Voice of Will: You didn't show up

2006-01-17 - 12:15 a.m.
So I was asked by a friend to arrange to pick her up from the airport tonight at 10 pm our time. This involved contacting one of our staff members brothers who owns a van (and is a complete imbicle btw).
She didn't show up. Wasn't on the plane, and I only found this out after waiting for her NOT to get of the plane. Here is my email to her, that I just sent
How are you? (It is will btw.)

Where are you? Because you weren't on flight 3761 out of beijing tonight at 10pm, because I was there. It was cold, and lonely. Joesephs brother doesn't speak enough english, and boy do I smell of cigarette smoke.
I'm assuming you missed the flight (you were probably stuck in beijing, and are now are the hotel, and will arrive here tomorrow at about 10 am)

Needless to say it was interesting. Taking the van (which has no heat btw, and no air sealant because it is a cheap chinese POS) through nice wind, at all of 20 kph so the 30 minute trip to the airport took almost an hour. But that was ok because your flight was over an hour late landing. Ah at least the timing was ok, I was worried you'd take a taxi and we'd pass each other.

I was then pushed and prodded like cattle when people ran to the railing to meet their "loved ones" that I finally pushed back with my elbows, and boy did it really clear out around me. I think it was my deodorant.
I waited 40 minutes after "your" plane landed, and finally gave up when they stopped the luggage rack for the flight and there was no luggage left over, adn they then started unloading a flight from Harbin. I even waited until that was through on the off chance you had stopped, fallen into a coma, and were being resucitated via yak breath. But still nope. You didn't show up.

Joesephs brother thought it was funny when I came back out w/out you and he tried to ask where you were. After the 3rd explaination he didn't understand, i told him you had been eaten by a pack of wild chipmunks who were even now descending on zhengzhou like locusts. He gave me a puzzled look and said "ting bu dong" then smiled like a maniac. I think he was envisioning what a horde of wild chimpmunks bent on locust like apocalyptic proportions would do to zhengzhou.

We had another 45 minute long cold van ride back while I determined that no one in this god forsaken country knows how to drive at night, or over rough surfaces, or around corners. But I can also tell you every single pothole on the road to and from the airport because my knees definately know where they are.
That would qualify as an experience that only cost me 80RMB. And to think there are people who pay LOTS OF MONEY for this experience. And I got off so cheaply, just my time, my body heat, my wonderful stench, and of course part of my sanity.

How has your trip been?

Will