the reins, darling, he’ll be starting school next year. He’ll be fine.”

“I know. I just miss him, that’s all,” she said glumly, leaning into her husband. He rubbed the side of her arm in comfort and discreetly pushed her fifth glass of red wine further away from her grasp.

George tapped Francis on the shoulder. “Is Elizabeth alright?” he whispered, his brows furrowed in concern.

Francis waved a hand dismissively and pointed at her glass of wine, a small smirk on his face. “Yeah, she’s fine, just missing GC.”

George nodded and continued his conversation with Verity, Andrew and Sam. “So, Sam, why didn’t you stay at home with Emma?”

Sam sat up stiffly, having spent most of the night thus far silently and contentedly listening to the conversations around him. “Well, ye see, she insisted that I go out ‘cause I’ve not seen you guys for a while. Plus, she ain’t feeling too well and was happy to babysit since it’s kind of her job anyways.” Sam smiled, beaming with pride that his soon-to-be wife was the friendliest nursery teacher in all of Cornwall. Resolutely sober on account of his strong Christian faith, he was all too happy to ensure his friends were able to get home safely at the end of, what would undoubtedly be, a long night of drinking.

Demelza and Ross were discussing plans for Julia’s third birthday when Demelza’s phone pinged.

Dwight Enys 9:38pm

We’re here. Where are you guys? Can’t see you, it’s weirdly busy in here tonight wtf

Demelza squealed and leaped out of her chair. “Dwight’s here!” She informed the rest of the table over her shoulder as she pushed through the groups of people, making her way to the front door.

Dwight glanced around the crowd of people in the pub – searching for his friends – before shrugging his shoulders in defeat and looking at Caroline, “Can I get you something to drink?” He had to shout slightly due to the amount of people drunkenly chatting as well as the rather loud jukebox music.

She smiled. “Yes, please, I’ll have a–“

“–Dwight!” Shrieked Demelza, stealing the end of Caroline’s sentence, before flinging her arms around her friend, nearly crushing his bones with the tightness of her hug. Although, it had been about three weeks since they’d last seen each other, and so Dwight wasn’t complaining. In fact, he was quite glad that one of his best friends seemed to miss him just as much as he’d missed her.

“Demelza,” he greeted, trying to smile and breathe. Demelza realised him from her grasp and looked curiously at the beautiful blonde woman who accompanied him.

“Demelza, this is Caroline. Caroline, my friend Demelza.”

Caroline extended her smooth, porcelain hand. “Hi. How do you–“

Demelza ignored her proffered hand and enveloped the stranger in a tight hug instead. “Hi, Caroline! It’s so nice to meet you!” She grinned widely at her, and Caroline couldn’t help but returning the redhead’s infectious, genuine smile. “Come meet everyone!” Demelza insisted, taking her arm and pulling her along.

“Demelza,” Dwight hissed, but it was too late, and they’d already began approaching the table, so he quickly followed like the obedient puppy he was.

The three of them made their way through the crowded pub to their table, which just so happened to be right at the other side of the building but was conveniently located next to the bar. “Excuse us, sorry, pardon me, sorry, excuse me, sorry, can I just get by one second?”

They arrived at the large table to a chorus of “Hey, Dwight!” followed immediately by not-so-subtle staring at the woman who accompanied him.

“Hi, guys!” He cleared his throat. “This is my new neighbour, and friend, Caroline.”

Caroline smiled, confidently waved and said: “Hello! Pleased to meet you all.”

Dwight again cleared his throat, glad that the introduction was over and that he had escaped unscathed. “So, what’s everyone drinking? My round.” George knocked back the remainder of his beer and tried to conceal a burp afterwards. “I’ll have a Becks, please.” “Red wine, please, Dwight,” Elizabeth slurred slightly, a happy smile on her warm face. “Same for me, please,” chimed Verity, her head resting on her husband’s shoulder.

Francis scratched his stubble in contemplation. “Err, I think I’ll go for a rum and coke this time, please.” Ross simply held up his glass, which proudly displayed the Jameson logo, staring at Dwight as though he was questioning the bonds of their friendship. Demelza rolled her eyes at Ross’s inability to simply ask for a drink. “I’ll have a gin and tonic, please, Dwight. Thanks.” She patted his shoulder and sat back down in her seat next to her husband. Dwight nodded at Demelza and turned his attention to Caroline. “What about you, Caroline?” “Do they have any Moët?” she asked as she removed her coat and sat down on the last seat of the booth, peering past his form to studying the drinks behind the bar. Everyone exchanged eyebrow-risen glances at her request. Dwight shook his head slowly. “Um, I’m not sure. But even if they did I’m afraid I don’t really have the budget to pay about £35 for a glass of wine,” he laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. Caroline’s eyes widened; she did not know it cost so much for a single glass, and it happened to be her favourite drink. “Oh, of course not. Sorry. Um, do they have cocktails?” she inquired coolly, trying to read the menu behind him.

Again, Dwight shook his head. “Unfortunately, not. This is kind of a shithole pub, you see. But we’re all very fond of it. Great memories and all that!” Everyone else hummed in agreement.

Caroline’s face fell. What the fuck was she going to drink? She couldn’t bear cheap wine after all the fine wines she’s drank throughout her life, prosecco would be a struggle too – as would cheap gin – she knew she did not like rum… Dwight noticed her struggle and the pretty pink flush creeping up on her cheeks. “How about a vodka lemonade?” he suggested lightly. She smiled in relief at her saviour. “Um, yes. Sure,” she replied brightly. “Thank you!” She called at his turned back as he approached the bar. “Oh, shit,” Dwight muttered as he got to the bar, realising he had just accidentally been rude. “Sam, Andrew, do you guys want a coke or something?” he shouted over the playing jukebox, which had been turned up when The Arctic Monkeys came on. “No, thank you,” the designated drivers called in unison. Caroline examined her nail varnish and tried to make herself feel at ease without Dwight being there. She didn’t even know anything about these people, she only knew Demelza’s name, how does one even start a conversation? Demelza sensed her hesitation and opened her mouth to speak before Elizabeth’s excited shriek pierced everyone in the vicinity’s ears.

Elizabeth repeatedly slapped her hand against the wooden table, and off her husband’s arm before pointing to the bar. “Guys, look! Rosina is talking to Dwight!” She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

Everyone’s heads snapped around and the boys began to wolf whistle, which Demelza reprimanded them for. “Stop it! Rosina is a nice girl, don’t embarrass her!”

Ross insisted: “We’re not trying to embarrass her, love, we’re trying to embarrass Dwight!”

Caroline examined Rosina from her seat. She was a young – late teens or early twenties – pretty, blonde girl, with a curvy figure, full lips and chubby cheeks. In other words, serious competition. Not that Caroline was in competition with anyone for Dwight, of course. He could talk to any girl he liked, she didn’t care. Besides, even if she was interested in Dwight – which she wasn’t – there wouldn’t be any competition. Wrapping men around her little finger is what Caroline had always done best, and could do with Dwight, if necessary. But it wouldn’t be. Satisfied, she relaxed in her seat and tried to catch everyone’s names as they spoke.

Dwight soon returned with drinks and without Rosina. He placed the tray of alcohol on the table and dispensed the drinks to his friends before sitting down.

Elizabeth stared at him, her glance then shifting around the pub. “Where’s Rosina?”

Dwight’s brows furrowed as he took a sip of his Heineken. “What do you mean? She’s over there somewhere,” he pointed vaguely to the other side of the room, “She came out with Ruth.”

“All the more reason to have invited her to join us,” Elizabeth insisited, “Ruth has fancied George since she was about eleven years old! Then George could’ve had a lady friend, too!” Elizabeth smiled, oblivious to the fact that she was the lady friend that George desired.

George physically shivered. “Ugh, she’s so annoying, though! And she’s like half my age!” George protested to Francis before laughing into the rim of his beer bottle.

Ross’s spine straightened. “Actually, George, she’s only nine years younger than you. Demelza is nine years younger than me, is there something you’re trying to say?” He inquired seriously, his narrowed eyes fixed on George’s form as the grip on his glass of whisky tightened.

Demelza placed a hand on her husband’s chest. “Ross,” she warned quietly, trying to push him back against his chair.

Francis, too, placed a hand on George’s shoulder; he had definitely had enough to drink that he would not hesitate to fight Ross if he suggested it. George felt the firm grasp of his friend’s hand and relaxed. “Of course not, Ross,” he said, painfully cordially before taking a sip of his beer. “Not everything is about you, dickhead,” he muttered under his breath.

“What did you just say?” Ross demanded, his voice rising. “Fucking say it again, I dare you!” He stood up, his index finger pointing at George, his nostrils flaring. Demelza grasped at his arm, willing him to calm down, her brows furrowed.

Dwight and Verity groaned. But Dwight merely took another sip of his drink.

“Guys, enough! Stop it!” Elizabeth cried in distress. She hated violence and was having a good night up until now and did not want it to be ruined by a silly fight.

“’Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honour,’” Sam preached, hoping to diffuse the tension.

Francis stood up beside George and grabbed his arm. “Yes, I agree. Stop it. Both of you. Come on George, we’ll go outside for a cigarette until you calm down.” He hauled him from the table by his arm and thence out of the fire exit into the night air.

Caroline tapped Dwight on the shoulder and motioned for him to lean in. “What was all that about?” she whispered, her eyes alight with intrigue.

“Oh, yeah,” Dwight whispered, realising he’d forgotten to explain the politics of his friend group to her, “Ross and George hate each other, they have done since school. No one can remember why, not even them. But George is best friends with Francis, who is Ross’s cousin and who is also married to Elizabeth, the pretty, drunk brunette over there,” He pointed to her and she offered a drunken smile and small wave. “So, they try tolerate each other for the sake of the rest of us.” He then pointed to Verity in the corner. “That’s Verity, Francis’s older sister and Ross’s cousin, obviously. She’s married to Andrew, he’s really nice. He’s in the Navy so we don’t get to see him often. Beside him is Sam, who is training to be a minister and he’s getting married to our other friend, Emma, pretty soon. You know Demelza, and she’s married to Ross, for sins she committed in a past life,” he concluded with a smile.

Caroline sipped her drink through the two little black straws in her glass as she glanced around the table; everyone now engaged in pleasant conversation once again. “They seem nice.”

He smiled thoughtfully. “They are. You should talk to them,” he encouraged, “don’t be scared!”

“OK, I will,” she quipped, accepting his challenge. “Demelza,” she called across the table with confidence, causing everyone else’s conversations to halt, “is that your natural hair colour?”

Demelza twisted a long, copper curl nervously around her index finger. “Uh, yeah, why?”

“It’s amazing! Do you know how many people would die to have hair that colour in the fashion industry?”

Demelza jumped out of her chair and rushed over to give Caroline another hug. “Oh, thank you, Caroline!” She beamed at the pretty blonde. “Dwight, I love this woman! You can stay!” she told Caroline, patting her hand while making Sam move up so she could sit next to her new friend.

Dwight and Ross exchanged amused glances. “So, Ross, how’s work?”

Ross groaned, and sipped his whisky. “Shite, and you?”

“Shite,” Dwight agreed with a strained sigh.

“Nice.” They clinked their drinks together and took large gulps, illogically hoping that the burning sensations in their throats would somehow alleviate the stress of their respectable professions.

Demelza noticed this and sighed in sympathy. Caroline looked at her quizzically and so Demelza motioned to the two drinking men in front of them. “I think they’re both having a bad time at work right now. They’re both exhausted, you can tell, but they won’t ask for help or any time off. Ross works for Shell, and he’s pretty high up in the company,” she paused to smile proudly, “but as the oil industry is a little on the fence right now, he’s been having a hard time. And Dwight… Well, Dwight is just Dwight. His entire life is his job – and he’s worked hard for it – but I just wish he’d spend more time with other people, doing normal things. This is the first time he’s been out for about a month and last time he didn’t even drink because he was working a nightshift the next day! A nightshift!” She raised her arms in exasperation and Caroline laughed at her animation. It was clear that Demelza cared deeply for Dwight, as she no doubt cared for all her friends, thought Caroline. It would be nice to have a friend like her.

Caroline took another sip of her drink, finding – to her own surprise – that she liked it very much. “Yes, Dwight does work a lot. I hear him go to work every day, sometimes I see him leave or come in if I’m walking Horace.”

Demelza’s face lit up. “Is Horace your dog?”

Caroline smiled and immediately pulled out her phone to show Demelza a picture of him. “Yes, I love him so much. He’s my baby.”

“Awww,” cooed Demelza, also pulling out her phone from her handbag. “This is my dog Garrick, he’s getting old which makes me sad but he’s the sweetest dog in the world. This is him with my daughter Julia, she’s nearly three, I can’t believe it!”

“Oh, what a sweet photo! Horace doesn’t like children. Or people in general, really. He hates Dwight!” Caroline began to laugh as she recalled how Horace had growled every time Dwight had touched – or attempted to touch – him.

“Who hates me?” Dwight inquired, his ears turning hot at the mention of his name.

“My dog,” replied Caroline, her eyes dancing with mirth, “And me!” she added, her pink lips pursed cheekily.

Dwight chuckled quietly and took another gulp of his beer, which was now empty. “Aha, see, you clearly don’t hate me; if you did, you wouldn’t have come with me tonight.” He crossed his arms across his chest and smiled in victory at her.

Caroline flipped her hair over her shoulder and narrowed her eyes at him, resenting the implication that she was interested in him. “Goodness, are all men so odiously conceited, Dr Enys? Or is it just you?” Ross whooped at her comeback, thinking there was no way his shy friend could retaliate.

He smiled tightly before replying in a light tone: “Demelza, could you look in Caroline’s glass? I thought I asked the barman to put in some lime cordial, but it seems he put in the Oxford Dictionary of English instead.”

This time Ross whooped so loud the table beside theirs turned around to see what was going on; Ross slapped Dwight hard on the back and began to roar with laughter. “Oh-ho, Dwight! Good one, mate! I didn’t think you had it in you!”

“Neither did I,” Caroline commented as she continued to stare at him, her eyes still narrowed. Though Dwight thought she somehow looked… impressed?

Before he had time to contemplate this further, he started as he felt a hand on his left shoulder. “Hi, Dwight!” sang an absolutely inebriated Rosina, running her hand down his arm without hesitation.

Dwight’s cheeks instantly inflamed. “Uh, hi, Rosina,” he said quietly.

Caroline cleared her throat, waiting to be introduced to this pretty blonde, but Dwight took no notice of her as Rosina pulled up a chair beside him. “How’s your leg?” he asked her.

She pulled her dress further up her thigh as if he would somehow be able to see her cured knee ligaments better. “So much better! All thanks to you!” She placed an arm on his shoulder and smiled sweetly.

Dwight laughed uneasily and wished he hadn’t already finished his drink. “You’re welcome.”

The two of them then became engaged in light conversation, which Caroline watched with slightly narrowed eyes. Why wasn’t he paying attention to her? And who was Rosina? And why did she even care? Caroline went to take another drink from her glass but realised it was empty. Perhaps she could win Dwight’s attention over with a kind gesture. “How about we do some shots?” Caroline loudly asked the table, “My treat!” Everyone else agreed immediately and Caroline felt proud of her brilliant idea and went to order twenty-odd Jägerbombs.

A little over 3 hours later, Caroline began to think that her idea wasn’t so brilliant after all, as she sat crouched over the toilet, her sick everywhere except from the actual toilet bowl. Through the incessant ringing in her ears, she thought she could hear banging on the door behind her. It vaguely sounded like Demelza, but she could not make out what she was saying. Her face felt numb, as did her hands and the rest of her body, and the room span so violently she felt like she was on the teacup ride at the fair.

“Caroline! Are you alright? Can you open the door, please?” Demelza heard no reply and began to worry her bottom lip.

Verity came in then, looking for Demelza, very tipsy but not quite drunk. “My dear,” she said, placing her hand on Demelza’s shoulder, “Ross is looking for you. He told me to tell you that he loves you with all his heart and that he misses you and wants you to come back to your seat so he can admire you,” she snickered, “He is so sentimental when he’s–“

The worried look on the redhead’s face made Verity stop speaking. “Demelza? What is it?”

“It’s Caroline, she’s been sick, and now she’s not answerin’! I think I’m going to have to climb over the stall and get her. Will you hold my shoes?” Demelza did not wait for a reply and removed her black heels and placed them in Verity’s arms before climbing onto the toilet cistern and then over the cubicle wall. She landed with a thud but was unhurt. “Shit, she’s been sick everywhere. We’re going to have to take her home. Verity, will you go tell Dwight that we’re going to get Caroline a taxi?” Demelza called through the locked door of the bathroom stall.

“Yes, of course! I’ll just leave your shoes by the sink!” Verity replied, as she went off in search of Dwight.

Six minutes later, having waded her way through the various groups of people, Verity tapped Dwight on the shoulder. He turned to look at her, his eyes slightly glazed over. “Dwight, we’re going to walk Caroline to the taxi rank, she really needs to go home.”

Dwight’s neck craned past Verity, looking for Caroline, his pulse growing faster. “What? Where is she? Is she alright? And you can’t mean the one on Hilton Street? That’s far too dangerous for you guys at this time of night! I’ll take Caroline home, she is my neighbour after all.” He excused himself from Rosina’s company and went to find Caroline, but was halted in his search by one of Ruth Teague’s sisters as he tried to enter the ladies’ toilet.

“Eh, what do you think you’re doing? This is the girls’ toilets; the men’s is over there!” She pointed behind him and crossed her arms in feminist defiance.

Dwight sighed and danced impatiently on the spot. “Look, Tracey, I’m not a creep, you know I’m not a creep.” Weird start, Enys. “I’m just looking for my friend Caroline, is she in there?”

Tracey snorted: “Is she the gorgeous blonde who’s spewed all over one of the cubicles? I think Demelza is looking after her, pretty sure she’s slumped on the floor.”

Oh, fuck. Not good. He would have to pull out the ‘I am a doctor’ card. He willed himself not to slur and said, in his best professional tone: “Yep, that’s her. Could you please let me by? I need to make sure she doesn’t have alcohol poisoning.”

Tracey, mercifully, stood aside and let him enter without another word. Sure enough, Caroline was slumped on the floor, Demelza’s arm around her, trying to coax her into drinking some water.

Demelza breathed a sigh of relief as soon she saw Dwight. “Oh, Dwight! Thank God! Caroline is fucked, I think she’s asleep.”

“I’m… not… asleep…,” mumbled Caroline against Demelza’s shoulder. “I want my bed,” she moaned. “Want my bed.”

Dwight kneeled in front of them on the floor next to the sinks, his jeans becoming wet. Considering the amount of stick men get for being unhygienic, Dwight would wager that the ladies’ toilets were far more disgusting than the men’s. “Caroline? Can you hear me? Do you want me to take you home?”

Caroline made an effort to lift her head, though it felt very heavy. A handsome man’s blurry features can into her view. “Dwight?” she asked weakly. “Yes… please take me home.”

With the combined strength of Dwight and Demelza, they managed to get Caroline on her feet and walking – or rather, stumbling. Their arms were wrapped around her back, holding her up. As they exited the toilet and entered the bar area again, they were met by Rosina. “Oh, Dwight! There you are!” she smiled and ran her fingers through her curly hair. “Elizabeth said you’d gone to find Caroline and take her home. Could you drop me off, too?” She fluttered her eyelashes at him.

“I think we’re going to walk, it will be a nightmare trying to get a taxi at this hour,” he deflected calmly.

His deflection was unsuccessful. “Oh, that’s fine! I only live about 5 minutes away anyways! I’ll just grab my coat.”

Dwight sighed and carefully let go of Caroline, leaning her on Demelza. “I’ll go grab our jackets, too, Dem, one second.”

He returned to their table to find Ross and Francis preaching about the disarray of the government – Verity, Andrew and Sam all ready to leave. Elizabeth was asleep on George, who did not seem to mind one bit. Dwight grabbed his and Caroline’s coats and tried to sneak away without being noticed.

Sam ruined his plan. “Dwight! Do you want a lift, mate?” Everyone looked at him expectantly, except Elizabeth, who snored quietly in the corner.

“No, thanks, Sam. I have to walk Rosina and Caroline home.”

Francis’s mouth fell open before an amused smile stretched across his face. “Rosina and Caroline? My, my, my friend! This is a change!” He raised a suggestive eyebrow.

Before Dwight could tell him to fuck off, Ross grasped his best friend’s hand. “I’m so proud, Dwight,” he slurred, wiping away a mock tear of pride. Everyone else laughed.

“Fuck you all,” Dwight sang, releasing himself from Ross’s grip and making to leave, “Goodnight, dickheads. Love you.”

A chorus of affection rang out as he left the table, shaking his head and smiling. They were the closest thing he had to a family and he loved them all dearly, even if he did – occasionally – want to hit them.

When he returned to where Demelza and Caroline were standing, he was pleased to see that Caroline was finally drinking the water Demelza had been trying to feed her for the past 15 minutes. “This is her third glass of water,” Demelza told Dwight, “she said she was thirsty and hasn’t stopped drinking since you left.”

Dwight smiled slightly. “That’s good. Feeling any better, Caroline?”

She nodded slightly and continued to glug the cooling elixir of life until the glass was empty. “A bit. Can we go home now?” She pouted prettily at him and Dwight could not help but think how much she looked like Horace in that moment.

“Yes, we’re going. We’re just waiting for Rosina.”

“Rosina?” Was all Caroline could say. She refrained from commenting further.

“Yes?” Rosina asked as she appeared behind Dwight, wearing a pretty pink and white gingham coat.

He started when she spoke from behind him. “Nothing. I was just explaining to Caroline that we were waiting for you.” He then turned to Demelza and kissed her on the cheek as he enveloped her in a hug, “Bye, Dem! Give Julia a kiss from me.”

She held her friend tightly. “I will! Bye Dwight. Come over for dinner next Sunday and see her if you’re free, she misses you!”

“That’s perfect, I’m off next Sunday. I’d love to.”

While the two best friends said their goodbyes, the two blondes had engaged in a stare off, which Caroline lost when Demelza bid her goodbye and gave her a friendly hug.

Several minutes later, Dwight, Caroline and Rosina made their way through the dimly lit streets of Cornwall, the old brick townhouses appearing slightly menacing in the dark. Their breaths came out in icy puffs and Caroline shivered, wishing she had worn her wool coat instead. The stars above them glistened steadfastly, and a crescent moon cast some semblance of light as they made their way down a narrow side street to Rosina’s flat. Her flat was luckily one of the first few, though only accessible by a daunting number of steps. Caroline almost whimpered at the sight.

“Caroline, you stay here. I’ll just walk Rosina to her door and then we can go home.” Dwight quickly made his way up the steps, Rosina on his arm, and Caroline sat down heavily on a concrete step. So, he was really going to leave her here, drunk and out in the cold, while he shagged Rosina. She couldn’t believe it. She couldn’t believe she thought that he was a gentleman, a true gentleman, not like the actual gentleman she had met, who were all ridiculously arrogant and pompous. A hand on her shoulder nearly ceased the function of her heart. She gasped out loud.

“Ready to go?” Dwight asked. Feeling her jump, he frowned at her. “Caroline? Is something wrong?”

She pulled herself up by the carefully crafted railing. “Oh, no. It’s just… that was quick!”

He frowned at her, again. “I said I was just going to walk her to her door,” he laughed slightly, and offered Caroline his arm.

She took it and walked down the three steps. “Oh, yeah. Of course.”

It took them ten minutes to walk back to their apartment building, and they did so in silence, both lost in their own drunken thoughts.

Caroline made to fetch her keys from her small handbag, realising she had left it in the toilet of the pub. Her heart rate quickened. “Oh, shit! I left my bag at the pub!” She stared at Dwight in panic.

He pulled out his own keys and opened the entrance door. “Don’t worry, no one will steal it. You can get it tomorrow.” He held the door open for her and she stumbled inside, holding the wall until she reached the stairs, where she then hung onto the railing. They began their way up the staircase to their landing.

“No, but it’s got my keys in it!” she whined. She then clutched her chest, and swallowed, before beginning to pant. “Dwight, I think I’m going to be sick again. I hate being sick. I don’t want to be sick again,” she whimpered in a mumble, pushing her blonde curls out of her face.

“Ok, it’s alright. You can just stay at mine tonight,” he tried to say casually, “and we can go and get your bag tomorrow. It’s way too late and cold to go all the way back to the pub, and it’ll probably be shut now anyways. That is, if you don’t mind staying over.” He was glad he was two steps in front of her now because his cheeks burned furiously. He recognised the implications of his offer but at that particular moment, his only concern was that she would choke on her sick or something.

Caroline considered his offer for a minute. “No, I don’t mind. Thank you,” she said gently, before clearing her throat and raising an eyebrow at him. “Did you not want to go back to Rosina’s or something, though?” She managed to slur this remarkably innocently considering the bitter jealousy that stirred within her, which she convinced herself was merely the cheap vodka swirling around her unprepared stomach.

Dwight laughed a little and shook his head as he searched for his keys for the one to his flat, which he had still not colour coded. “No. Rosina is a lovely girl, but I think she’d be lovely for someone else,” he said thoughtfully, a gentle smile on his face. Caroline’s intoxicated state meant that she could not smother a grin at this news. As Dwight fell asleep that night, he convinced himself that he had imagined her reaction. The door to his flat finally opened, he entered, immediately turned on the light and unbuttoned his coat. He was quickly followed by Caroline, whose white heel caught on the door frame. She swore and stumbled clumsily, before falling right into Dwight’s arms.

#carolight #girl next door au #romelza #francis x elizabeth #poldark fanfic

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zigzagleaps · 4 years ago

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5 Family-Friendly Restaurants near Shree Krishna Temple, Udupi you should not miss.

Shree Krishna Temple is a world-famous temple situated in the Udupi district of Karnataka State in India. People from all over the world visit this sacred temple to get the blessings of Lord Krishna who is worshipped in the form of Bal Krishna (Child form). The temple is at a distance of approximately 4 kilometers from Udupi Railway Station. It is connected to all other major cities of India through Konkan Railways. The temple is also well connected through roads and Udupi Bus Stand is hardly 1 kilometer away. Udupi has a well-connected bus service and all buses coming from major cities and towns have their stops here.

As the temple is a major religious and tourist destination, there are many family-friendly restaurants nearby where you can enjoy delicious and mouth-watering dishes. They are ideal for families as the restaurants provide meals of every variety. Providing appetizing nourishment and a menu built keeping in mind the local palette and international tastes of customers, dishes in these places are pertinently prepared.

Below are the 5 most family-friendly restaurants near Shree Krishna Temple:

1. Woodlands Restaurant:

2. MitraSamaj:

3. Kediyoor Gazebo Restaurant:

4. Thamboolam:

5. Saffron Vegetarian Restaurant:

1. Woodlands Restaurant:

Woodlands Restaurant is the best vegetarian restaurant in Udupi. It is situated near the Shree Krishna Temple hence is popular among tourists visiting the temple. They serve the best regional cuisine with authentic south Indian flavors.

The staffs here are very enthusiastic and also suggest the specialty of the day. Be ready for the waiting time if you visit on weekends or at peak times. We had gone there on weekdays but still, the place was crowded.

Masala Dosa, Thali, Mughlai Biryani, Vada, Idli, Coffee, Paneer Butter Masala are some of the top dishes ordered here. Don’t miss the fragrant Idlis which are made in cylindrical molds of kewda leaves.

Timings: 8.30am – 3.00 pm, 6.00pm – 10.00pm

Cuisines: Indian, Asian

Special Diets: Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten-Free Options

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Average Cost: 600 for two people (approx.)

Features: Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service

Address: Dr. U. R. RAO Complex, Near Sri Krishna Mutt, Udupi 576101

2. MitraSamaj:

MitraSamaj is located in Shree Krishna Mutt complex on Car Street. It is a vegetarian restaurant serving authentic south Indian dishes. Golibaje which is called Mangalore bonda in other places is a popular dish here and hard to miss once you visit here.

People coming for early morning darshan of Shree Krishna temple visit here for a hot breakfast. Although the place is small, the dishes served here are unbeatable in the town. Prices are cheap with fast service. Apart from GoliBaje, the other top dishes ordered here are Idli-Vada, Rava Masala Dosa, Sheera, Mangalore Buns, and Coffee, etc.

Timings: 7:30am – 10pm

Cuisines: Indian, Asian

Special Diets: Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch

Average Cost: 200 for two people (approx.)

Features: Takeout, Seating, Table Service

Address: Car Street, Near Sri Krishna Temple, Udupi

3. Kediyoor Gazebo Restaurant:

Kediyoor Gazebo Restaurant is famous for its vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. It is situated near the city bus stand. They have a separate Vegetarian and Non-vegetarian restaurant with an attached bar and a confectionary.

The ambiance is nice with very co-operative staff. Food quality is the best and the best plates of seafood are served here. Prices are on a higher side but you get value for your money. The restaurant is open till late at night and serves its customers. Would recommend doing prior booking during peak dining hours and weekends as it gets difficult to get a table.

In my opinion, all the dishes are top class be it chicken, fish or Chinese. Don’t miss the Gadbad ice-cream it was the best I had as compared to any other restaurants.

Timings: 11am – 4pm, 6:30pm – 11:30pm

Cuisines: Indian, Asian

Special Diets: Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Average Cost: 800 for two people (approx.)

Features: Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Serves Alcohol, Table Service, Delivery

Address: Kediyoor Hotel Pvt. Ltd, Boarding & Lodging Shiribeedu, Udupi 576101

4. Thamboolam:

Thamboolam is a nice family restaurant serving both veg and non-veg delicacies. The ambiance is good with beautiful interiors and it is well lit giving the families a nice place to dine. The restaurant is known for its biryanis and people from all over the town come here to have their popular dish, ‘Matka Chicken Biryani’. The restaurant also offers a wonderful range of thalis and several non-vegetarian dishes. Thamboolam’s specialty includes South Indian Sea Food, Tandoor, Chinese, and North Indian Dishes.

Timings: 9:30 AM – 11:30 PM

Cuisines: Chinese, North Indian, South Indian, Seafood

Special Diets: Vegetarian Friendly

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Average Cost: 300 for two people (approx.)

Features: Seating, Delivery, Takeout, Reservations, Table Service

Address: Thamboolam, Opp. Kalpana Theatre, Udupi, Karnataka 576101

5. Saffron Vegetarian Restaurant:

Saffron Vegetarian Restaurant is a multi-cuisine restaurant with good ambiance and prompt service. If you want to try other than south Indian cuisines then this is the restaurant you have to visit. They organize different food festivals like the Great Indian Thali festival, The Dragon food festival, and the Parotha festival, etc. Other than the food festivals Saffron serves a lot of varieties under the cuisines and a lot of dessert varieties. Paneer Tikka, Sweet Corn Soup, Noodles, Pasta Primavera, Paneer Rajwada Kadai, Subzi Diwani Handi, Thin Crust Pizza are some of the top dishes ordered here.

Timings: 11.00 am – 12midnight

Cuisines: Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Indian, Asian, Healthy

Special Diets: Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten-Free Options

Meals: Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, After-hours

Average Cost: 500 for two people (approx.)

Features: Delivery, Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Buffet, Street Parking, Free Off-Street Parking, Digital Payments

Address: 3rd floor, Samanvay Hotel, Kinnimulki Main Road, Udupi 576101

Family-friendly restaurants near Shree Krishna Temple – End Note

Although you can visit any of the above restaurants to fulfill your hunger pangs, I would also recommend having your lunch or dinner at the temple itself which is provided as Prasadam and is equally delicious and free of cost to all devotees.

You Might also Like Reading These:

Family Trip to Coastal Karnataka in 6 Days

9 Best Beaches in Udupi

7 Best Restaurants in Udupi

#restaurants #veg hotel #udupicuisine #udupi food #udupi district #karnataka #karnataka tourism #hindu temple

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areyoureadingthis8 · 5 years ago

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Shiva’s story

The holidays are tough for a lot of different reasons for a lot of people.

This holiday is a little different for us well.

I haven’t gone into full detail yet about what exactly happened with our Shiva because it’s just too painful.

Ever since this whole thing started, there isn’t a day that goes by that I haven’t cried.

So sit back, dive in, and hold on for the ride.

Friday September 27th

Started off like any other day.

I came home, Shiva greeted me, Matt and I had our taco shop as we always do on Fridays. All was well.

Sometime around 10pm, Shiva seemed to go into distress. She was trying to lay down, but she would get right back up. She seemed to be saying “it hurts”. She paced, whined, and her breathing was labored.

We have known for years now that Shiva had a heart murmur, we were told to expect heart failure; and I feared this was the beginning of the end. I debated what to do for a bit, and then took her to VCA emergency.

There was only one person there and they were in the middle of a surgery, so Shiva and I waited for hours.

When I got in front of the vet, we did an x-ray of her chest to gauge what was going on.

The x-ray came back with white spots all over it.. The doctor explained that this was most likely cancer, but we should do more testing to confirm (specifically blood work, ultrasound etc).

I had to talk to Matt, it was 4am now and I was spent.

I finally feel asleep around 5am and stayed in bed until about 10.

Saturday September 28th

We went to our normal vet. She agreed the x-ray looked bad, and ordered blood work.

She also agreed we need to do an ultrasound but the one that she could use/ had access to there at the office was very old.

She took Shiva but she couldn’t find any type of source or mass. So whether or not there was actually something there yet or not we will never know for sure.

Matt and I went across the street to Panera Bread while we waited for her bloodwork to come back. “Of course it will be normal, it’s Shiva she lives to drive us crazy”. Her tests came back, and her levels were normal. So now it’s a puzzle. Our vet said we should still do more testing to confirm since cancer is tricky. Leaving that day, the plan was to put Shiva on prednisone for 7 days. Prednisone can attack and shrink cancer in dogs, so if she does in fact have cancer we can have time to do these tests and talk to someone to get a better prognosis and keep Shiva comfortable in the process. We thought this seemed reasonable. We wouldn’t be able to do another ultrasound or see anyone for two weeks at the La Mesa specialty.

After about a day of meds, Shiva appeared to be better, or at least comfortable which was important to me. We were doing what we had set out to do.

I was sad, but not panicked yet.

Wednesday October 3rd

After 3 days of meds, Shiva started to get sick to her stomach. But we couldn’t be sure if it just irritable bowel or if she was having a reaction. (as reaction was “unlikely”)

I stayed home with her that Wednesday to let her be sick.

The Walking Dead Season 6 marathon was on. It was on the episode before Negan shows up, Johnny Cash’s “It’s all over” plays as Carol packs her bag and leaves Tobin and Maggie and Glen are together for what will be the last time. Was the universe sending me a message?

Friday October 4th

Shiva didn’t seem great but she wasn’t vomiting. In my bones, I just knew something was wrong.

I had to go to work. I looked and her pet her as I left and told her “Not today Shiva.”

I was clueless to just how bad this was about to get.

At 4 pm the phone rang. Matt was on the other end. He was crying. All he said was “come home” I put my hand to face. “Shiva’s okay just come home.”

I sat in traffic for 45 minutes not knowing what exactly what I would be walking into.

When I got home Matt described the floor was covered in blood. He took Shiva outside and she continued to vomit blood. He had already cleaned up the tile and thrown all the towels in the trash by the time I got home. He also informed he had called his parents and they were driving in from Arizona. Given what just happened and the way Shiva was looking seemed to say “looks like we’re doing this tonight.” We started to talk about how we should do this, specifically we wanted someone to come out to the house to euthanize her. We didn’t want her to pass in cold office. Shiva seemed to understand her condition was dire. As we tried to gather ourselves, Shiva walked in a circle around the dining table as she usually does and looked at us like “take me out, it’s our walk time.” We were half stunned. Is she really asking for her last walk? We looked at each other. Well I guess we better go for a walk. I handed my phone to Matt and asked him to take a picture of me and Shiva “walking away” into the sunset.

Once back at the house it was like “okay well now what.” Matt had been texting his brother back and forth since calling the folks out. “Let’s go take her over to emergency and see what they say.”

We got checked in, they took her back and checked her vitals right away to see if her body would hold for a two hour wait. Her vitals came back normal. What in the actual fuck? We waited.

Once seen, we had to deliver the blow by blow… again. We met with Dr. Hummer who looked at her and studied her closely. She put her hands in her mouth examining the now white gums and ears. . “I don’t think tonight her night.” She couldn’t provide a good reason for Shiva vomiting that much blood. The three possibilities on the table were a severe reaction to the prednisone, an ulcer or stomach cancer. The recommendation was to give her a couple days and monitor her, and then decide on how to proceed. Her red blood cell count that night was 24. A normal red count for a dog is around 40.

Shiva seemed okay enough to handle a couple of days. We were going to follow up with normal vet on Sunday.

Matt’s parents made it to the house sometime around 9:30pm and settled in, they just didn’t know how long yet.

October 5-6th

For the next couple days, she just got up and down and lot. She looked tired and in pain.

That Sunday we took her to Liberty Station for what we felt was probably the last time. We just wanted her to have a beautiful view. She got up and down quite a bit to sniff and we would make her rest and take breaks.

After Liberty we took Shiva to her normal vet. She didn’t know either why Shiva got so sick, but agreed that cancer, an ulcer, and less likely, a severe reaction were all possible. We got her blood done again. Her red blood cell count was now at 16. Dr.Greer explained without an emergency blood transfusion, there was no way Shiva was going to be able to recover from the blood loss. It’s not that we didn’t not want to do it, but with the likelihood that we would still have to deal with cancer and heart failure, it didn’t seem like a good option. Dr. Greer agreed there were too many variables as well. She estimated Shiva had about 3 days. She said “if you’re not going to do the blood transfusion, take her, have a nice day tomorrow, buy her some Inn N Out, and do it.”

We looked at each other and nodded. Dr. Greer and the rest of the staff came in and took turns taking selfies and saying goodbye to Shiva. It was emotional to see how Shiva had affected these people. Of course I don’t think she’s the only dog they did this with, but it was clear Shiva was definitely a fan favorite and this is definitely not an everyday thing.

The next morning I called the place that had been referred to us for an at home ethuniasa.

We missed the morning appointment and they were booked for the rest of the day. (morbid as hell to think they are that booked) but could come out the next day on Tuesday so I set the appointment.

Shiva just got up and down and laid around a lot that day. She even had more visitors come over to the house and some family friends came to say goodbye.

I laid next to Shiva that night thinking this is her last night on earth.

Tuesday October 7th

Shiva asked to go for a walk and eat. Our appointment time inched closer and closer.

Thirty minutes out Matt jumped the shark and made me call and cancel.

He plain wasn’t ready yet. Obviously Shiva wasn’t either; more on that in a minute.

I was exasperated with him, but her previously scheduled ultrasound that we were told we weren’t going to make it in the first place was the next day so it wasn’t going to hurt to wait one more day. We could go and get answers, and Matt could feel like he was making the right choice. Matt’s parents agreed to stay with us and help out so we could still work.

Wednesday October 8th

Shiva made it to her high tech ultrasound appointment. She was so behaved. The next day we all went to get the results.

Thursday October 9th

The stand in vet was working that day. She brought out the images. She pointed to mass in Shiva’s abdomen. The mass was around an inch and half big. She explained that while she wasn’t an Oncologist, it’s logical to say that this was the source of our problem, and supported a cancer diagnosis. Shiva was at risk for a stomach perforation and there was a possibility that she could vomit more blood. If she vomited anymore blood at this point, there was a chance that she might not get back up.

Her recommendation was to see the Oncologist or put her down, and to make the decision quickly.

Matt wanted some time to think about it. I was furious with him. There’s no way I was gonna let my baby end up lying there in a pile of her blood or going septic. How could someone that I loved and respected so much think that this was okay to let this happen to this dog? Of course that’s completely my perspective, if you asked Matt of course his perspective of the situation was different. From his perspective Shiva didn’t show much weakness, and was quite active. From my perspective I felt the show no weakness was Shiva’s primal instincts kicking in.

You know what happens if you show weakness out in the wild? You get fucking eaten!

I was now living in a constant state of worry, panic, fear , anxiety. I wasn’t eating, sleeping, or taking care of myself.

October 17th

Shiva made it her appointment with the Oncologist. The Oncologist agreed that this looked bad but she couldn’t explain what happened either. She reiterated “I’m just not convinced this dog has cancer.” Shiva’s red count was up at 30 now.

“For starters, she’s gotten better. What she has survived is technically impossible already, and to say she has cancer on top of it?” “ I’m just not buying it.”

They left the appointment with an agreement to monitor and follow up in four weeks.

Friday October 25th

Matt’s parents left our house to go back to their life in Arizona.

October 26th -31

Halloween weekend came and went,

Shiva had a check in with Dr. Hummer at VCA. She came out and saw Shiva and exclaimed “oh my god she’s still here”. She told Matt she will forever remember our Shiva, and that she is more careful handing out prednisone, and basically has a new take on this whole “practicing medicine” thing. It makes me cry to hear stuff like this. My baby leaving her mark in the world.

I stayed home on Halloween and rested and then we went out trick or treating. I dressed as Jon Snow and Shiva as Ghost.

November 15th

After 49 days of being in limbo, it was go time.

Shiva went in the back for another ultrasound as we anxiously waited.

Dr. came out with the slides. “Well her heart murmur is worse but her stomach looks a lot better”

She pointed. The mass that was once over an inch big was now the size of a pea. Her red count is now back at a normal 40.

“Yeah cancer doesn’t do that so I think we’re good.” She still couldn’t solve the mystery of exactly what it is inside her, or what happened but her educated guess was that it was a bleeding ulcer caused by the prednisone . The only way to truly figure it out would be to do exploratory surgery but at this point it wasn’t worth it. The worst had happened and it was over. She still also had no explanation for Shiva healing herself, other than her own sheer will to live. Shiva had accomplished the impossible. She did recommend going to the cardiologist for a full heart check and prognosis.

November 21st

Shiva got introduced to a new dog day care and new staff up by Matt’s work in Escondido.

The gal Shiva got paired up with that was responsible for sending Matt updates fell in love with her. All she could keep typing to Matt was how much Shiva had her laughing and LOL LOL.

She took a selfie with Shiva kissing her and sent it to Matt.

My baby making friends.

December 3rd

Appointment with the cardiologist

The cardiologist confirmed that while Shiva’s heart failure is serious, we’ve still got a ways to go until we’re in the danger zone. Shiva got to wear a heart monitor for 24 hours and it was determined that her arrhythmia is still in the normal range for now. We will control her condition with medication for as long as possible and then get to do this all over again.

Present day

Despite everything we can’t stress enough how grateful we are to get to have our baby with us for a little while longer.

Shiva has taught me to treat every day like it could be the last day, treat every walk like the walk, and every family outing like it’s the last time we’ll all be together cause the day will come when it will be.

Like the last episode in The Office when Jim tells Dwight:

“I don't know what to tell you but every time I’ve been faced with a tough decision there’s only one thing that outweighs every other concern, one thing that will make you give up on everything else ; everything you thought you knew, every instinct, every rational calculation.”

Shiva is that one thing for me.

“No matter what happens you gotta forget about logic and fear, at the end of the day, you gotta jump”

Take care of yourselves and each other this Christmas

Thanks for taking the time to read.

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victakestaipei · 7 years ago

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WEEK 4 RECAP: “Power, Chase Bank Complaints, and TYPHOON SEASON”

As I stated in my previous posts, I’m really really really sorry for the delay here on my WEEK 4 RECAP. Granted, my weeks have started to become pretty routine; But I still like to keep my word with you guys and blog every weekend, despite the topic being my humdrum weekdays.

Anyway, let’s get to it:

Monday:

My monday was one for the books, honestly. I stayed in bed all day long blogging and doing homework and just being a bum. It felt awesome. We got in from the Philippines early this morning, and I didn’t actually get in the bed until about 4am, so I took the liberty of playing hooky, and NO RAGRETS!

I only left the house to get breakfast with Bunny... We went to this breakfast joint by our house and I splurged on an egg scallion pancake, a breakfast sandwich, orange juice, and a hash brown patty. It was bomb, but who am I kidding, it’s always bomb. I didn’t end up doing my homework until later in the evening, which ended up backfiring because I had SO MUCH HOMEWORK TO CATCH UP ON. It was actually pretty insane, but I still got it all done. For dinner Bunny and I picked up some potstickers from the place right outside our dorms that you all have already heard SO much about because we literally go there multiple times a week. Like I said in my intro... HUM. DRUM.

Tuesday:

Today we went to the bakery before class, I had my daily tea, and barely survived the 3 hour period. After class we went to the gym, and I did leg day today. My legs were shaking so much, it was like they had turned to jelly over the weekend. I think this is due to the fact I took 4 days off🙄 but I managed to get my mile down to 8:30 today!!! Y’ALL!!! BASK IN THE GLORY!!! Progress!!! Slowly but surely!!!

After the gym we went to a restaurant on the Shi Da market for lunch, and ordered fried chicken curry with rice and veggies. It was super good, and only 100 NT! (About $3.35 US).

Afterwards, we went home and I took the longest shower ever, and then a nap (I really really needed it). I got up just to do homework, and then crawled back into the bed. I found a website that lets me watch Power online so that I can FINALLY catch up to the new season. BLESS UP!!! I started watching this show over the summer, but then I got caught up with other stuff so I never caught all the way up. I last left off on Season 2 Episode 7, but I heard the new season 4 is BATSHIT CRAZY so I need to catch up PRONTO. (Also, can I just take a minute and say I freakin’ hate Angela??? Ugh. Tasha is a ride or DIE and Angela comes waltzing in and I’m just mad as hell. Ghost is such a punkass. I literally cannot deal. Let me shut up while I’m ahead before ya’ll comment and spoil something for me.)

...He still fine as hell though... :-’)

For dinner we went to the Gong guan night market to get Gua Bao (remember those pork hamburger things from my “WEEK 2 RECAP” post? “Gua Bao? Gua BOMB!”) and egg scallion pancakes. We didn't leave the house until after 11pm, so alot of our options were closed at that point.

Wednesday:

I actually got up on time to head to the bus, and I was WELL RESTED!! Wow, such a rare occurance. In class I got a 95% on my dialogue quiz today. I’m getting used to pulling these A’s, but our lessons have gotten significantly harder so I find myself reviewing the characters twice as much as usual. Ew.

At the gym I did chest/shoulders/abs. I wore the wrong leggings to the gym today... I wore my normal black leggings instead of my work out leggings, so I didn't do cardio because I didn't want to be all sweaty in my normal cloth leggings... I don’t know I'm weird I guess?? But my ass was looking PHAT at the gym since I had normal leggings on hehe

After the gym Bunny and I tried this Italian spot by our school. They have a lunch menu where you can get a dish AND a side for 99 NT!!! (3-4$ US). What a deal!! I ordered pesto penne pasta and pumpkin soup as my side. Pretty plain, but still super yummy!

After lunch I went home to shower and do my homework and relax. Bunny and I got dinner around 9 because we were STARVING more than usual. I guess the soup and pasta didn’t do it for me. We hopped on the bus to head to Gong guan, but we missed our exit so we ended up taking the bus all the way to our school to go to the Shi Da night market there. MIND YOU I LOOK LIKE A CRAZY CAT LADY. I twisted my hair up and put on two bandanas after taking a shower and putting product in... and I had on a long flowy printed dress I got from the Philippines. Needless to say I looked crazy, in my shower flip flops. We got the soy sauce noodles to-go, with green beans, udon, cabbage, broccoli, and tofu. I also got to chat with my mom on skype tonight which was nice, after struggling to get her speakers to work (for like 20min) so she could actually hear me. I stuffed my face while on the phone with her, and she cheekily said “how come whenever I get you on skype you ALWAYS EATIN??” Then proceeds to laugh hysterically and say “you gonna regret it!! It’s gonna go straight to your hips!!!” ......So charming *eyeroll*, gotta love her lol....

I went to bed super late because I had the migraine of a lifetime. I think it might have been because I didn’t get a tea this morning... Caffeine headaches will be the death of me.

Thursday:

I woke up with the same migraine, and was moving slow because I was so tired and my head was banging!! It was like the drummer guy from Whiplash was putting in WERK on my forehead. I was about 10 minutes late to class... I tried to rush because I knew we had a test in class, but I just couldn’t bring myself to get out of the bed on time. Kokoro (the Japanese student in my class) and I rode on the same bus to class, he was late too because he had gone clubbing last night! On a Wednesday??... Turns out, it doesn’t matter what day of the week it is here, it’s lit at the club every night.

Class was good today. It didn't feel like it dragged as much. But, I was starving the whole time because I didn’t have time to grab some food before strolling into the class. Our teacher referenced the upcoming typhoon today! Meaning, it will be pouring, dumping rain all next week, starting this weekend. There will also be fierce winds. She told us how many people stay home and grocery shop a lot beforehand because transportation and a lot of businesses are closed. For those of you who don’t know, a typhoon is basically a hurricane. I'm not mentally prepared. Our teacher said that typhoon season lasts three months, starting in August. I’m nervous about the food aspect because we don't have a fridge in the dorm so I'm about to be eating perishables all week... canned beans and rice? God, I’m not excited. But maybe class will be cancelled a few days this week? A girl can dream!!!

In the gym it was leg day yet again! My legs weren’t half as shaky as tuesday so that’s good. I ran a 8:45 mile, after almost DYING on the first treadmill I hopped on. I was adjusting the speed and the treadmill skipped and I almost flew the fuck off. My arms were flailing and I let out this loud/awkward noise and everyone was looking at me. I caught my balance and didn't die, but I definitely quietly turned off the machine and moved to another treadmill shortly after. I think that messed up my mojo because while I was running I was constantly paranoid of the same thing happening on the machine next door.

After the gym the three of us went to Shi Da market. I pulled out cash from the ATM but was pretty bitter about it because I looked at my bank statement and my bank (Chase Bank) charges a $5 FEE WITH EVERY NON-CHASE ATM WITHDRAWAL that I make... THAT ADDS UP?!!! Are u kidding me??! I’M BROKE AS IT IS CHASE, CUT ME SOME SLACK!!! I'm so salted. I hate Chase Bank. They suck ass. Do you know how many WITHDRAWALS I’VE HAD TO MAKE WHILE HERE??? I need a Charles Schwab account because it seems like they’re the only bank not trying to PLAY US.

I tried a new place for lunch where they had these small fried dumplings. I would show a picture but I inhaled it so fast that I didn't get to. So here's a picture of the box...hehe

I also got some more dragonfruit today V so so good.

After the gym I came home, showered, and relaxed. I ended up napping around 8 and woke up at like 10:30pm... I did my homework in class so I'm probably just going to eat something small and crawl back into the bed. I got a banana at the Family Mart convenience store and some apple juice and a pack of yan yans. Yan Yans are those pretzel stick things that come with the chocolate dip and they’re super good?? I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. I talked to Karis on the phone, and then Paris shortly after that. It was SO GOOD to see Paris’s face and hear his voice after so long. :-’) I miss you roomie!! I knocked out again after hanging up with him.

Friday:

This morning I woke up to a power outage on our Gong guan campus. If this is any tell of how the rest of the weekend/next week is going to be with the upcoming typhoon, I am not ready.

I got a 99 on my quiz today... I. AM. HURT. It was so so close I could taste the perfect score!!

Today I brought my umbrella to class because the typhoon starts this afternoon/evening. Class breeezed by because there was only 7 of us today. It was back day at the gym, and it was great! I’m definitely going to be sore. And I did some booty workouts on the floor afterward. After the gym we went to Gong guan market (the one by our house, not the Shi Da one by campus) to get some food and look for a SIM card for Bunny’s phone (so that she can have a local phone number and consistent data). We stopped and got pork buns and mango before heading home.

When I got home I finally was able to decompress from the long week. I relaxed for a few hours before leaving the house at 10pm to go to the grocery store with Bunny. When we got to the grocery store, it was about an hour or so before closing, and it looked like the apocalypse hit. All the shelves were sweeped, but we got some food to get us through the weekend.... Like wine and rice and potatoes and eggs and snacks. After the grocery store we headed home to relax and shelter away from the upcoming typhoon.

Saturday:

I made breakfast this morning after finally leaving the bed at 1:30 pm. I made eggs and papas!! - An old fave. (Jaylene I miss you). I also cut up some apples too to eat with peanut butter. It was good, but the papas weren't up to par because I only had two seasonings... Sad day.

The rest of the day was spent in bed, watching Power and being a couch potato. At 8:30pm our power went out again, but only for a few minutes. It was getting pretty crazy outside at this point. You could hear the wind howling and tree branches swinging and water pushing its way through the cracks in the closed windows of the bathroom/bedroom.

At 9pm is when I spilled my Pink Moscato on my laptop. HOW COULD SOMETHING SO SWEET BETRAY ME SO HARSHLY?? My computer immediately died after letting out this depressing noise and became completely non-responsive...and so did I. I was on the brink of a meltdown. To keep from succumbing to panic, I put my phone on DND and went to sleep at 9:30pm. I literally knocked the hell out. That’s the best way to avoid problems/conflict right? Take ya ass to sleep.

Sunday:

I woke up by 4:45/5am, and reality set in. I spoke to my mom on the phone, and she helped calm me down and rationalize the situation. I was a mess. I still am a mess. I cannot afford a new computer right now, and I'm nervous about going to get it fixed because I don't want to be taken advantage of, and I wouldn't know the difference either way... I'm clearly foreign. But I have 8 years of memories and information stored on this laptop, so I'm not letting it go without a fight. I called a few places that claim to fix Apple products on Google, but none of them turned up with any real answers. So after 12pm, I ended up going to the Apple Store at Taipei 101. I took a quick shower and brought a bunch of stuff I figured I might need: my laptop, external hard drive, a flannel, umbrella, towels, a hat, and snacks. I've never been outside when there was a typhoon brewing so it's better safe than sorry right? As soon as I walked outside I could tell something was off. There weren't a lot of people bustling about, and there were countless fallen branches and leaves covering the sidewalks and roads.

I hopped on the bus, and then the MRT, to head to Taipei 101, the tallest skyscraper in Taiwan. I had this lingering thought in the back of my mind... let me illustrate... “Is it a good idea to go to the tallest sky scraper in Taiwan when there’s a hurricane with strong winds/ pouring rain just waiting to happen?”... All i could picture is the structure toppling over with all of us inside and causing this huge disaster, similar to something straight out of an Apocalyptic movie like 2012.... Anyway, I arrived just before 1pm, and come to find out, the Apple Store is CLOSED. I’m salty. All the lights are on and the store would otherwise look open, it's just that there's no one inside. It's completely empty. Even all the devices on display are powered on. It was kinda errie... Like those paper towns the military sets up, where it looks like a normal town and everything, just no one lived there... I looked online (again) and went to their actual website where it says today (and only today) they open at 2pm instead of 11am. So I just waited around the mall for an hour until they opened. I found a bench and an outlet so I was just sitting here chilling....Glad I brought my snacks. ;)

When the time finally came to go back to the Apple Store, that overwhelming feeling came rushing over me again. I ended up crying like a PUNK to the customer service lady. So annoying!!! Ugh. I was a fragile mess. I spoke to two different managers who both spoke perfect English, and they helped to reassure me that they would try their best to help me. I have to come back tomorrow for a walk-in appointment with the Genius Bar. Fingers crossed they can help me, or at least retrieve/save my information.

I left Taipei 101 feeling pretty defeated, so I got some McDonalds on the way home... I know it sounds silly but I needed comfort food and something that felt like home. I ordered the filet o fish (which I crave daily), with fries and a coke. This was not my best moment, but the whole meal only cost 95 NT!! (Less than $3.20). CRAZY!

I came home and that’s when I started reading my book that I keep mentioning, “You Are A Badass” By Jen Sincero. It helped me to feel better and get into a better frame of mind.

I took a break from reading to help Bunny make curry for tonight’s dinner. It was BOMB and came out fairly well if I may say so myself. I’ll definitely be making curry more often when I come back to the States.

I finished reading my book just before calling it a night. SUCH a good read I cannot stress this enough!!! I learned so much from Jen’s words and she adds funny stories/anecdotes and the way she describes things is just so relatable. If you have a chance to read it I definitely recommend!!!

I went to sleep pretty late, I was laying in bed catching up with Jay (via text) and other friends from back home. Before closing my eyes, I decided to practice meditation, which is one of the key concepts in the book. I wasn’t very successful the first time, because it was hard to clear my mind and just be still. I know it takes practice, so I’m going to try to dedicate time every day to meditate for at least 5 minutes! Feel free to join me on this challenge, it’s supposed to reap unprecidented benefits!

Also, please pray that when I take my laptop in tomorrow to the Apple Store they can fix whatever’s wrong!!! I need all the prayers I can get. I’m speaking it into existence now: MY COMPUTER WILL LIVE. IT WILL RISE AGAIN. IT WILL POWER ON.

Until next time,

xoxo

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ecotone99 · 5 years ago

Text

[FN] Time Enough

A Vodka Cranberry with a lime. That’s what she was going to order. That’s what she always ordered, unless someone else ordered something interesting before her. Or once in a blue moon she felt a moment of inspiration and ordered something new. In a place like this, inspiration was nowhere to be found. Part of her thought that there was no way for a bartender to fuck up a Vodka Cran, but the reality was that she couldn’t really think up a choice she liked.

She could always ask the bartender for a recommendation. Or she could at least take a look at the drink menu. She had been pretending to for a few minutes, but that was more to avoid making eye contact with anyone. “A Vodka Cranberry with lime when you can, please.”

She saved her eye roll for herself for when the bartender was distracted by her drink order. “I thought I was the only person who rolled my eyes at myself...” The voice came from a few stools over and behind Rachel from the way she was sitting.

“Excuse me?” Rachel turned to look at the source of the comment, turning to see a mid-30s guy looking at her while he sipped his beer.

Brian put the beer down. “Oh sorry, just talking to myself.” He knew that Rachel had heard exactly what he said. “Can I buy you that drink? I want to beat my competition down there to the punch.” He gestured down the bar in the other direction where Rachel saw a man that had to be in his 80s washing down a handful of pills with his beer. The three of them were the only customers in the bar at 4:00pm on a Tuesday.

She looked back at Brian and chuckled. “Sure. That’s nice of you. I’m Rachel.”

“Nice to meet you, Rachel. I’m Brian. Mind if I move a little closer? I suspect my eyesight isn’t quite as good as your other suitor’s down there.” He began to stand up slowly from his stool.

“I don’t know that I’m great company, but you’re welcome to try.” Rachel moved her purse off the stool next to her and set it on the bar.

“Well someday you can tell your kids about the time a famous artist bought you a drink.” Brian smiled wide as he sat down on the newly vacated stool.

Rachel was a bit taken aback by that. “Famous artist? Would I know your work?” She shuffled a bit, uncomfortable that she might have to pretend to know about art.

“I’m not an artist at all, but your future kids won’t know that. Kids are dumb. They’ll believe anything.” Brian smiled wide.

Rachel couldn’t help but laugh at that. “How do you know that I don’t have kids and that I’m not insulted by that?”

Brian tensed his smile a bit. “Just a hunch I had. And by that laugh I got, I was right.”

She kept smiling, but looked at him a bit more intently. “Oh so you can already read me! Good to know. What else have you picked up on so far?”

Brian shook his head. “No no, I wouldn’t want to chase you away and into that gentleman’s arms so soon.” His smile showed a touch of arrogance.

“Aw, that’s no fun. Come on, show off a little.” Her smile showed more than a touch of impatience.

“Fine. You came from work, not anything social. You enjoy that you’re the only woman in this bar, but have worked hard to avoid attention from even the bartender. You don’t have kids or a boyfriend. And you live at 1795 Whitmore Rd.”

Rachel’s jaw practically hit the floor. “How the fuck do you know all that? How do you know where I live?” She naturally backed away from Brian as she said this.

“Well most of it is easy assumptions, but having your license out on the bar sure helped with your address.” Rachel’s eyes were drawn to the shiny piece of plastic laying flat next to her drink. “I mean, I’m a time traveler from the future. That’s how I know.”

“Oh. I... uh... forgot I gave that to the bartender.” She grabbed her license and clumsily shuffled it back into her purse. Rachel’s posture and lack of eye contact betrayed her sudden discomfort. She grabbed her short cocktail and chugged it quickly, stopping short of slamming the now drained glass of ice back on the bar. “Thanks for the drink.” Rachel stood up, gathered her coat and her purse, and walked briskly away.

Brian knew better than to go after her. Trying to smooth things over in the parking lot was always a swift end to his day. He had been hit by cars, had machinery crush him, gotten shot accidentally in a police standoff, and his personal favorite: choked on an olive from a martini he drank a bit too hastily. 43 times he had chased after Rachel out of the bar, and 43 times his least favorite day had restarted back to him waking up from a 2:00pm nap.

It had only taken 2 or 3 original loops for Brian to recognize that he was in a Groundhog Day situation. Some unknown power was forcing him to relive the same day over and over again, just like Bill Murray in that classic comedy. Once upon a time, Brian had counted it among his favorite movies. Not so much anymore.

Brian stuck around the bar for a few more minutes before hearing the familiar sound of gunfire in the distance and someone crashing through the main door to take cover inside.

“Get the fuck down!” The man yelled at the mostly empty bar before returning fire at his pursuers.

Brian sat up a little straighter on his stool before realizing he had miscounted by one stool. He had enough time to -

“Brian! Hello? Are you sleeping?” Brian jolted awake, looked around, and saw the conference room around him, a stark contrast to the dimly lit bar he was in a moment before.

“Damnit, 6 stools from the left not 5.” Brian stood up, no longer bothering to make excuses for his strange behavior in front of his colleagues. None of them followed him out of the meeting any of the other times he left and this time wouldn’t be any different.

He made his way out to his car, got in, and turned on the radio. At this point he had most of the stations memorized, but he hadn’t listened to jazz for a few months. Miles Davis filled the car with just the distraction Brian was looking for. He checked his phone and saw just below the clock was the number 1,546. It had taken him longer than he cared to admit to realize that his phone was counting his time loops, but he almost preferred his months of ignorance. The counter made the whole situation feel much more sinister, as if it was a test that he just couldn’t pass. He laid back in his car and started to think back to his many failures and plan his next attempt.

The very first time Brian locked eyes with Rachel, he choked to death on the banana he was eating. Feeling surprise for the first time in many, many cycles, he found Rachel earlier in his next try to see if it was a fluke. This time Brian was able to at least introduce himself before a rock shot out by a nearby lawnmower ended that cycle.

Brian had been repeating this same day for years, but only discovered Rachel in the last few months. Everything that Brian had done for those years would be reset at midnight, looping him back to his mid-meeting nap. But interacting with Rachel always led to dying early in the day. This wasn’t like the times he had killed himself himself or been gunned down by the police for going on a rampage. Approaching her felt... different. Dangerous. Like putting together a puzzle with its pieces scattered in a minefield. But her presence was the first time the rules of his curse were impacted, leading him to believe she was the key to his escape.

Brian had set a rule after a dozen or so run-ins with Rachel and the early deaths that followed that he had to take at least 1 day off for every 3 times he went after her. Only once did he find her in an “off” day, which was when he drunkenly stumbled into that shithole bar looking to relax. Instead he learned where Rachel was from 4-5pm and took a dart to the temple from the 85 year old regular.

Brian has been able to sketch out a pretty accurate timeline of Rachel’s whereabouts, with several untimely deaths to thank for it. 2-4pm Work (Accountant’s office) 4-5pm Shithole Bar 5-5:30pm Driving home 5:30-6:30pm Dinner with her live-in mom 6:30-7:30pm Relax 7:30-8pm Jeopardy 8-10pm Laundry 10-11pm Shower/Get ready But after 11pm was still an unknown to Brian. His few attempts to follow her as she left her house in a hurry had all been cut short before she reached her destination. And since he always looped back at midnight, her last hour was largely a mystery to him. But maybe, just maybe, that last hour might be key to breaking the cycle once and for all.

Tonight he placed a GPS tracker on her car while she was at the bar, then followed along on his phone from a very safe distance. A small part of his mind thought about just how easy it was to stalk someone in this day and age, but mostly he was just happy to have some forward movement. When the time finally rolled around, he followed along as her car went... nowhere in particular. A park perhaps? He drove to within eyesight of the spot marked on the map and saw Rachel on a wooden bench looking over the moonlit lake. Brian thought this was a bit anticlimactic, but was happy for the new information. He waited in his car until 11:55pm, then got out and approached her quietly.

“Beautiful night tonight.”

Rachel practically jumped off the bench. “Jesus, you scared me!”

Brian held up his hands apologetically. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to, just wanted to appreciate the view and saw you had the same idea.”

Rachel looked hesitant but took him at his word. “It’s a little chilly for my taste, but no matter how often I come here I never get tired of the lake in the moonlight. It amazes me that people take it for granted.”

Brian nodded. “It’s definitely beautiful. I admit, I’m usually one of the people that takes it for granted.”

“Well what’s different about tonight then?” Rachel checked the time on her phone as she asked.

“Good question. I’m wondering that myself. Maybe something told me this is where I’m supposed to be tonight.” Brian smiled.

“Ha! Does that line usually work?” Rachel rolled her eyes at him.

“Had to try, no?” But when he blinked, Rachel was nowhere to be seen. Neither was the lake. He was in the conference room with his colleagues looking at him quizzically.

“Had to try what? Were you dreaming or something? What are you talking about?” Brian’s boss looked puzzled.

Brian sighed. “Fuck. That would’ve been too easy.” He went straight to a bar across town and drank himself stupid. At least he knew where she spent her final hour of the day. It was time for a renewed effort at her. Brian spent a few more cycles meeting her in different situations. After a while he stopped dying quite as tragically or quite as early. But still the cycle continued.

Soon his rule about resting between Rachel cycles was tossed out the window. Every cycle was a Rachel cycle. He dove into her life and her world with the full force of his being. They had fun, they did good, they did bad, they watched Jeopardy with her mom, and eventually he even made it to the lake with her. Until he fell in and drowned at 11:45pm. He decided to fully immerse himself into what had to be the solution to his problem. It had to be her. It had to be. Nothing else mattered. No one else.

Days passed.

Weeks.

Months.

Brian died less, sure. But he would sometimes get his timing wrong. He would change up their day and find a new death. Or sometimes he was just plain sloppy.

Years passing felt like an eternity to him. He had tried everything by this point. He had asked every question, done every task, tried anything and everything with her to get the day to pass.

He checked his phone. 4,057. He had been at this for over a decade. He had been chasing Rachel around for the majority of it.

“Fuck.”

“What’s wrong?” Rachel looked away from the moonlit lake and over at him surprised.

“I can’t. I can’t. I fucking can’t. I can’t do this. I don’t know what I did to deserve you.” Brian couldn’t even look at her as he spoke.

“Me? What are you talking about?”

Brian turned and locked eyes with her. “I’ve tried everything. I’ve done everything. I’ve given you perfect days. I’ve bared my soul. I’ve been your friend, boyfriend, partner, any of them. But it never works. Nothing ever works. And every time, I have to come find you again. Every time, I have to remember a decade of what I’ve already tried and done and learned. Every time, I have to avoid a million bizarre death traps lying in wait. Insane doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel. Or maybe it did once. But now? Now, I have nothing left.”

Rachel stood up in disbelief. “I don’t know what you think this is...”

“I know exactly what it is. Every single cycle I like you less. Every single time I repeat this god-forsaken day I dread having to come find you. I can barely stand to look at you now. All the thousands of times I died, bits of my soul must have died with me. I’m empty. And I blame you.”

Brian took a pause before continuing. “You are boring. You are sad. And you are small. I don’t know what cruel demon forced us together, but every second I spend with you I am in Hell.” Brian was shaking from the release of his pent-up anger and frustration.

Rachel was in shock. She stood wordlessly for a few moments before she spoke. “How dare you. How fucking dare you. Asshole. I don’t ever want to see you again.” She got in her car and drove away in a hurry.

Brian barely registered that she was gone. He was busy staring at his phone. 12:04am. 12:04AM?!?! It still read 4,057 below the time, but now below that was a brand new 1. He had done it! He had crossed to tomorrow. Tomorrow was today. All that time and energy and experience had led him out of the day he had lived thousands of times over. But after the initial shock of his success wore off, he was left to wonder: What had finally done it? What was the lesson? And why was there a new counter on his phone?

Somewhere not so far away, Rachel drove away dismayed. Brian’s anger directed at her had shocked her more than she cared to admit. She had been on a really good streak without ever forgetting to reset him. But that’s ok, she told herself. There’s an infinite number of tomorrows I can keep from him. She smiled at the thought. She was already having so much fun, and she had an eternity to have more...

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remembermemorablememories · 6 years ago

Text

Saturday, December 22, 2018

post #348

main points: - woke up and ate leftover banana muffin, do a few NY apps - lunch at pho kim long - lyft to platinum spa and salon and wait for a bit - play blackjack for two hours for the first time ever - lyft to aria for buffet dinner (delicious) - walk back towards bellagio, stopping by sephora and watching the fountain show - wrap up NY apps - book dermatologist and sleep

today i: - woke up at around 10am. i ate the leftover banana muffin we took from the bellagio buffet yesterday for breakfast and then did 3 NY app reviews. mom and dad went swimming around 8 or 9am and got back shortly after i woke up

sheena also woke up around 11am and then we got ready to go get lunch at around 12pm

- we lyfted over to chinatown plaza to eat at pho kim long since we didn’t get to go yesterday. there was a really long line on the waitlist, like 5-6 parties. but when we asked how long the wait would be the waitress said 10-15 minutes. we were really surprised by her estimate and decided to stick around. sure enough, after 15 minutes we got seated. they were so efficient with everything. serving food, ordering, billing, and we were out an hour later at like 1pm. we also stopped by bambu for some boba before we left the area

- lyfted from the pho place over to platinum hotel and spa, which is where sheena and mom signed up for a 3 and a half hour thing at 2pm. since we got there early, we just kind of chilled in the waiting area, which was a really soothing and relaxing dimly lit area with some complementary snacks. dad and i chilled there while mom and sheena got changed into bathrobes. there was a men’s locker room area too so dad and i went to check it out and fortunately there was shaving cream and such so i shaved myself. cause my facial hair was kind of starting to grow out

sheena and mom started the massage at 2pm. for the next hour dad taught me some basics of blackjack strategy. i knew some of the fundamentals but we looked up some basics of strategy online as well and i tried to memorize them and practice on my iPhone game that i downloaded way back when i saw people playing in atlantic city in like january

i got a bit bored after a while and just kind of chilled there. dad wandered around the hotel, checking out the pool and talking to one of the receptionists. mom was done after the massage (didn’t want the hot rocks, manicure and pedicure) so mom and i checked out the pool too. it looked okay, not too high end not too low end. then around 3:30pm after sheena finished the hot rock thing we told her we were heading out (for a brief while)

dad and i went to ellis island casino to see if there was $5 blackjack and mom went to bally’s to play the slot machine

- when we got there, fortunately there were $5 blackjack setups. the casino was relatively small and i found a table where there was no one so we sat down and tried to play against the dealer. i was not ready for how quickly she would place down the cards LOL. i tried to recall the strategies i memorized but it was too fast and i felt kind of pressured from the dealer and my dad to make a decision quickly. with initial $100, i got like $15

then a group of 3 friendly seniors joined the table and put in like $500, $200 and $100. they were betting big but they were smart and really familiar with the game and the venue. i think they’d been here before. and it was interesting because i realized the dealer was also on the player’s side. if the players win more money, they’re more likely to tip the dealer. so that was really nice and wholesome. the dealer’s rotated every so often. my dad was working/helping me to play the game so i kept going up and down bit by bit. $115->$80 -> $90, etc

eventually after playing 4-6pm, i was down to $55 :( i lost $45 but overall it was a fun learning experience for a 2 hour session. i learned i really need to practice adding cards as they come cause the dealer’s deal so fast and trying to process soft hands with Aces is hard LOL

* dad and sheena met up with me at ellis island. mom had gone ahead to aria. so me dad and sheena lyfted over to aria and went to the buffet to meet mom there. then we waited in line for the food which took about 45 minutes. we eventually got in around 7:15pm and the food was sooooo good. yummy yummy. tandoori, italian, poke, so many delicious options. i stuffed myself. and the dessert was soooo good. carrot cake was on point. so was the chocolate peanut cake or whatever it was. omg yum

- we left aria around 8:30pm. mom stayed behind in aria to play more slot machines. dad sheena and i walked back to bellagio, then walked around to go to sephora to get cici a christmas gift. using sheena’s expertise we picked out something for her, then walked to CVS to get some toothpaste

then we walked back over in front of the bellagio to watch the fountain show at 9:45pm. it was super cool :D they synced it to christmas music and it was cool to see how high the water would shoot. we always passed by it whenever we came to vegas but i’ve never seen the full show. it was only like 5 minutes total… but still really cool

- got back to the hotel room around 10pm. then i worked on NY review apps from 10:30pm to 11:30pm, finishing up the rest of my round (like 6 people). i was surprised how many were really good this round, like 2-3 people who i thought were solid

- took a shower, booked a dermatologist appointment on zocdoc and went to sleep around 1am

the end

#post #normal #december #2018

0 notes

mrrolandtfranco · 7 years ago

Text

October 26, 2017

Community Bulletin

School News

» Save the Date! Concordia Golf Classic! November 4th, Shanghai Binhai Golf Club.

Just a few details about Saturday, November 4th 2017 Concordia Golf Classic @ Binhai Golf Club. This is a fun, best ball scramble to create community and raise awareness about wellness.

• Cost for the golf is 1200 RMB (cost from course), plus 100 RMB tip for the caddie per person • 12 PM Shotgun Start - Flight Information will be given the week of the outing. • We will be scheduling the buses for an 10:45am arrival at the course that will leave from Concordia, let us know if you need a ride. • Sack Lunch will be provided to eat on the course • Banquet dinner at the end for those who don't have to run off to another event – need to know if you are staying for dinner • Locker and Shower facilities are nice, so bring a change of clothes for after your round • Awards for Longest Drive, Shortest Used Drive, Straightest Drive, Closest to the Pin, Longest Putt, Lowest Team Score, Highest Team Score • Raffle at Banquet • Drink Tickets will be sold at registration 10 for a 100 RMB • Drink carts (2) on the course during the round ▪ Beer, soda, juice and water are one ticket each • "Mulligan Charity Pack" - 200 RMB • One extra tee shot, chip, putt, and approach shot • 18 inches of string & scissors – receive during check in – one per foursome, use the string to make a putt that you missed • Men use BLUE tees Women use RED tees - Minimum of 2 tee shots per person must be used.

We are looking for event sponsors. If you are interested please contact Suki Chen at [email protected]

A few spaces still left. Sign up with [email protected]

» The Concordia High School Theatre Program Proudly Announces the 2017 High School Fall Play

All of the wit and romance of Jane Austen's classic 1813 novel come to life in this refreshingly fast-paced and engaging new adaptation by Jon Jory.

Pride & Prejudice is staged in the Rittmann Theatre on the Concordia Campus.

November 2, 3 & 4 @ 7pm with a matinee performance on November 4th @ 1:30pm.

This is a family friendly production appropriate for all ages.

---

Tickets on Sale:

-PC-Commons Oct. 23rd, 25th, 27th, 28th, 29th & 31st | 11:30am-1pm and 3:20-4:15pm.

-E.S. Cafeteria Oct 24th, 26th & 30th | 3 - 4pm Student-75 RMB |Adult-100 RMB

About the Play: Finding a husband is hardly Elizabeth Bennet's most urgent priority. But with four sisters, an overzealous match-making mother, and a string of unsuitable suitors, it's difficult to escape the subject. When the independent-minded Elizabeth meets the handsome but enigmatic Mr. Darcy, she is determined not to let her feelings triumph over her own good sense -- but the truth turns out to be slipperier than it seems. In a society where subtle snubs and deceit proliferate, is it possible for Elizabeth and Darcy to look beyond his pride and her prejudice, and to make the best match of all?

About the Show: With eighteen actors, ten crew members, choreographed dance, costumes designed by Concordia's Visual Arts faculty member, Ms. Greer Collins, expect an amazing theatrical production that you do not want to miss.

» Change of Bank Account Name

Per government request, the school has changed its Chinese name. Hence, please kindly note that Chinese bank information is updated as below:

Account Name(户名): 上海协和国际��籍人员子女学校

Account No. (帐号):310066111018170251820

Bank (银行): 交通银行上海新区支行

» School Uniforms

The Uniform shop is located in the High School basement off of the PE Commons and is opens from noon to 4:00 PM, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. For your reference, the uniform policy appears on the Uniforms website. Questions regarding uniforms should be directed to: [email protected].

Our Community

» Breakthrough Junior Challenge for Yoochan Shin

Yoochan Shin, Grade 11, entered a competition called Breakthrough Junior Challenge. His entry has made it into the top 30 videos in the world out of 6, 000, and is now in the popular vote competition. The winner of the popular vote automatically makes it to the finals. Yoochan is asking for help from our community so that he can get as many votes as possible. This could be hugely beneficial to Yoochan, his mentor, Mr. Klammer and our school in the way of financial prizes-a college scholarship, science lab and cash prizes. The popular vote began on Oct 23, ends Nov. 2nd. Here's a message from Yoochan:

My name is Yoochan Shin, a junior in Concordia. Ever since I was little, I have loved science. Bill Nye the Science Guy or the countless Korean science comic books my parents (just like any other Korean parents did in the early 2000s) bought for me may have ignited my passion in science, but to this day I am motivated by the greater appreciation of the world learning science provides. My latest video, inspired by my engineering teacher, Mr. Klammer, is the culmination of my knowledge, passion, and philosophy. The production process took a hundred and fifty hours to make. The video with the most amount of likes AND shares on Facebook will go straight to the finals. Each like and share are considered as individual votes. Below is the link to make your vote.http://ift.tt/2gCcnow

» Please Join our Third Entrepreneur Fair!

On Thursday, November 2nd the eighth grade will be hosting their third annual Entrepreneur Fair. This is an opportunity for eighth graders to collaborate and execute their business, design thinking and marketing skills. It will take place in the PC Lounge.

Below is the schedule we will be following:

Thursday, November 2nd

A block: Attend from 8:15-9:10am

C block: Attend from 12:15-1:10pm

Have your students bring small bills (5's, 10's, 20's – RMB 100-200 for total spending) to make purchases during this time.

If you would like to attend, please confirm with Holly Raatz: [email protected]

» 14th Family Day

Please see more information in the flyers below.

Pudong

Art Competition

» 2017 Shanghai Amateur Games-China Shanghai International Popular Sports Festival And The First International Friends Games

Date: November 11, 2017

Venue: Jinfeng Road, 258 (Shanghai American school)

Host: Shanghai Sports Bureau, Shanghai Sports Federation

Organizer: Min Hang District Sports Bureau, Min Hang District Hua Cao Town People's Government, Hanpeak Media Ltd., Co

The Competitions

Mini Triathlon (personal group) at 2-3:30 PM Personal group: 25 people of participants age 13~15

Mini Triathlon (family group) at 2-3:30 PM family group: 25 groups of participants age 8~12

Dynamic five rings at 2-3:30 PM

How to sign up

Sing up: Only Sing up on the official account of Wechat "第九届中国上海国际大众体育节". Fill in the form, and then we will send the invitation by email.

Please print the invitation, and bring it to the event.

Event Schedule

8:30 AM-12:30 PM: International Floorball confrontation 2017 Shanghai Youth Floorball Club League

1-1:30 PM: Guest Sign-in

1:30-2 PM: Opening Ceremony

2:30-3:30 PM: The Mini Triathlon, Dynamic five rings

2-4 PM: International Floorball confrontation 2017 Shanghai Youth Floorball Club League, Hurricane Bowl American football

4-4:20 PM: Awards Ceremony

» Lunch Menu Access

Did you know that you can access our school lunch menus on our website? Click here to visit our School Services page and view the ES and MS/HS (PC Lunch Menu) lunch menus this week.

http://ift.tt/2y0bnNX

Athletics & Arts

» HS Basketball Tryouts going on this week!

PSO

» PSO Bake Sale on Friday, October 27

Tomorrow is our first bake sale of the year! This month the PSO will donate 20% of our treat sale profits to the High School's Global Development class, which is working on fundraising projects to support LCMS. LCMS is an organization which is actively engaged in providing aid to recent Hurricane victims in the United States and the Caribbean islands. Please help us raise money by providing 24 nut free baked treats. Any baked treats we have left will be sold in the ES Commons from 3-4 PM. A perfect opportunity to buy your Halloween weekend treats for the family and support a good cause! Please send 10rmb with your student so they can purchase a treat!

» Used Book Sale, Thursday, November 9 and Friday, November 10

The PSO Used Books Sale will be held during the ES and MS conferences, Thursday, November 9 and Friday, November 10. It is a fabulous way to pick up great books at a great price! Interested in helping with the sale? Follow this link to register for a time slot to help! http://ift.tt/2z82Qx2

» Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, November 18

Save the Date! It's that time of year! Concordia's Christmas Bazaar will be held on Saturday, November 18! Raffle We will begin selling Christmas Bazaar Raffle tickets. 6 raffles per 100 if you buy prior to Christmas Bazaar. 5 raffles for 100 if you buy on the day of the bazaar. ES and MS students will be receiving a form next Monday, October 30. Please fill in and return to ES and MS office. We have over 120 raffle items worth over 150 RMB. Poinsettia Orders Ready for gift-giving or decorating your home? Poinsettia pre-order starts November 1. Order forms will be in the ES, MS, and HS offices. We will also be selling them in the ES Commons at 3PM on Tuesday, November 7 and Thursday, November 9. So mark those dates!

» PSO Used Uniform Sales

Gently used Concordia uniform pieces are also for sale at all monthly PSO meetings. The uniform pieces cost 20 RMB each. If you have gently used uniforms you no longer need, please consider donating them to the PSO. Visit PSO website for more information on our upcoming events, and learn how you can get involved.

Job Openings

» Each fall we begin to identify positions likely to be open the following year and generally complete recruiting by late January. However, we accept applications at any time and will keep them on file for future vacancies. Due to age restrictions in China, we are not able to consider applicants who will be older than 57 on August 1 of the year of their initial contract.

Faculty

Classroom Teacher--Gr. 1-6

Early Childhood Classroom Teacher--PS3, PS4, or K

Early Childhood Music & Movement

English Language Learner (ELL) Coach-ES or MS

ES Counselor-social, emotional

ES Instructional Coach-Literacy

HS Counselor

HS Physical Education Teacher

HS Physics/Math Teacher

HS Social Studies

MS Counselor-social, emotional

MS Humanities Classroom Teacher

MS Math/Science Teacher

Support

Athletic Trainer & Wellness Coordinator

Potential-ES Teaching Assistant or Grade Level Assistant (PRC only)

To learn more go to: http://ift.tt/2h5eAnw

Opportunities

» Last call: Annual Fundraising Gala Nov 4

Don't miss the last call to buy tickets for the Community Center Shanghai Annual Fundraising Gala, taking place November 4! If you're a fan of mystery, intrigue, and lighthearted espionage you'll want to join us for this "Casino Royale" themed event. The dress code will be formal attire; for the gentlemen in attendance, put on your snazziest tuxedo or suit, and for the ladies, don your best gown, the one you break out once a year to look and feel your best. Take plenty of photos with your crew at our "007 photo booth," and at the end of the night hearken back to old Homecoming nights with your significant other for your chance to win "best dressed couple."If that doesn't excite you, the gala will offer plenty more for a wide range of people, whether you're coming with business partners, fellow community members, teachers, or your spouse. One of the main attractions, the raffle items, will feature a sleek scooter, a membership for hair & beauty salon, Disney one-day pass, restaurant vouchers and more!

» Morning Fitness Classes are Open to Parents of Concordia!

Are you interested in spinning, boot camp, or yoga in the mornings? Certified staff are conducting classes every morning of the week. For a detailed schedule and pricing information, contact Tina Harbold. Classes have begun so don't wait... sign up now! If you are interested or have questions, please email Tina at [email protected].

Club Sports and Community Sports Organizations

Below you'll find a list of clubs and organizations that offer a variety of sports activities to the community. If you would like for Concordia to consider adding a listing, please email the Marketing Department.» Phoenix Swim Club » Shanghai American Football League » Shanghai Sluggers Youth Baseball-registration has started! » Shanghai Thunderbirds Ice Hockey » Sport For Life » Active Kidz Shanghai » Century Park Football Club - Soccer Training » Tuesday Night Co-ed Volleyball (starts after Chinese New Year) » Shanghai Gymnastics » Shanghai Chess Club Offers Classes at CCS » Multisport » Dulwich Earthquakes (Excellent Soccer Source) » Danceworks Shanghai

Worship

» Please click here for information about Worship Services in Shanghai.

Classifieds

» Check back next time!

Drivers & Ayis

When hiring ayis or drivers, please remember to check references and ask around the community for first-hand recommendations. Even in situations where ads are posted by Concordia families, please recognize that these ads are not vetted in any way by the school before posting. Although names and contact information of ayis and drivers are posted in the Community Bulletin, we do not affirm and/or affiliate ourselves with them.

» Check back next time!

Reminders

» Carrying Copies of Passport and Visa

We have been informed by Public Security Bureau that policemen are being sent to different locations like supermarkets or streets to check people's passport and visa. We would like to remind our community that carrying a copy of your passport and visa in your wallet is recommended so you are fine if you are checked. Please note that the policemen will show you their working ID when they stop you. If they don't, please ask. If you forget to carry the two copies, they could take you back to their office. In this case, we suggest you contact your employer who can confirm your passport and visa information. They may also stop unaccompanied students so I would recommend that you review this procedure with them as well.

» New Residence Permits, Work Permits or Passports?

Whenever you or your family members receive new residence permits, work permits and/or passports, please be sure to send copies of your new documents to the Admissions office, in the Welcome Center (1st floor High School). Or, email soft copies to Admissions. Keeping your children's files up to date helps us keep in compliance with Chinese governmental regulations.

» No Bicycles for Children Under Age 12 on Public Streets - Shanghai International Schools Association (SISA)

The following information regarding bicycle riding in Shanghai is shared in an attempt to be helpful to all its member schools. For safety purposes, the regulations in Shanghai allow for bicycles to be ridden on public streets only by children age 12 and above. This regulation is strictly enforced in Puxi, but is unevenly applied in Pudong. The immediate danger is that families may assume that local protections for bicycle riders may be the same as in their own country, but they are not. It is important to be aware that if a child under 12 is involved in any kind of accident on a public street or crossing, the parent may be held responsible. Sidewalks and bicycle paths along public roads are considered part of the public roads. In addition, as accident insurance is relatively new to China and there are not many precedents with these situations, your own accident or medical insurance company has the right to refuse cover in the event of violation of the local law. We hope that better understanding will result in better safety for younger children.

» Community Bulletin Objectives

The Community Bulletin conveys school and student-related information and supports community, volunteer and charitable organizations. The classified section and driver/ayi notices are meant as a service to parents. With the exception of sharing information and offers from Concordia's official corporate partners, we do not support commercial ventures or for-profit organizations. The Community Bulletin editors reserve the right to omit submitted content deemed to fall outside the scope of the Community Bulletin.

» Parent Directory Privacy Policy

At Concordia, we are very protective of family information and data. The school emails only information that is important and directly related to the school and student issues. Internally, we carefully monitor what is emailed to parents and ensure it is appropriate. The use of email addresses from the parent directory for non-school related or commercial reasons is a severe misuse of the directory.

» Submitting Community Bulletin Items

The Community Bulletin is a bi-weekly newsletter. Please submit text in final format by Wednesday at noon in Arial font (maximum 100 words or 5 sentences in paragraph form with a headline) to [email protected]. Based on the schedule of the next bulletin, submissions may be included the week they are received or the following week. Any submission received after this time on the week scheduled for publication will be included in the next bulletin in two weeks. Submitted items may run for a maximum of two consecutive publications. <p><p> <p>

from Concordia International School News http://ift.tt/2z7xDtO

0 notes

mrjoshuatom · 7 years ago

Text

October 26, 2017

Community Bulletin

School News

» Save the Date! Concordia Golf Classic! November 4th, Shanghai Binhai Golf Club.

Just a few details about Saturday, November 4th 2017 Concordia Golf Classic @ Binhai Golf Club. This is a fun, best ball scramble to create community and raise awareness about wellness.

We are looking for event sponsors. If you are interested please contact Suki Chen at [email protected]

A few spaces still left. Sign up with [email protected]

» The Concordia High School Theatre Program Proudly Announces the 2017 High School Fall Play

All of the wit and romance of Jane Austen's classic 1813 novel come to life in this refreshingly fast-paced and engaging new adaptation by Jon Jory.

Pride & Prejudice is staged in the Rittmann Theatre on the Concordia Campus.

November 2, 3 & 4 @ 7pm with a matinee performance on November 4th @ 1:30pm.

This is a family friendly production appropriate for all ages.

---

Tickets on Sale:

-PC-Commons Oct. 23rd, 25th, 27th, 28th, 29th & 31st | 11:30am-1pm and 3:20-4:15pm.

-E.S. Cafeteria Oct 24th, 26th & 30th | 3 - 4pm Student-75 RMB |Adult-100 RMB

» Change of Bank Account Name

Per government request, the school has changed its Chinese name. Hence, please kindly note that Chinese bank information is updated as below:

Account Name(户名): 上海协和国际外籍人员子女学校

Account No. (帐号):310066111018170251820

Bank (银行): 交通银行上海新区支行

» School Uniforms

Our Community

» Breakthrough Junior Challenge for Yoochan Shin

» Please Join our Third Entrepreneur Fair!

Below is the schedule we will be following:

Thursday, November 2nd

A block: Attend from 8:15-9:10am

C block: Attend from 12:15-1:10pm

Have your students bring small bills (5's, 10's, 20's – RMB 100-200 for total spending) to make purchases during this time.

If you would like to attend, please confirm with Holly Raatz: [email protected]

» 14th Family Day

Please see more information in the flyers below.

Pudong

Art Competition

» 2017 Shanghai Amateur Games-China Shanghai International Popular Sports Festival And The First International Friends Games

Date: November 11, 2017

Venue: Jinfeng Road, 258 (Shanghai American school)

Host: Shanghai Sports Bureau, Shanghai Sports Federation

Organizer: Min Hang District Sports Bureau, Min Hang District Hua Cao Town People's Government, Hanpeak Media Ltd., Co

The Competitions

Mini Triathlon (personal group) at 2-3:30 PM Personal group: 25 people of participants age 13~15

Mini Triathlon (family group) at 2-3:30 PM family group: 25 groups of participants age 8~12

Dynamic five rings at 2-3:30 PM

How to sign up

Sing up: Only Sing up on the official account of Wechat "第九届中国上海国际大众体育节". Fill in the form, and then we will send the invitation by email.

Please print the invitation, and bring it to the event.

Event Schedule

8:30 AM-12:30 PM: International Floorball confrontation 2017 Shanghai Youth Floorball Club League

1-1:30 PM: Guest Sign-in

1:30-2 PM: Opening Ceremony

2:30-3:30 PM: The Mini Triathlon, Dynamic five rings

2-4 PM: International Floorball confrontation 2017 Shanghai Youth Floorball Club League, Hurricane Bowl American football

4-4:20 PM: Awards Ceremony

» Lunch Menu Access

Did you know that you can access our school lunch menus on our website? Click here to visit our School Services page and view the ES and MS/HS (PC Lunch Menu) lunch menus this week.

http://ift.tt/2y0bnNX

Athletics & Arts

» HS Basketball Tryouts going on this week!

PSO

» PSO Bake Sale on Friday, October 27

» Used Book Sale, Thursday, November 9 and Friday, November 10

» Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, November 18

» PSO Used Uniform Sales

Job Openings

Faculty

Classroom Teacher--Gr. 1-6

Early Childhood Classroom Teacher--PS3, PS4, or K

Early Childhood Music & Movement

English Language Learner (ELL) Coach-ES or MS

ES Counselor-social, emotional

ES Instructional Coach-Literacy

HS Counselor

HS Physical Education Teacher

HS Physics/Math Teacher

HS Social Studies

MS Counselor-social, emotional

MS Humanities Classroom Teacher

MS Math/Science Teacher

Support

Athletic Trainer & Wellness Coordinator

Potential-ES Teaching Assistant or Grade Level Assistant (PRC only)

To learn more go to: http://ift.tt/2h5eAnw

Opportunities

» Last call: Annual Fundraising Gala Nov 4

» Morning Fitness Classes are Open to Parents of Concordia!

Club Sports and Community Sports Organizations

Worship

» Please click here for information about Worship Services in Shanghai.

Classifieds

» Check back next time!

Drivers & Ayis

» Check back next time!

Reminders

» Carrying Copies of Passport and Visa

» New Residence Permits, Work Permits or Passports?

» No Bicycles for Children Under Age 12 on Public Streets - Shanghai International Schools Association (SISA)

» Community Bulletin Objectives

» Parent Directory Privacy Policy

» Submitting Community Bulletin Items

from Concordia International School News http://ift.tt/2z7xDtO

0 notes

mrlylerouse · 7 years ago

Text

October 26, 2017

Community Bulletin

School News

» Save the Date! Concordia Golf Classic! November 4th, Shanghai Binhai Golf Club.

Just a few details about Saturday, November 4th 2017 Concordia Golf Classic @ Binhai Golf Club. This is a fun, best ball scramble to create community and raise awareness about wellness.

We are looking for event sponsors. If you are interested please contact Suki Chen at [email protected]

A few spaces still left. Sign up with [email protected]

» The Concordia High School Theatre Program Proudly Announces the 2017 High School Fall Play

All of the wit and romance of Jane Austen's classic 1813 novel come to life in this refreshingly fast-paced and engaging new adaptation by Jon Jory.

Pride & Prejudice is staged in the Rittmann Theatre on the Concordia Campus.

November 2, 3 & 4 @ 7pm with a matinee performance on November 4th @ 1:30pm.

This is a family friendly production appropriate for all ages.

---

Tickets on Sale:

-PC-Commons Oct. 23rd, 25th, 27th, 28th, 29th & 31st | 11:30am-1pm and 3:20-4:15pm.

-E.S. Cafeteria Oct 24th, 26th & 30th | 3 - 4pm Student-75 RMB |Adult-100 RMB

» Change of Bank Account Name

Per government request, the school has changed its Chinese name. Hence, please kindly note that Chinese bank information is updated as below:

Account Name(户名): 上海协和国际外籍人员子女学校

Account No. (帐号):310066111018170251820

Bank (银行): 交通银行上海新区支行

» School Uniforms

Our Community

» Breakthrough Junior Challenge for Yoochan Shin

» Please Join our Third Entrepreneur Fair!

Below is the schedule we will be following:

Thursday, November 2nd

A block: Attend from 8:15-9:10am

C block: Attend from 12:15-1:10pm

Have your students bring small bills (5's, 10's, 20's – RMB 100-200 for total spending) to make purchases during this time.

If you would like to attend, please confirm with Holly Raatz: [email protected]

» 14th Family Day

Please see more information in the flyers below.

Pudong

Art Competition

» 2017 Shanghai Amateur Games-China Shanghai International Popular Sports Festival And The First International Friends Games

Date: November 11, 2017

Venue: Jinfeng Road, 258 (Shanghai American school)

Host: Shanghai Sports Bureau, Shanghai Sports Federation

Organizer: Min Hang District Sports Bureau, Min Hang District Hua Cao Town People's Government, Hanpeak Media Ltd., Co

The Competitions

Mini Triathlon (personal group) at 2-3:30 PM Personal group: 25 people of participants age 13~15

Mini Triathlon (family group) at 2-3:30 PM family group: 25 groups of participants age 8~12

Dynamic five rings at 2-3:30 PM

How to sign up

Sing up: Only Sing up on the official account of Wechat "第九届中国上海国际大众体育节". Fill in the form, and then we will send the invitation by email.

Please print the invitation, and bring it to the event.

Event Schedule

8:30 AM-12:30 PM: International Floorball confrontation 2017 Shanghai Youth Floorball Club League

1-1:30 PM: Guest Sign-in

1:30-2 PM: Opening Ceremony

2:30-3:30 PM: The Mini Triathlon, Dynamic five rings

2-4 PM: International Floorball confrontation 2017 Shanghai Youth Floorball Club League, Hurricane Bowl American football

4-4:20 PM: Awards Ceremony

» Lunch Menu Access

Did you know that you can access our school lunch menus on our website? Click here to visit our School Services page and view the ES and MS/HS (PC Lunch Menu) lunch menus this week.

http://ift.tt/2y0bnNX

Athletics & Arts

» HS Basketball Tryouts going on this week!

PSO

» PSO Bake Sale on Friday, October 27

» Used Book Sale, Thursday, November 9 and Friday, November 10

» Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, November 18

» PSO Used Uniform Sales

Job Openings

Faculty

Classroom Teacher--Gr. 1-6

Early Childhood Classroom Teacher--PS3, PS4, or K

Early Childhood Music & Movement

English Language Learner (ELL) Coach-ES or MS

ES Counselor-social, emotional

ES Instructional Coach-Literacy

HS Counselor

HS Physical Education Teacher

HS Physics/Math Teacher

HS Social Studies

MS Counselor-social, emotional

MS Humanities Classroom Teacher

MS Math/Science Teacher

Support

Athletic Trainer & Wellness Coordinator

Potential-ES Teaching Assistant or Grade Level Assistant (PRC only)

To learn more go to: http://ift.tt/2h5eAnw

Opportunities

» Last call: Annual Fundraising Gala Nov 4

» Morning Fitness Classes are Open to Parents of Concordia!

Club Sports and Community Sports Organizations

Worship

» Please click here for information about Worship Services in Shanghai.

Classifieds

» Check back next time!

Drivers & Ayis

» Check back next time!

Reminders

» Carrying Copies of Passport and Visa

» New Residence Permits, Work Permits or Passports?

» No Bicycles for Children Under Age 12 on Public Streets - Shanghai International Schools Association (SISA)

» Community Bulletin Objectives

» Parent Directory Privacy Policy

» Submitting Community Bulletin Items

from Concordia International School News http://ift.tt/2z7xDtO

0 notes

mrmarknewman · 7 years ago

Text

October 26, 2017

Community Bulletin

School News

» Save the Date! Concordia Golf Classic! November 4th, Shanghai Binhai Golf Club.

Just a few details about Saturday, November 4th 2017 Concordia Golf Classic @ Binhai Golf Club. This is a fun, best ball scramble to create community and raise awareness about wellness.

We are looking for event sponsors. If you are interested please contact Suki Chen at [email protected]

A few spaces still left. Sign up with [email protected]

» The Concordia High School Theatre Program Proudly Announces the 2017 High School Fall Play

All of the wit and romance of Jane Austen's classic 1813 novel come to life in this refreshingly fast-paced and engaging new adaptation by Jon Jory.

Pride & Prejudice is staged in the Rittmann Theatre on the Concordia Campus.

November 2, 3 & 4 @ 7pm with a matinee performance on November 4th @ 1:30pm.

This is a family friendly production appropriate for all ages.

---

Tickets on Sale:

-PC-Commons Oct. 23rd, 25th, 27th, 28th, 29th & 31st | 11:30am-1pm and 3:20-4:15pm.

-E.S. Cafeteria Oct 24th, 26th & 30th | 3 - 4pm Student-75 RMB |Adult-100 RMB

» Change of Bank Account Name

Per government request, the school has changed its Chinese name. Hence, please kindly note that Chinese bank information is updated as below:

Account Name(户名): 上海协和国际外籍人员子女学校

Account No. (帐号):310066111018170251820

Bank (银行): 交通银行上海新区支行

» School Uniforms

Our Community

» Breakthrough Junior Challenge for Yoochan Shin

» Please Join our Third Entrepreneur Fair!

Below is the schedule we will be following:

Thursday, November 2nd

A block: Attend from 8:15-9:10am

C block: Attend from 12:15-1:10pm

Have your students bring small bills (5's, 10's, 20's – RMB 100-200 for total spending) to make purchases during this time.

If you would like to attend, please confirm with Holly Raatz: [email protected]

» 14th Family Day

Please see more information in the flyers below.

Pudong

Art Competition

» 2017 Shanghai Amateur Games-China Shanghai International Popular Sports Festival And The First International Friends Games

Date: November 11, 2017

Venue: Jinfeng Road, 258 (Shanghai American school)

Host: Shanghai Sports Bureau, Shanghai Sports Federation

Organizer: Min Hang District Sports Bureau, Min Hang District Hua Cao Town People's Government, Hanpeak Media Ltd., Co

The Competitions

Mini Triathlon (personal group) at 2-3:30 PM Personal group: 25 people of participants age 13~15

Mini Triathlon (family group) at 2-3:30 PM family group: 25 groups of participants age 8~12

Dynamic five rings at 2-3:30 PM

How to sign up

Sing up: Only Sing up on the official account of Wechat "第九届中国上海国际大众体育节". Fill in the form, and then we will send the invitation by email.

Please print the invitation, and bring it to the event.

Event Schedule

8:30 AM-12:30 PM: International Floorball confrontation 2017 Shanghai Youth Floorball Club League

1-1:30 PM: Guest Sign-in

1:30-2 PM: Opening Ceremony

2:30-3:30 PM: The Mini Triathlon, Dynamic five rings

2-4 PM: International Floorball confrontation 2017 Shanghai Youth Floorball Club League, Hurricane Bowl American football

4-4:20 PM: Awards Ceremony

» Lunch Menu Access

Did you know that you can access our school lunch menus on our website? Click here to visit our School Services page and view the ES and MS/HS (PC Lunch Menu) lunch menus this week.

http://ift.tt/2y0bnNX

Athletics & Arts

» HS Basketball Tryouts going on this week!

PSO

» PSO Bake Sale on Friday, October 27

» Used Book Sale, Thursday, November 9 and Friday, November 10

» Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, November 18

» PSO Used Uniform Sales

Job Openings

Faculty

Classroom Teacher--Gr. 1-6

Early Childhood Classroom Teacher--PS3, PS4, or K

Early Childhood Music & Movement

English Language Learner (ELL) Coach-ES or MS

ES Counselor-social, emotional

ES Instructional Coach-Literacy

HS Counselor

HS Physical Education Teacher

HS Physics/Math Teacher

HS Social Studies

MS Counselor-social, emotional

MS Humanities Classroom Teacher

MS Math/Science Teacher

Support

Athletic Trainer & Wellness Coordinator

Potential-ES Teaching Assistant or Grade Level Assistant (PRC only)

To learn more go to: http://ift.tt/2h5eAnw

Opportunities

» Last call: Annual Fundraising Gala Nov 4

» Morning Fitness Classes are Open to Parents of Concordia!

Club Sports and Community Sports Organizations

Worship

» Please click here for information about Worship Services in Shanghai.

Classifieds

» Check back next time!

Drivers & Ayis

» Check back next time!

Reminders

» Carrying Copies of Passport and Visa

» New Residence Permits, Work Permits or Passports?

» No Bicycles for Children Under Age 12 on Public Streets - Shanghai International Schools Association (SISA)

» Community Bulletin Objectives

» Parent Directory Privacy Policy

» Submitting Community Bulletin Items

from Concordia International School News http://ift.tt/2z7xDtO

0 notes

mrandyzavala · 7 years ago

Text

October 26, 2017

Community Bulletin

School News

» Save the Date! Concordia Golf Classic! November 4th, Shanghai Binhai Golf Club.

Just a few details about Saturday, November 4th 2017 Concordia Golf Classic @ Binhai Golf Club. This is a fun, best ball scramble to create community and raise awareness about wellness.

We are looking for event sponsors. If you are interested please contact Suki Chen at [email protected]

A few spaces still left. Sign up with [email protected]

» The Concordia High School Theatre Program Proudly Announces the 2017 High School Fall Play

All of the wit and romance of Jane Austen's classic 1813 novel come to life in this refreshingly fast-paced and engaging new adaptation by Jon Jory.

Pride & Prejudice is staged in the Rittmann Theatre on the Concordia Campus.

November 2, 3 & 4 @ 7pm with a matinee performance on November 4th @ 1:30pm.

This is a family friendly production appropriate for all ages.

---

Tickets on Sale:

-PC-Commons Oct. 23rd, 25th, 27th, 28th, 29th & 31st | 11:30am-1pm and 3:20-4:15pm.

-E.S. Cafeteria Oct 24th, 26th & 30th | 3 - 4pm Student-75 RMB |Adult-100 RMB

» Change of Bank Account Name

Per government request, the school has changed its Chinese name. Hence, please kindly note that Chinese bank information is updated as below:

Account Name(户名): 上海协和国际外籍人员子女学校

Account No. (帐号):310066111018170251820

Bank (银行): 交通银行上海新区支行

» School Uniforms

Our Community

» Breakthrough Junior Challenge for Yoochan Shin

» Please Join our Third Entrepreneur Fair!

Below is the schedule we will be following:

Thursday, November 2nd

A block: Attend from 8:15-9:10am

C block: Attend from 12:15-1:10pm

Have your students bring small bills (5's, 10's, 20's – RMB 100-200 for total spending) to make purchases during this time.

If you would like to attend, please confirm with Holly Raatz: [email protected]

» 14th Family Day

Please see more information in the flyers below.

Pudong

Art Competition

» 2017 Shanghai Amateur Games-China Shanghai International Popular Sports Festival And The First International Friends Games

Date: November 11, 2017

Venue: Jinfeng Road, 258 (Shanghai American school)

Host: Shanghai Sports Bureau, Shanghai Sports Federation

Organizer: Min Hang District Sports Bureau, Min Hang District Hua Cao Town People's Government, Hanpeak Media Ltd., Co

The Competitions

Mini Triathlon (personal group) at 2-3:30 PM Personal group: 25 people of participants age 13~15

Mini Triathlon (family group) at 2-3:30 PM family group: 25 groups of participants age 8~12

Dynamic five rings at 2-3:30 PM

How to sign up

Sing up: Only Sing up on the official account of Wechat "第九届中国上海国际大众体育节". Fill in the form, and then we will send the invitation by email.

Please print the invitation, and bring it to the event.

Event Schedule

8:30 AM-12:30 PM: International Floorball confrontation 2017 Shanghai Youth Floorball Club League

1-1:30 PM: Guest Sign-in

1:30-2 PM: Opening Ceremony

2:30-3:30 PM: The Mini Triathlon, Dynamic five rings

2-4 PM: International Floorball confrontation 2017 Shanghai Youth Floorball Club League, Hurricane Bowl American football

4-4:20 PM: Awards Ceremony

» Lunch Menu Access

Did you know that you can access our school lunch menus on our website? Click here to visit our School Services page and view the ES and MS/HS (PC Lunch Menu) lunch menus this week.

http://ift.tt/2y0bnNX

Athletics & Arts

» HS Basketball Tryouts going on this week!

PSO

» PSO Bake Sale on Friday, October 27

» Used Book Sale, Thursday, November 9 and Friday, November 10

» Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, November 18

» PSO Used Uniform Sales

Job Openings

Faculty

Classroom Teacher--Gr. 1-6

Early Childhood Classroom Teacher--PS3, PS4, or K

Early Childhood Music & Movement

English Language Learner (ELL) Coach-ES or MS

ES Counselor-social, emotional

ES Instructional Coach-Literacy

HS Counselor

HS Physical Education Teacher

HS Physics/Math Teacher

HS Social Studies

MS Counselor-social, emotional

MS Humanities Classroom Teacher

MS Math/Science Teacher

Support

Athletic Trainer & Wellness Coordinator

Potential-ES Teaching Assistant or Grade Level Assistant (PRC only)

To learn more go to: http://ift.tt/2h5eAnw

Opportunities

» Last call: Annual Fundraising Gala Nov 4

» Morning Fitness Classes are Open to Parents of Concordia!

Club Sports and Community Sports Organizations

Worship

» Please click here for information about Worship Services in Shanghai.

Classifieds

» Check back next time!

Drivers & Ayis

» Check back next time!

Reminders

» Carrying Copies of Passport and Visa

» New Residence Permits, Work Permits or Passports?

» No Bicycles for Children Under Age 12 on Public Streets - Shanghai International Schools Association (SISA)

» Community Bulletin Objectives

» Parent Directory Privacy Policy

» Submitting Community Bulletin Items

from Concordia International School News http://ift.tt/2z7xDtO

0 notes

chefbstrikesagain · 7 years ago

Text

MY PARENTS IN MALAYSIA

I feel like a shell of the human I used to be after a marathon of a week with my parents. Desperate for some sort of routine and 2 years of sleep I'm slowly adjusting back to life without them. What I didn't realize was how exhausting entertaining for a week would be. Explaining and translating a new language, ordering food, figuring out suitable accommodations, talking about my future, and so so so much driving are just the beginning of the trip. However, that being said, it was such a fun time showing them around my home for the last 8 months in the country that i've grown to know and love despite its abundance of geckos and lack of western toilets. I'll give you an idea of what our days looked like but remember, this are only a small glimpse into what actually happened. Documenting cultural exchange, moments of appreciation for life back home, or a new developed sense of understanding are all things hard to explain in words so you'll have to ask my parents about it!

DAY 1: The date was August 31 and it was brutally sunny and humid, yet again, in good ole' Malaysia. I made my way to the airport feeling oddly nervous to see my parents after the last 8 months of being apart. Fortunately, the airport in the city is fairly small (with only 2 terminals) which makes it really easy to park and pick people up at their gates like you see in movies! I had a 50/50 shot of getting the right gate and was unfortunately waiting at the wrong one. After just 10 short minutes I bee bopped to the other gate and there they were! Luggage in tow and surprisingly looking great. I imagined them in a rough state after their 18 hours of travel but I think the adrenaline took over and they seemed ready to explore a new country on the other side of the world. We loaded up the bags in the car and my dad went to get in (but opened the wrong door) I think they forgot about driving on the opposite side of the road here- and they marvelled at the Nissan Almera. Just kidding, but they were surprised how much room the car had for having a sewing machine for an engine. We made our way out of the parking lot to the hotel which was just a short 15 min drive.

We listened to Malaysian radio on the way back from the airport and took the scenic route along the waterfront. Malaysian and Sabah flags flew proudly everywhere as the day they flew in was 'Merdeka Day' aka Freedom day which lasts for one month in Malaysia. I told them to keep their expectations low for this vacation, as on their last vacation, they were in 3 giant cities in Spain. This was definitely going to be a more rugged, change of pace than walking around Park Guell in Spain with a glass of wine. We changed in the hotel room into our bathing suits and made our way down to the pool. Mom and Dad were surprised at how nice the Hotel was... We stayed at the Hyatt in Kota Kinabalu and it was one of the only 5 star hotels in the area. At the pool we played catch up and Dan Moore started yelling about drinks. About an hour in, my parents realized how strong the equatorial sun really is as they were both burned. It's not like going to the beach in New England where you can stay all day no problem. We left the pool, showered, and got ready to grab an early dinner. We went to El Centro, one of my favorite places, for pizza and margaritas. Afterwards, we headed to a rooftop to watch the sunset sink down into the South China Sea. Dmoore was falling asleep in his chair watching the sunset and he ended up sleeping at 7:30pm.

Day 2: We woke up really early on day 2, mostly due to the fact that dmoore was up and impatiently bopping around the room. I wanted to take them to my favourite curry restaurant for traditional food- but realized everything in town was closed! It was second raya or Eid which meant that it was a public holiday and everyone was at home celebrating with family. We walked to the waterfront where dmoore leaped across a storm drain gap (approx. 3 feet) where his legs gave out from underneath him. He coined the nickname DJ reckless for the rest of the trip and certainly lived up to the name with the hospital trip...something I'll get to later. We walked back to the hotel for breakfast where we had an incredible buffet full of noodles and even some western food. Mom and dad both tried mee hoon soup with vegetables and dad also had nasi lemak- the national dish of Malaysia. We changed into our bathing suits and booked island tours off the coast of Kota Kinabalu. It was another great day for island hopping and we spent about 4 hours total on 2 separate islands. We stood in the water, which was pretty much empty, as all the Korean and Chinese tourists were staying to stay out of the sun to stay pale and beautiful. After a few hours of lounging we grabbed lunch and took the boat back to our hotel. We changed quickly and I took mom and Dad to the City Mosque.

The mosque is a giant floating structure that overlooks the ocean. It's coloured with cobalt blue tiles and is entirely white- definitely a sight for sore eyes. In order for my mom to enter, she had to cover completely, which meant renting a tundong (Malay word for Hijab). Check out the pictures- she certainly rocked the outfit! We didn't spend too much time at the mosque as prayer was happening soon so we left and headed towards the mall. We grabbed sushi for dinner which was incredible. I force-fed mom and made her try the smallest bite of sushi which she openly protested but in the end I think she liked it.... My dad was shocked at the cost of the whole dinner which came out to be 12USD or 4USD per person. In the US, that much sushi would have easily been $60. This was a theme for the rest of the trip. Every meal was converted and my parents faces would light up when they realized they spent 4USD to feed the three of us as well as 1 of my friends.

Later that night, my mom and I explored the hotel and found the hidden gym and then grabbed drinks while DJ reckless had a business call to make at 8:30. Joey joined us for drinks around 10:30 and we stayed up until midnight which was late for them.

Day 3: We checked out of the hotel around 9:30am and made the 3 hour drive up to The Tip of Borneo where we would stay for 2 nights. We listened to a bunch of podcasts and made easy conversation about things we passed along the way including cows, stray dogs, and why the gas stations were always so full. When we finally reached our destination, called 9 Huts on a Hill, we pulled in and were surrounded by geese, chickens, and bamboo huts. The cutest little woman greeted us at check-in and had us sit down while she offered us some water. Mom broke out into a laughing attack from trying to take in everything (chickens and bamboo huts) and had to put her sunglasses on to conceal her tears. It looked like she was having a nervous breakdown. I understand because it was definitely a downgrade from the 5 star hotel but the accommodations turned out way better than the first impression.

The huts were pretty much open air concept as the front wall could be broken down. There was a queen sized bed with a mosquito net over the top and an A/C unit and fan to keep you cool at night. Each hut had its own bathroom and shower which was a huge plus (not a squatty potty) so Cathy was happy. After settling in we ate dinner and explored the complex. We were on a big hill right above the ocean, complete with a giant yoga platform, a kitchen, and a 'chill zone' that had a bunch of hammocks to hangout in. We dragged a fan out from a room and drank beers and finished a bottle of wine while watching the sunset. Pretty great first night. We turned in around 10pm for some much needed rest in our comfortable beds.

Day 4: We woke early (around 7:30) no surprise there...and headed into town for our first Malay breakfast!!! I ordered mom and dad roti tulur (egg bread with curry) and tea tarik which is tea mixed with condensed milk. They loved it so much they each ordered 2 glasses of tea. They were also pleasantly surprised with the roti they had for breakfast. We paid (3 USD) for breakfast and made our way to my friend Robbie's beach at the secret place. We spent the whole day drinking at Robbies in the water and marvelling at the beauty and just how untouched the land was. I'll let them describe to you how amazing this place was because I talk about it all the time- but ask them!

We grabbed dinner again at the curry house after we showered and said goodbye to Robbie and his family. We finished the second bottle of wine that night under the yoga platform where it monsooned shortly after sunset for the rest of the night. Definitely a recipe for a great nights sleep which we needed to prepare for the marathon days we were going to have in Ranau and the rest of the trip.

Day 5: We checked out of 9 huts and made the dangerous drive from the Tip of Borneo to my small town in Ranau. It's dangerous because we were driving up and down mountains, some roads were non-existent, and landslides were everywhere. The signs said the hills were on average 16% grade either going up or down - if that means anything to you. Despite the dangerous drive it made for incredible views. You could see so far and just how mountainous the area I live in really is. We arrived to my house around 2pm where 40 of my students greeted my Mom and Dad! They were so excited to meet them and of course, take selfies. After about 5 hours of small talk and pictures, we left the open house with two of my students and grabbed some food in town at restaurant Muslim. We talked about ghost stories, possessions, and how the street I live on is haunted- just normal dinner conversation. We dropped off the students around 9:30pm and headed back to my street where we parted ways for 9 hours until the next morning when we had school.

Day 6: If you've made it this far into the blog post, congratulations! I'm exhausted and distracted just from writing this so if you're still reading one thing is sure- you definitely don't have ADD! Wahooo. Anyways, Tuesday morning, day 6, was probably the craziest day my parents had while in Malaysia and they were such troopers the entire time. We woke up around 7am to get to school by 8 which was my first class. My class is with form 1 and 2 girls (ages 12/13) and who all live at the school. They don't have good English at all so we usually do some sort of art as a medium to communicate with one another. My parents brought sidewalk chalk to school and we drew the city of Boston's skyline. This was a great medium and the art turned out beautiful. My mom even had some of the girls lay down on the ground holding hands and she traced them all. She told them that when I was little she would trace me and I would colour in my body with clothes and hair and a face. Dmoore wasn’t as approachable and some of the girls told me in Malay that he’s so serious. It’s tough to communicate with young children when you don’t know the language. Their shyness can be misinterpreted as disinterest, which is usually the farthest thing from what they actually want. After saying goodbye, we had class with 4 Bersih- which is one of my favourite classes. These students are older and already have a good foundation in English which means I can teach more intricate lessons that go deeper than colors or numbers. I split the class up into 4 groups and gave them all category titles. Seasons, Food, Sports, and Slang all having to do with Boston. The students then had to interview my parents to get the necessary information and do a short, creative presentation on what they learned. They all did a great job and some of the presentations were hilarious - especially the Boston Slang.

After school, we left and grabbed lunch before our paragliding session! I convinced them both to jump off a mountain which I never thought would happen....After paragliding we went to a fish farm where you stick your feet in a river and a bunch of fish swim over and supposedly suck the dead skin off of your feet. Mom was freaking out the whole time and barely put one toe in the water. Afterwards, we grabbed dinner at the Sabah Tea plantation where we overlooked vast green tea fields and Asian mountains. Mom and Dad ordered more Tea Tarik and achieved a new level of sugar high before we had to leave for our next event. After a dinner of butter chicken and vegetables we made our way back to our house to shower and get ready for drinks out on the town. We had about an hour to relax before I picked them up and made our way to the 'Kolam'. In the middle of the jungle there is a fish pond place where you can order lots of food and drinks. My parents were shocked that there was any sort of habitable life that far in the jungle and not one mosquito. They were able to try Lihing, which is the local traditional rice wine, and they seemed to really like it. Doreen got them a cake that said ‘Welcome to Ranau Mr. and Mrs. Moore’ which was really nice of her. After eating some quick we decided that we should leave as the drinking was really starting to go downhill.

Day 7: After waking up tired and hungover we made our way to school for the last day. My first class on Wednesday’s is arguably the best class of the week with the special needs students. They always get so excited to see me and just all around have great energy. My parents had a warm welcome by the Teachers and worked with a small group of students on practicing the letters ‘I’ and the letter ‘S’. While working with the students the teachers were setting up for a small breakfast in the kitchen. They had coffee and small finger food, known as quey, for my parents to try. It was so nice of them to organize this- I had no idea they were going to do that! After making small talk about our trip and what life was like in America we said our thank yous and goodbyes. We left class and then headed to my next class with form 4 amanah which we were a little late for. The students are all crazy, in the best way possible, and I talked with them before about teaching my parents a traditional dance that we do in Sabah called the Sumazau. The students moved the desks and led my parents to the center of the dance floor where they instructed them how to dance while I blasted the music. I got some great videos on my go-pro and will be sure to post some pictures. We left that class after giving out some chocolate coins, and headed to a form 6 class who are all pre-university and about 18 years old. This class was harder to plan for as they are less willing to be really outgoing, so we did a lesson on Malaysia where they taught my parents about the major Holidays observed. This class sort of dragged on and I could tell my parents were getting tired so we ended class early and with a giant selfie.

After school, we grabbed a quick lunch of martabak sayur and headed to the famous Poring Hot Springs. We enjoyed a butterfly garden, tree-top canopy walkways, and a short hike to a 50 foot waterfall! Poring was great but it was such a hot and humid day we were just ready to relax. We headed home and I got to nap for 2 hours before Doreen asked us to dinner. When we showed up to dinner I just expected Doreen and maybe her husband to be there. I was not prepared for 10 teachers including the principal to show up. There was a big buffet and mom couldn’t stop talking about the pumpkin soup. All in all, Doreen really pulled out all of the stops while they were here- I really appreciate everything she did. Shortly after dinner, when all of the muslims left, we drove to a bar down the street with Ravi, Rose, Zeddy, and the three of us started drinking Tiger. Ravi kept ordering set after set and him and my dad were really getting along. Two kindred spirits for sure. After making a deal with Ravi that we could leave when all the beers were done, and no more sets to be ordered, we escaped and said our goodbyes to everyone as that was the last time my parents would see them. We laughed on the drive home about how funny the night was and were all looking forward to sleeping in the next morning.

Day 8: Dan Moore woke up super early, no surprise there, and was itching for me to connect my phone to his so he could browse the internet. With tired eyes and an attitude, I quickly connected our phones and closed my eyes for another much needed hour of sleep. We woke up and headed to the sports complex where we got ready to rent ATV’s. The paths the guide was taking us on were super overgrown, bumpy, and on the side of a mountain. All of these factors made it really hard to control the ATV. Dmoore was driving like an absolute savage and the guide and I kept exchanging worried looks when he would slam the gas instead of the break and narrowly avoided hitting one of us. Inevitably, something went wrong and we found ourselves in the emergency room for DJ reckless. In hindsight, it’s all really funny now but at the time I was nervous how this was going to impact our plans - especially if his ankle was broken! The hospital did an x-ray and said they didn’t think it was broken… but they would need an MRI to be sure about any other injuries. We asked for crutches and they told us that they were ‘finished’ no more crutches left.

We left Ranau with DJ reckless in the backseat and headed towards Kota Belud for a Proboscis river monkey tour and to grab lunch with my friends Janna and Kelsey. We found crutches at a Pharmacy in their town which really saved the day and made dmoore much more mobile and less hoppy. We ate lunch on a lake about a 10 minute drive from the ocean where we talked about the future, my parents trip, and the elephant in the room - dmoore’s swollen ankle. After lunch we went to my friend Jessi’s house where she lives with a Malay family and had tea and quey while we waited to go on the river monkey tour. We boarded a small boat and set off down a muddy river surrounded by jungle on all sides. We saw a giant monitor lizard, mud crabs, and the monkeys! It was hard to see the monkeys because they were so far but it was great to see them in the wild and in their natural habitat vs. a Zoo. The tour was really cool but I was really looking forward to firefly tour which we had to cancel because it was getting late and would be hard to fit dinner in with Claire later on. After saying goodbye to Jessi we grabbed a quick dinner with Claire before continuing the trek on into the city. We arrived at our hotel and we got ice for DJ recklesses ankle and gave into our craving for Western food and ordered pizza hut. Mom and Dad were so happy to be back in a clean, air-conditioned hotel room, while I was trying to live up the last few days before going back to reality (dirty water and fried rice). Mom and I went souvenir shopping and then we all turned in early that night.

Day 9: The last dayyyyy. We were able to sleep in until 9! We gathered our tired and sore bodies and headed to the hotel breakfast. The buffet overlooked the ocean and you could see all the small ferry boats shuttling people from island island to island like scurrying ants. We took extra coffee and tea from the buffet and brought it to the rooftop where we sat in the shade and tried to digest everything we’ve done over the last week. This inevitably led to DJ reckless ordering a healthy drink (coconut and cucumber juice) with a twist - just add vodka. We spent pretty much the whole day at the rooftop pool in and out of the water and shade ordering food and drinks. Dan and Cathy needed to get as much sun as possible as this is ‘it’ until next summer. Live music began around 7pm and was this awesome band doing covers of really mellow music- Maroon 5, The Carpenters, etc to give you the vibe. With an ocean breeze ruffling our hair, drinks in hand, and soft music in the background I knew we did good and was so happy everyone made it through the week alive. We definitely had some close calls with DJ reckless but nonetheless, a great time. Mom had been craving frozen yogurt all day and used our drunkenness to get us down to the first floor of the hotel where the mall connected to the hotel. Dmoore and I ordered tea in the piano lounge where a performer was just wrapping up playing. I waited until he was well out of earshot and began to play- it had been over a year! We ended with a really choppy version of Billy Joel’s piano man while dmoore was on vocals singing into his frozen yogurt like a microphone.

Overall, the week long trip felt like an eternity but also I blinked and then it was over. I feel so grateful that Mom and Dad flew all the way across the world to see me. It really validates my whole experience here and I know when I go home I can talk about it and someone will understand what I mean, or be able to relate past ‘oh that sounds cool’. I have really made a home for myself here and integrated myself into the community and it will not be easy to leave- especially with my students. I am also so happy they were able to come with open minds and hearts and experience a Muslim country in a time where it is unsafe to practice Islam in America. I hope they can help be a voice for the misunderstood and an ally against discrimination where it has become so normalised in the media to highlight a minority for their issues. Malaysia has become apart of me over this past year and I’m so happy the people that are closest to me are able to understand how this country and culture has shaped me.

0 notes

victakestaipei · 7 years ago

Text

WEEK 8 RECAP: The Journey Home

Monday:

Today was a struggle to get up. I sat there all day in class zoning out. We had a vocab quiz today and are working on finishing up lesson 10, our last chapter. We also talked a lot about our bonding event last Friday and poked fun at Felix who was acting a fool at karaoke after drinking too much booze.

We had such a great time and it hadn't fully sunk in how much I'm gonna miss this small class. After class Bunny and I went to the computer lab to work on our listening homework, but not before I asked my teacher to write a recommendation letter for me. Which she happily obliged. I'll probably get it emailed though since I asked her pretty last minute. I also went down to the main office in the building to request my grade (Record of Study) for the month of August to be mailed to my house back in Reno. It's all really coming to an end. Bittersweet. After class today Bunny and I went to one of our favorite potsticker places right by campus. We stuffed our faces with veggie, curry, and spicy Korean style potstickers while reminiscing over the past two months. After we ate we headed home to relax and start the packing process.

Tuesday:

Today was our last day of class. Our teacher brought us egg scallion pancakes as a parting gift, as well as my letter of recommendation in a sealed envelope. I’m so surprised!! Our class was pretty laid back today. Wednesday is the actual last day of class but both Bunny and I leave Wednesday to head back to America. I'm so excited to surprise my friends and roommates by landing in Reno on Thursday instead of Saturday!!! It's going to be great. After class, and taking our last pictures and giving our last hugs, Bunny and I headed home as we weren't too hungry and needed to finish up packing as well as do laundry and a bunch of other stuff.

Here’s some Taipei flicks I took from the bus window... I’m going to miss this city!!

Later in the evening Bunny got us some boba, as I wasn't too hungry still.. I also got Bunny to start watching Insecure. She loves it and I'm so happy she's watching it!!!

For dinner we ate at the soy sauce braised place. Everyone there was so happy to see us and loved my hair (it was in a fro). When we left we told the workers we were going back to America and that this was our last meal here in Taiwan, and one of the workers even hugged us goodbye. So so sweet. We rode the bus back home and took the scenic route to take in the last few sights of Taipei night life.

We also watched the live stream of the eclipse tonight. It was cool!!!! I watched it on twitter because the US is like the only place where it's a full eclipse. It's only partial in other countries.

Wednesday:

Today I got up at 9:30am to get ready. It was so sad seeing Bunny’s stuff all cleared out already. She had left early this morning around 5:30am. I got up, and went to breakfast alone at our neighborhood spot. It was delicious as always, but I was eating all alone which made pretty sucky. I hadn't realized how attached to Bunny I was until I had gotten back to the room and was sitting on my bunk bed steps crying. I had an emotional moment and I was SO happy to be by myself. After I pulled myself together, I packed up the rest of my stuff and headed down to the main office to return our keys.

I left the house around 11 to head to the bus with all my luggage. It was a struggle getting around but I managed to make it to Taipei main station and onto the express train to the airport by 11:45am. I got to the airport around 12:30. I tried to check into my flight just before 1, but was told it was too early to check in for my 5pm flight, and I had to wait until after 2... So I found a table and an outlet and just sat and waited it out. I came back down to the ticketing area around 2 and was able to weigh my bags and my big bag was only a few pounds overweight!!! PROUD!!!! So I switched some stuff around and got the weight down with no problem. I was checked into my flight by 3 and headed to security. I got some food at Burger King (it was cheapest) and ate there in the food court. I headed to my gate and sat there a while before they moved our gate and delayed my flight by an hour. So I switched gates and waited at the new gate on a lower floor. We began boarding at 6:20ish... and our original flight departure time was 5:20. But the flight is only 2 hours and I have an aisle seat, fairly close to the front of the plane (because I checked in so early), that it shouldn't be too bad. Part 1 of my journey home begins NOW!

After getting off the plane I went to baggage claim and got my bags. My smaller bag came out first. I originally thought my bigger bag didn’t make it (because it was taking so long) but then I saw a small woman dressed as a flight attendant standing next to a huge burgundy bag (my bag) and looking around. She retrieved the bag from a separate baggage carousel, right next to the one all the other bags were coming out of. This other carousel was labeled "oversized baggage claim"... lol of COURSE. So I waved her down and rushed over and took my bag off her hands.

After getting through customs which was a breeze, I looked up the hotel on my phone to see how far it was. It was only an 8min walk!! So I decided to hit the road, dragging my suitcases behind me. It was dark at this point as it was after 10pm, but I found the hotel with no problem and checked in and went up to my room. I was exhausted. I talked on the phone with my mom and some friends (those of which still don't know I was at a hotel in China rather than in my dorm room), and I took a shower and knocked out. I woke up fairly early, around 6:30am and forced myself to go back to sleep for a few more hours. After 10am I checked out of the hotel, and caught the free shuttle service the hotel provided to drop me off at the terminal up the road.

I got in line at the ticketing counter and none of the workers had arrived yet. There were other passengers waiting too, but they weren't behind the ropes like I was. So when the time came for everyone to get in line, I was first in line bc best believe I didn't move when all of them tried to cut the line ;) lol.

I checked in and checked my bags with ease. I had to go to baggage inspection after ticketing , and I found out I couldn't bring lighters back to the US from China. So I had to throw away two really cool lighters I got as gifts for my stoner friends lol. The guy who was also working the baggage inspection was a total prick. HE BROKE THE HANDLE OF MY SUITCASE!! Asshole. But it's okay. I got through immigration and security pretty quickly and now I'm sitting at the gate eating a subway sandwich. I also got two cookies but they aren't half as good as they are in the US. The 12in sandwich and cookies cost me about 95 RMB.... Money of which I didn't have to spend because I was given some money by that kind Chinese guy who helped me buy my hotel on my way here back in June. This journey back to the US is 99% better than the journey here, and for that, thank you JESUS.

I board my plane in about an hour and 15 minutes (1:15) and from there I'll be on the plane for 12 hours before landing in LAX at 11am (pacific time).

My flight to Reno from LAX isn't until 6:30pm, so I'm hoping I can hop on a standby flight earlier so I can get home earlier... I'll keep you all posted ;)

On my flight to LAX from Nanjing, I got another awesome aisle seat only 4 away from first class. I’m feeling BLESSED to be at the front of the plane, but I know it's due to me checking in so early yet again. Thank goddddddd. Emptiest plane I've ever been on. The flight attendants started to close the overhead cabinets, and each row, including mine, had 1 or more empty seats in it. I was the only one in my row. Best believe I'm about to lay down and nap.

Update: Our flight has been delayed an hour and a half on the tarmack. We are just SITTING HERE!!! Doing NOTHING!!! This is the worst ever.

Second Update*: I could not sleep a lick on the plane. I am delirious. I have watched what seems like a million movies and I feel like my eyes are BLOODSHOT.

I also have had to pee a million times since I’ve gotten on the flight so I keep getting up to run down the aisle to the toilet in my socks. HELP!!! This flight feels like an ETERNITY!!!

Our flight landed in LAX around 1pm (the original arrival time was 11am) and I can say I’ve never been more glad to be in America!! GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! After speeding through customs, and baggage inspection, I headed towards Southwest to check my bags for my evening flight to Reno. While I was in China, Karis texted me saying that she will be able to pick me up from LAX and spend some time with me before my next flight, so that’s exciting!! I can’t wait to see her!!

Update: Karis never showed. She texted me as if she was waiting for me at the Southwest counter, but come to find out, MY MOM COMES WALTZING FROM AROUND THE CORNER!! I AM SHOOK!! AND ECSTATIC!! MY MOMMA SURPRISED ME!!! Her little devious self. So SO cute. She made plans for us to grab lunch and catch up. I’m so so happy.

For lunch, my mom and I visited this restaurant on the marina that we’ve been going to for as long as I can remember. The food was so good, and you already know I had to order a MIMOSA!! God bless America.

After lunch, I actually still got to see Karis, despite her LIES!! Momma dropped me off at the LMU campus and I spent about 45 minutes with Karis catching up, before she dropped me at the airport. I’m so thankful to have a best friend like her. The surprise was the best welcome home present ever.

I boarded my flight to Reno with ease and am scheduled to land around 7:30pm. I am probably going to Uber home because no one knows I’m coming hehe. I can’t wait to surprise everyone. It’s going to be so great.

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