'I Told You So'

I’m obviously really behind in keeping up with my promise about posting our trip in Tibet BUT something has inspired me to write…

Two days ago I made the big purchase to facilitate our life here. Chad already had one- he bought a ‘nice’ used bike off of a teacher who was leaving. After riding around on his a few times and realizing the convenience of it, I was very excited to buy our newest addition, my new bike. It’s beautiful-shiny, red and black, and everyday I wake up excited to ride it. I even dreamed of it the night I bought it. Sounds silly but really I kicked myself for not buying one earlier. I no longer have to pay for ‘Mr. Toad’s Wild’ taxi ride and I honestly LOVED riding around the city. I felt like I had gotten to know my way around in these last few days by riding my bike everywhere than I have in the last six months!

I also have managed to corral several other teachers to create our little own ‘EF half marathon team’ in which we ride our bikes to West Lake/ meet up with other teachers who want to train, run our distance and then ride back home. It’s amazing. We don’t have to cram onto the already sweaty buses, worry about our bags being sliced or robbed and can come and go as we please. I have felt healthier in these last few days and enjoy that my legs are sore. It’s a welcome sign to getting back into shape, something that has been long overdue and I’m already feeling so much better.

Today, on the ride over to dinner, to say goodbye to a great friend who’s contract has ended and is leaving for Australia for a year, I talked with another friend who has decided to go on a long bike ride with me Sunday morning to encourage her into running with us on Monday. The look of my bike and it’s efficient gears and effective brakes even swayed her into buying a new one… that is until mine and Chad’s was stolen one hour later off a pole with three locks on it…

Yes, it’s just a bike and yes, this is part of my experience in China but at the moment… I’m just so angry.