Motorbike Fun in the Rain

Today was interesting for many reasons:

First of all, I got payed for my month of work with OMEGA, which brought forth great feelings of success and accomplishment.

Second of all, I put down a down payment and payed for a month's rent at an apartment on Dongzhimen Inner Street 东直门内路, which is the two level apartment that I believe I have written about once before. Coco, the girl who is renting the room, agreed to drop the price by about 5oo RMB each month, so I went for it.

The place is really nice, and honestly quite Chinese (which should be an experience, to say the least...). I will post some pictures of it once I move in.

However, the newest problem in my life is that I cannot move into the place until September 2nd, so I have to find a place to stay until then. I suppose I may just live in a hostel until I can figure out a place. My friend Gilbert has also offered me his apartment for a few days, but I cannot currently get in touch with him.

Third interesting thing: tonight was the goodbye dinner for our China Club Residence OMEGA team. We ate at Liqun Beijing Roast Duck Restaurant, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite restaurants on the planet. I highly suggest it to anyone who's passing through Beijing.

The goodbyes were sad, but I know most of the team is excited to get home and have a breather away from the crazyness of the Olympics, which I completely understand. I will try to keep in touch with the team as best as I can, and they are definitely nice contacts to know for the future if I am ever in Europe, etc.

As we said goodbye on the street, it began to rain. Not a gloomy rain, but more of a refreshing rain.

While looking desperately for taxis, a random motorbike-car pulled up to our group and offered to take one or two of us where we needed to go. My hotel was only about 5 minutes away, so I was volunteered to take the bike. I hopped on and we sped off into the rain, leaving the team behind to head to the subway.

On the way through the pouring rain, the biker weaved in and out of slow-moving traffic, which was a blast (though I thought I would slide off the seat and into the road at any moment). We were having a brief conversation about where I was from, how he liked Beijing compared to his hometown around Shandong, etc, when suddenly he asked me if I would like to have a girl sent to my room at the hotel later.

"Cheap! Cheap!" He exclaimed in Chinese.

"No, that's ok." I said, trying to not sound too surprised.

"Why, do you have a girlfriend?" He asked curiously as though that would be the only reason to not hire someone's services....

"I'm just not really interested, thanks." I responded.

"Ok, well just let me know..."

And that was the end of our conversation.

By the time the bike arrived at the hotel, we were both soaked. I payed the driver, and then he tried to give me his number in case I changed my mind about the girl.

"That's ok." I said. "Maybe next time..." trying not to sound to weird about the situation.

"Ok Ok! See you!" He said before speeding off into the rain.

Fun times on the back of a motorbike. You never know what to expect!