Bus #35

Well, today was an exciting day. I woke up around 8:45am on Wednesday for a class that starts at 10:20am. This gives me enough time to get ready, walk to the bus station, wait for the bus, and hop on bus #35. This has pretty much become a daily routine for me, however, my routine changed a bit today. After having thought that ALL buses with the number 35 on the front went the same route every single time, I figured I could walk to a different bus station (because I missed the one I usually catch it at :/) and catch bus #35 right across the street from the usual stop and it will take me exactly where I need to go. WRONG. This bus took me in the COMPLETE opposite direction of my school. After realizing that I was going the wrong way and this bus didn't seem like it was going to turn around anytime soon, I called someone who would know what was going on.  If fact, there are different bus #35's that go different ways. Needless to say, this turned into an adventure.
After realizing I was indeed going the wrong way, I got off at the nearest stop (having no clue where I am). Since I carry a cell phone with me (which I actually went back to my room to go get because I forgot it, good thing) I was able to have someone text me the Chinese characters for the school I was supposed to be at. So, catching a taxi and showing the driver the characters, we were off. End of story? Not quite. Since I don't know how to read characters, I was just trusting this driver would get me where I needed to be since I speak no Chinese. He took me to an entrance about a 40 minute walk AWAY from my school. Great. Now what? I'm already 15 minutes late to class, and I have a long walk to get to my school. I quickly called my co-teacher and told her that I was hurrying to class (she is super sweet, so she was okay with it). Of course, this day had to be one of the hottest and humid days...so a fast walk quickly made me look like I had just gotten out of a swimming pool. It was nasty. Finally! I had arrived. When I walked through the door my teacher looks at me with surprise and asks "Are you okay?! You do not look well". After convincing her I was just red and sweaty and not dying, she let me teach the 5 minutes that were left of class.
After my first class is over I have a 2 hour break to get some lunch and "take a rest". My second half of the day went much better than the first half. I was able to order lunch by myself and it was super tasty! After I got my lunch I took it to a bench in the shade near the river and pulled out some chopsticks and ate. I felt super Chinese today because after I ate my lunch, I took about a 45 minute nap on the bench :) It was great...until I got woken up by a lady touching my arms, and a caterpillar tickling my leg. I was more weirded out by the caterpillar than I was the lady.
After waking up from my nap I look out to the river and I see three naked men bathing themselves...this didn't surprise me either, but it did make me get off of my bench and leave because it was a bit awkward.
After my 2 hours were up I went and taught my last 2 classes (which went very well) and headed back home...getting on the right bus #35.
The moral of this true story....learn how to read a Chinese map to see where the bus is going before you get on the wrong one.