Shopping Adventure

Today (Saturday), I had no plans, so I decided I would take the challenge of taking a scooter by myself to Chiayi city and go shopping. I woke up about 8 and watched parts of a movie before getting up and around. I asked Mrs. Huang if I could take the family scooter, and she gave me the keys, no questions asked. I couldn't figure out how to start the thing and was embarassed to ask...but I need the thing started..lol. Surprsingly to me, I remembered the back way to get to the mall without making any wrong turns. When I got into the mall, I was greeted by a real life China doll. She was so beautiful and bowed to me so far I thought she might fall over. In the first 30 seconds, about 5 other employees bowed to me just as big as the China doll. They said "ty gwon ling" which means welcome here. I hoped on the escalator (fyi I'm just about over my deathly fear of escalators) and started going up floor by floor. I had no idea which floor to look on. It was really awkward how at every floor employees were just waiting for business. They would bow and say welcome, then if I looked at something the would stand by me and watch my every move. I don't think they were suspicious of me; I think it's their way of being helpful. If I decided to buy something, they would take it for me and package it and carry it to the door for me. Taiwan hospitality. I felt very awkward and didn't really feel like shopping around because of the eagerness of the workers. I couldn't find a floor with clothes in which I was interested, so I found a service counter and asked for an English map. The lady said "one floor," so I got on the elevator and went to the first floor. As soon as I got off the elevator someone that spoke English was waiting for me (I bet they called her to tell her I was on my way) and she had the map in hand ready to give me. It didn't have store names, just categories...so I chose a floor and started walking around. I wanted to find the store NET (Taiwan version of GAP) so I asked a lady at a desk. She called someone on the phone that spoke English, and she gave me directions. The mall is set up more like a department store. There aren't hallways and stores...there is a floor full of small areas of certain brands. You have to pay for the brand right there where you buy it. You can't walk around with different clothes and pay all at once. I found NET, and it was a small version of the store. I was having a hard time finding the clothes I was interested in, so I decided to go to culture road where I knew many stores and knew I could find plenty of clothes I would like. So I hopped back on the scooter and started off to...well...this is where the story gets comical. From the mall, I didn't know how to get to Culture road. I've been on the back of a scooter before when we made the trip, but not as often as other journies. So I just started turning down roads, doing u-turns like the locals, and really not knowing where the heck I was going. I figured I would just find my way. Well...eventually I ended up at the train/bus station and I know this area very well. I know that Culture road is one of the roads by the station, so I chose the busiest. I think I chose the wrong one. It was lunch time, so I got a happy meal at McDonalds while tons of jr and sr high school students stared at me. What's so odd about an American getting McDonalds? ugh. I ate my food, and started off on the scooter again. I was really distracted trying to find the stores, and probably was in danger of crashing...but somehow I survived. Scooters and cars behind me must've known I was a new driver and to stear clear of me. I heard a lot of honks...which made me nervous...but it was my first time so I didn't get upset. People honk at everything. I never found the big part of culture road, so I decided I was cold enough to go home. I thought a sweatshirt and my jacket would be plenty, but with the wind, I needed gloves, scarf, hat, the works! I was real chilly! Going home was not an enjoyable experience. I started driving who knows where and found myself in the middle of nowhere that seemed to be the ghetto of Chiayi. I found a gas station, filled up, and called Vince. He already knew I would get lost, so he had texted me a message in Chinese to show someone to get me back on track. I showed it to the gas station attendant and she pointed which way to go and motioned to turn left, and she said "7" so I figured the road titled 7 was where I needed to turn left. Two roads later, the road t'ed and it was not road 7. So I chose one and kept driving. I drove and drove, made some turns...trying to find something familiar. There was a nice looking lady waiting to cross the street, so I pulled over and showed her the text. She didn't speak a word of English, but she was shocked and pointed to herself and said Shingang (my town). So I took that as, follow me I'm going to Shingang. She got in her car and waved to follow her. She in her car, and me on my scooter, we made a little caravan through the city and took a way back to Shingang that I dont' remember ever taking. About a half hour later, I recognized some landmarks, so at the next light I waved to her and said thank you so much over and over in Chinese. Then I floored it and headed for home. My shoulders were so tense, and I just needed to chill for a while. It was so stressful not knowing how to get back home. I panicked before finding the sweet lady in the Civic.
So I was finally home, happy and safe. I gave the keys to Mrs. Huang, and took a nap. About two hours later, Mr. Huang called me and told me that I should stop and "put gasoline for the scooter" I told him that I filled up the tank...but the conversation was really confusing...so I walked into the office just to make sure. He was shocked to see me....he obviously thought I was still in the city. He was trying to explain to me that you need to put gas in the scooter so it will keep running. Wow. He either thinks I'm rediculously stupid or have never driven before. I told him I filled it up and he was shocked. lol. I come from another planet. I have never heard of this gasoline you speak of. I thought these contraptions ran on magic and gypsy tears.
So I didn't get what I needed to get (christmas presents for Taiwan friends and a few warm sweaters) but I definetly had an adventurous day.