I have always had situations in my life where after all is said and done I think, "This could only happen to me." Not bad things, just weird, different, unusual. After my most recent "only me" experience, I figured I needed to document some of the things that have occurred since I have been in Kaohsiung, more so I can remember, but hopefully someone will get a laugh out of them.
The first "only me" experience was after a LONG day of school. I was waiting for Chinese class to start and walked with Lori to the 7-11 for a Snickers bar (yes they have Snickers here). After unwrapping the chocolate candy I knew was going to make me feel better, and taking my first bit (which included me moaning and saying this is exactly what I wanted) some guy on the sidewalk ran up to me and tried to take my Snickers. Seriously was grabbing at my already bit into bar of yummyness! Lori was hitting him and trying to push him away and I was trying to protect the candy bar, we started running down the sidewalk to get away, but he was a persistant little booger. Finally we escaped the villan and after the shock of the moment wore off, I enjoyed every last bite.
The second "only me" experience occurred at the IKEA here (yes, there is an IKEA in Kaohsiung). Lori and I again were going to do a little shopping, got in a taxi, and to our surprise had an English speaking driver. We politely chatted with the man on the way to IKEA. Upon arriving, he drove to the parking garage, not the front door, which we both thought was really weird. As we got out, he got out with us. Yet again weird! Then he became our personal tour guide through the store and literally followed us around for 45 minutes. After running to the bathroom to escape, and coming out to find him waiting outside, we had to say, we are a little creeped out, can you please leave. He simply replied with a disheartened "O.K." and left the store. We could not help looking over our shoulders the rest of our time at the store.
Recently while walking on the streets I have has 2 "only me" moments. On the way home from the gym I not only saw an Asian midget, but the midget was peeing on the side of the road. I was laughing too hard to take a picture but that would have been great. Another time, a man on a scooter almost ran me over, upon looking at him, I noticed the live parakeet sitting on his handle bars.
On one of my last hikes up Monkey Mountain, I came across a cat lying on a bench on the hike up. What really made me stop and stare was the cat was being groomed by t3 monkeys with a baby monkey petting its head. REALLY, normal people are not exposed to these things!
The topper though occurred yesterday. I was getting a foot massage with Erin after a great Indian dinner. When walking out of the massage place, my underwear felt a little weird, like something was not right, but I readjusted and walked home. Mind you this was the same underwear I had been wearing all day (not to gross anyone out). When I got home and went to take a shower, I threw them in the dirty clothes hamper, but felt something as I was tossing them in. To my surprise, I looked and found a sand spur stuck to my underwear. HOW DID THAT GET THERE AND HOW DID I NOT FEEL IT ALL DAY?!?!
As I said, I really think some things can only happen to me. I am not sure if I am being prepared to meet aliens, live on another planet or under the sea, but seriously...only me!
