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Will & Tracy

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Thursday, August 24, 2006

Shaken, not stirred or deterred….

So Will has this rash that has been slowly getting worse the last few days. He’s a sensitive person, there’s nothing wrong with that. We are in a foreign country and are actually grateful for such a mild introduction. We think that it is the laundry detergent they are using at the hotel so my mission today was to go out and find: benadryl ointment, oatmeal bath and hypoallergenic laundry detergent.

I ask my local peeps about where to find anything organic – they tell me try the “Pines Market” – lots of expat stuff.I happen to have a catalog with *an* (notice I didn’t say “the”) address on it. I confidently write down the address, go to the concierge, translate it to Mandarin and then give it to the taxi driver. Did I mention my confidence? That was a mistake – I’ve been in China 2 weeks - who do I think I am?

The cab driver seems to know where he is going, but we continue to drive... farther out than I anticipated – we passed the mall that I was thinking it was in and my mind makes a mental note for me to learn the Chinese words for "stop here." Eventually he does make it to the store, but much to my surprise as I walk in (and the cab is gone), the place is half empty because they are moving to a new location – written in Chinese of course. Thinking that I was fortunate that I was not in the ghetto neighborhood, I realize that it's worse...I’m surrounded by subdivisions of the "expat rich" where they don’t need no stinkin’ taxis – they have their own drivers. DAMN! With cell phone in hand I repeat: “I’m not going to cry and call Will at work." I manage to make it to the next busy street and find a cab – still empty handed at this point, but I make it back to the hotel safely and ready for more...stay tuned for part 2…(do I ever find the stuff??).

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